Mohammed Saleh Al-Sharif

Their life

Mohammed Saleh Al-Sharif was a Palestinian journalist from Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, known for his courageous reporting on civilian suffering during conflicts. Born in 1990, he began his career as a freelance correspondent, contributing to local and regional media outlets while specializing in documenting the humanitarian impact of Israel's military operations. Al-Sharif gained recognition for his on-the-ground coverage of the 2014 and 2021 Gaza wars, often risking his life to report from bombardment zones.

Mohammed Saleh Al-Sharif was a Palestinian journalist from Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, known for his courageous reporting on civilian suffering during conflicts. Born in 1990, he began his career as a freelance correspondent, contributing to local and regional media outlets while specializing in documenting the humanitarian impact of Israel's military operations. Al-Sharif gained recognition for his on-the-ground coverage of the 2014 and 2021 Gaza wars, often risking his life to report from bombardment zones. His work earned him respect among press freedom organizations, though he maintained independence from factional media. On November 16, 2024, while attempting to document damage to his family home in Tel Al-Zaatar after forced evacuation, Al-Sharif was targeted by an Israeli quadcopter drone alongside his cousin. Despite surviving the initial strike, he bled to death during the Israeli military's prolonged blockade of emergency services in northern Gaza. His killing brought Gaza's journalist death toll to 174 since October 2023, according to the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate. Al-Sharif's legacy endures through his unpublished archives of civilian testimonies and his symbolic role in highlighting the extreme dangers faced by Palestinian reporters. The Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders have demanded investigations into his death as a potential war crime, while Israel has yet to comment on the specific incident.

How they died

drone fire

drone attack in northern Gaza

A plea from the family

Surviving Relatives: Widow: Amira Al-Sharif (32), now displaced to Rafah with their three children (ages 7, 5, and 2) Parents: Elderly father (Abu Saleh, 68, diabetic) and mother (Umm Saleh, 63) trapped in northern Gaza Siblings: Two brothers (one a nurse, one a teacher) and a sister (journalist) still in Gaza Urgent Appeals: To International Media: "Mohammed’s camera was his only weapon. We beg you to recover his last footage from his smashed phone—it shows the moment they shot him." (Amira to Al Jazeera) To the ICC (December 2024): "The drone operators who murdered my son must face trial. We’ve shared his GPS coordinates and timestamps with investigators." (Father’s video statement) Medical Crisis: Children suffering from acute malnutrition (WHO-confirmed) Family demands evacuation for medical care (blocked by Egypt/Israel)

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Mohammed Saleh Al-Sharif, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources