Al Jazeera abruptly terminates contracts of Palestinian journalists in Gaza in ongoing Israeli genocide

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COMMENTARY: By Eva Karene Bartlett

During the ongoing Israeli genocide of Gaza, Palestinian journalists have been courageously reporting under Israel’s bombs, drones and snipers. More than 260 journalists have been killed by Israel in Gaza since October 2023 alone.

Reporting on Israeli bombardments and firing continues to be extremely dangerous for Palestinian journalists, who are completely cut off from the world.

It is at this point which media giant Al Jazeera reportedly abruptly ended the contracts of 24 journalists in Gaza it had employed, breaking earlier alleged promises of job security with the channel.

According to reports from Gaza, the journalists’ “salaries were stopped and they were referred to a private company identified as “Media,” where they would be paid on a piecework basis without permanent contracts, insurance or clear employment protections.”

This is after many of the terminated journalists had for years risked their lives reporting and filming Israel’s crimes against Palestinians in Gaza.

In fact, without their footage and reports, Al Jazeera could not have produced and financially gained from its own breaking reports.

One of these journalists is cameraman Mahmoud Shalha, who was the cameraman for well-known and beloved journalist Anas al-Sharif. Together, they courageously covered relentless Israeli bombardments in northern Gaza.

Murdered journalists
Sharif and five other journalists were murdered when Israel attacked the Al Jazeera journalists’ tent at Shifa hospital on August 10, 2025.

Shalha was called away from the site by an uncle just a few hours before the Israeli airstrike, he said, noting he had worked alongside Anas and the other journalists daily throughout the genocide.

He wrote about his abrupt termination by Al Jazeera:

“At any moment, I could have been a martyr while transporting the scene and the images, trying to convey the truth to the world. But today, I find myself, with all due regret, severed from Al Jazeera channel without any prior warning.

“Since the beginning of the war, I worked as a cameraman with Al Jazeera’s martyred correspondent Anas al-Sharif, then with the two martyrs Anas al-Sharif and Muhammad Qurayqea after our colleague Fadi al-Wahidi was injured, and I continued my work with the channel after their martyrdom, despite the risks and harsh conditions.”

His post goes on to highlight that this work was his mission which he believed in, and was the sole source of income to support his family.

’15 second call’
“But a phone call that didn’t exceed fifteen seconds was enough to end it all. Al Jazeera’s management informed me of the termination of my employment, without explaining any reason, or giving prior notice, or paying my dues, and even without a single word of thanks.”

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate reported at the end of June that 60 percent–75 percent of the surviving journalists in Gaza have lost their homes or have been forcibly displaced, reporting that, “journalists in Gaza have been subjected to an unprecedented campaign targeting their lives, workplaces, and homes, in the context of a war that has sought not only to silence their voices but also to uproot the very environment in which journalism is practised.”

Journalists in Gaza upload their work from tents or wherever of the sparse locations there is an internet connection. These are impossible conditions for most people, but Palestinian journalists deal with it in order to keep conveying their reality to an outside world that has seemingly lost interest after a so-called ceasefire in October 2025.

NO CEASEFIRE, ISRAEL CONTINUES TO GENOCIDE GAZA

The Cradle reported on July 27 that since the 11 October 2025 “ceasefire,” 1203 Palestinians have been killed, 3900 wounded. These murders are due to Israeli attacks which continue near-daily in Gaza, far from most news headlines now.

The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate website.
The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate website.

The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate has called on Al Jazeera to reconsider the termination of the journalists and contracted staff working with Al Jazeera Mubasher (Live) in the Gaza Strip.

It said it had received a complaint from affected journalists and employees who objected to the termination of their contracts and their transfer to a private media company. “Media organisations, regardless of their stature, have a professional and ethical responsibility to honour their commitments to employees and to handle contractual or administrative changes in a fair and transparent manner.”

Prominent journalists dismissed
As other Palestinians in Gaza pointed out, “Al Jazeera in Gaza is dismissing some of the most important and prominent journalists who carried the responsibility of delivering the truth throughout the months of war, in a humiliating way that does not reflect the sacrifices they made.

“…These journalists lived through every detail of the war, faced threats, had their photos placed on wanted lists, and were separated from their families and children out of fear of being targeted yet they chose to remain in the field and continue telling the truth, no matter the cost. These journalists do not deserve for years of courage and sacrifice to be reduced to this. They deserved recognition, loyalty, and respect not humiliation and an ending that ignores everything they gave.”

On July 26, The non-profit Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor published a statement calling for urgent international efforts, “to lift the media blackout in the Gaza Strip, protect journalists, enable the immediate entry of independent international media, and ensure access to protective gear and press equipment, as journalists continue to be targeted for over 1000 days during the ongoing genocide in the enclave.”

It notes that since October 2023 alone, “more than 262 journalists have been killed in the Gaza Strip, with hundreds more injured or arrested, according to local and international press and human rights institutions, marking the highest toll recorded against media workers in any contemporary conflict.”

I’ve shared any of reports of what Palestinian journalists put their lives on the line for — and indeed paid for with the lives — to share their reality of Palestinians being hunted and massacred in Israel’s still ongoing genocide of Gaza.

If Al Jazeera does not reverse its unjust decision, then it is grossly unjust on these courageous journalists whose footage and reporting Al Jazeera wouldn’t have had without them.

Eva Bartlett is a Canadian activist and freelance journalist who has lived in Gaza for three years. This article had no response from Al Jazeera.


This content originally appeared on Asia Pacific Report and was authored by Pacific Media Watch.

Citations

[1] ➤ https://x.com/EuroMedHR/status/2081345518261686594%20[2] Bearing witness, breaking barriers: The essential role of journalists in Gaza and the West Bank | United Nations ➤ https://www.un.org/en/peace-and-security/bearing-witness-breaking-barriers[3] The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate: 60%–75% of the surviving journalists in Gaza have lost their homes or have been forcibly displaced. - Palestinian Journalists Syndicate ➤ https://pjs.ps/en/page-3556.html[4] Gaza journalists | Search Results | Asia Pacific Report ➤ https://asiapacificreport.nz/?s=Gaza+journalists[5] Tamer Nahed on X: "Al Jazeera in Gaza is dismissing some of the most important and prominent journalists who carried the responsibility of delivering the truth throughout the months of war, in a humiliating way that does not reflect the sacrifices they made. These journalists stood on the front lines under bombardment, showing the world the hardest moments and working in conditions that no person could imagine. After all of this, the end came with a short phone call telling them that they were no longer part of the work as if everything they endured, their fear, their pain, and their sacrifices could be erased within seconds. Among them is journalist Mahmoud Shalha, the only survivor of the attack on the journalists’ tent in which journalist Anas Al-Sharif and several of his colleagues were killed. These journalists lived through every detail of the war, faced threats, had their photos placed on wanted lists, and were separated from their families and children out of fear of being targeted yet they chose to remain in the field and continue telling the truth, no matter the cost. They were not just employees behind cameras; they were witnesses to one of the most brutal wars, carrying their lives in their hands with every report, knowing that a missile could reach them at any moment. These journalists do not deserve for years of courage and sacrifice to be reduced to this. They deserved recognition, loyalty, and respect not humiliation and an ending that ignores everything they gave." / X ➤ https://x.com/Tamer_Alnoaizy/status/2081285591656755235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw[6] غزة 24 | التغطية مستمرة on X: "Al Jazeera Ends Contracts of 24 Gaza Journalists After Job-Security Assurances Exclusive | Gaza24Live GAZA — Al Jazeera has ended the contracts of 24 journalists and media workers in the Gaza Strip, according to members of the team, despite earlier assurances that they would be offered greater job security and future opportunities within the network. The affected journalists said Al Jazeera director Asef Hamidi had reassured them in an email that they would not be abandoned and pledged to support their professional development and provide suitable positions across the network. Instead, they said, their salaries were stopped and they were referred to a private company identified as “Media,” where they would be paid on a piecework basis without permanent contracts, insurance or clear employment protections. The decision affected correspondents, camera operators and producers who covered the war in Gaza. Those named by the group include Mohammed Shaheen, Mohammed al-Sharif, Ayman al-Hissi, Hassan al-Zaanin and Ashraf al-Sarraj from northern Gaza, as well as Jamal Adwan, Alaa Salama, Ola Abu Muammar, Moaz al-Amour, Abdullah Abu Kamil and Talal al-Arouqi from southern Gaza. Many of the journalists had previously worked for local and regional media organisations before Al Jazeera recruited them at the start of the war. They said they joined the network to bring Gaza’s story to a wider international audience and because they believed their relationship with the broadcaster was based on mutual professional commitments. Some worked with the network for two to three years under bombardment and direct threats. Several were injured or suffered professional and personal losses, while others lost homes or family members but continued reporting. In social media posts, the journalists accused the network of retreating from what they described as its moral and professional obligations. They said the transfer to an unstable piecework arrangement did not represent a fair alternative to their previous contracts or reflect the risks they had taken. Some also raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest, alleging ties between officials at the private company and individuals with professional interests involving Al Jazeera. They said the head of a Gaza-based committee concerned with journalists’ protection also manages the company to which they were referred, and called for an independent review of the arrangement. The journalists urged Al Jazeera to reverse the decision, honour its previous commitments and give them priority for future positions and projects. They also called on the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate, rights groups and international media organisations to review their contracts and correspondence with the network and ensure that they are not compelled to accept work without legal protection, insurance or minimum job security. The group said it was prepared to pursue legal action before Palestinian and international bodies, stressing that it was seeking fair treatment rather than exceptional privileges. “We are asking for treatment that reflects the risks and sacrifices we endured during the war and protects our dignity and professional rights,” the journalists said." / X ➤ https://x.com/Gaza24Live/status/2081055554084974686[7] ➤ https://thecradle.co/articles/israel-assassinates-entire-al-jazeera-crew-ahead-of-gaza-city-occupation[8] Telegram: View @thecradlemedia ➤ https://t.me/thecradlemedia/40814[9] Mahmoud.b.shalha محمود شلحة on X: "هل هذه هي مكافأتنا؟ هل هذه النهاية التي نستحقها؟! https://t.co/6ZliXnikgN" / X ➤ https://x.com/Mahmoudshalh/status/2081440539946139929[10] Mahmoud.b.shalha محمود شلحة on X: "أهذا حقًّا ما كان ينتظرني؟ في أي لحظة، كان من الممكن أن أكون شهيدًا وأنا أنقل المشهد والصورة، وأحاول إيصال الحقيقة إلى العالم. لكنني اليوم أجد نفسي، بكل أسف، مفصولًا من قناة الجزيرة دون سابق إنذار. أنا الناجي الوحيد من استهداف خيمة قناة الجزيرة عند بوابة مستشفى الشفاء، والذي استُشهد فيه الزملاء الصحفيون أنس الشريف، ومحمد قريقع، ومحمد نوفل، وإبراهيم ظاهر، ومؤمن عليوة، مساء الأحد، 10 أغسطس 2025. منذ بداية الحرب، عملت مصورًا مع مراسل الجزيرة الشهيد أنس الشريف، ثم مع الشهيدين أنس الشريف ومحمد قريقع بعد إصابة الزميل فادي الوحيدي، وواصلت عملي مع القناة بعد استشهادهما، رغم المخاطر والظروف الصعبة. لم يكن هذا العمل مجرد وظيفة، بل كان مصدر رزقي الوحيد، وسندي في إعالة نفسي وعائلتي، كما كان رسالة آمنت بها: أن أواصل حمل الحقيقة التي كتبها زملاؤنا بدمائهم، ودفعوا أرواحهم ثمنًا لإيصالها إلى العالم. لكن مكالمة لم تتجاوز خمس عشرة ثانية كانت كفيلة بإنهاء كل شيء. أبلغتني إدارة الجزيرة بإنهاء عملي، دون توضيح أي سبب، أو إشعار مسبق، أو دفع مستحقاتي، وحتى دون كلمة شكر واحدة. وكأن كل ما قدمناه، وكل ما خاطرنا به، وكل ما فقدناه في هذا الطريق، لا يساوي لديهم أكثر من كوب ماء بارد في فصل الشتاء. أنا لا أكتب هذه الكلمات بحثًا عن التعاطف، بل لأن ما حدث معي لا يليق بتضحيات من بقوا في الميدان، ولا بدماء من رحلوا وهم يحملون الكاميرا والكلمة. للحديث بقية." / X ➤ https://x.com/Mahmoudshalh/status/2081054162997957042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw[11] Mahmoud.b.shalha محمود شلحة on X: "أهذا حقًّا ما كان ينتظرني؟ في أي لحظة، كان من الممكن أن أكون شهيدًا وأنا أنقل المشهد والصورة، وأحاول إيصال الحقيقة إلى العالم. لكنني اليوم أجد نفسي، بكل أسف، مفصولًا من قناة الجزيرة دون سابق إنذار. أنا الناجي الوحيد من استهداف خيمة قناة الجزيرة عند بوابة مستشفى الشفاء، والذي استُشهد فيه الزملاء الصحفيون أنس الشريف، ومحمد قريقع، ومحمد نوفل، وإبراهيم ظاهر، ومؤمن عليوة، مساء الأحد، 10 أغسطس 2025. منذ بداية الحرب، عملت مصورًا مع مراسل الجزيرة الشهيد أنس الشريف، ثم مع الشهيدين أنس الشريف ومحمد قريقع بعد إصابة الزميل فادي الوحيدي، وواصلت عملي مع القناة بعد استشهادهما، رغم المخاطر والظروف الصعبة. لم يكن هذا العمل مجرد وظيفة، بل كان مصدر رزقي الوحيد، وسندي في إعالة نفسي وعائلتي، كما كان رسالة آمنت بها: أن أواصل حمل الحقيقة التي كتبها زملاؤنا بدمائهم، ودفعوا أرواحهم ثمنًا لإيصالها إلى العالم. لكن مكالمة لم تتجاوز خمس عشرة ثانية كانت كفيلة بإنهاء كل شيء. أبلغتني إدارة الجزيرة بإنهاء عملي، دون توضيح أي سبب، أو إشعار مسبق، أو دفع مستحقاتي، وحتى دون كلمة شكر واحدة. وكأن كل ما قدمناه، وكل ما خاطرنا به، وكل ما فقدناه في هذا الطريق، لا يساوي لديهم أكثر من كوب ماء بارد في فصل الشتاء. أنا لا أكتب هذه الكلمات بحثًا عن التعاطف، بل لأن ما حدث معي لا يليق بتضحيات من بقوا في الميدان، ولا بدماء من رحلوا وهم يحملون الكاميرا والكلمة. للحديث بقية." / X ➤ https://x.com/Mahmoudshalh/status/2081054162997957042[12] A massacre within a massacre: Israel is exterminating Palestinians in northern Gaza and killing Palestinian journalists reporting on it – In Gaza ➤ https://ingaza.wordpress.com/2024/11/03/a-massacre-within-a-massacre-israel-is-exterminating-palestinians-in-northern-gaza-and-killing-palestinian-journalists-reporting-on-it/[13] Eva Karene Bartlett on X: "Al Jazeera exploited Palestinian journalists from Gaza, using their heroism and courage under Israeli fire—reporting during the worst of Israeli atrocities against Palestinian civilians and journalists and still reporting now—and now has abruptly ended the contracts of 24 journalists, despite having previously conveyed to them that they would be offered greater job security and future opportunities within the network. Al Jazeera (which is deeply guilty of war propaganda in its shameless whitewashing of al-Qaeda Takfiris in Syria from the very beginning of the global war on Syria) used these Palestinian journalists for its coverage and gain$, and now drops them without fulfilling its obligations, without any respect, humiliating them and leaving them without any support—in spite of earlier email promises to the contrary." / X ➤ https://x.com/EvaKBartlett/status/2081627582982680753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw[14] The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate: 60%–75% of the surviving journalists in Gaza have lost their homes or have been forcibly displaced. - Palestinian Journalists Syndicate ➤ https://pjs.ps/en/page-3556.html[15] Telegram: View @thecradlemedia ➤ https://t.me/thecradlemedia/65066[16] Palestinian Journalists Syndicate ➤ https://pjs.ps/en/index.html[17] نقابة الصحفيين الفلسطينيين تدعو "الجزيرة" إلى حوار عاجل لإنصاف صحفيي "الجزيرة مباشر" في غزة  - نقابة الصحفيين الفلسطينيين ➤ https://pjs.ps/ar/page-3565.html[18] Tamer Nahed on X: "Al Jazeera in Gaza is dismissing some of the most important and prominent journalists who carried the responsibility of delivering the truth throughout the months of war, in a humiliating way that does not reflect the sacrifices they made. These journalists stood on the front lines under bombardment, showing the world the hardest moments and working in conditions that no person could imagine. After all of this, the end came with a short phone call telling them that they were no longer part of the work as if everything they endured, their fear, their pain, and their sacrifices could be erased within seconds. Among them is journalist Mahmoud Shalha, the only survivor of the attack on the journalists’ tent in which journalist Anas Al-Sharif and several of his colleagues were killed. These journalists lived through every detail of the war, faced threats, had their photos placed on wanted lists, and were separated from their families and children out of fear of being targeted yet they chose to remain in the field and continue telling the truth, no matter the cost. They were not just employees behind cameras; they were witnesses to one of the most brutal wars, carrying their lives in their hands with every report, knowing that a missile could reach them at any moment. These journalists do not deserve for years of courage and sacrifice to be reduced to this. They deserved recognition, loyalty, and respect not humiliation and an ending that ignores everything they gave." / X ➤ https://x.com/Tamer_Alnoaizy/status/2081285591656755235[19] International community must end Israel’s media blackout on Gaza, protect journalists, ensure access to press equipment ➤ https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/7084/International-community-must-end-Israel%E2%80%99s-media-blackout-on-Gaza,-protect-journalists,-ensure-access-to-press-equipment