GAZA: A deeply moving final message from Al Jazeera journalist Anas Jamal Al Sharif has gone viral, touching hearts around the world. The 28-year-old journalist was killed in an Israeli airstrike in eastern Gaza City, alongside three Al Jazeera colleagues and an assistant.
According to Gaza officials and Al Jazeera, the strike hit a tent near Shifa Hospital, where the journalists were working. Al Sharif had been reporting from Gaza for months, documenting the suffering and resilience of his people amid the ongoing conflict.
Fully aware of the risks of his work, Al Sharif had written what he called his “will,” to be published if he was killed. Following his death, the message was shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
His message began:
“This is my will and my final message. If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. First, peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings.”
He expressed that he had devoted his life to being a voice for Palestinians, growing up in the Jabalia refugee camp. Al Sharif wrote that his greatest wish was to return with his family to their ancestral home in occupied Asqalan (Al-Majdal), but he accepted that Allah’s will had decided otherwise.
Al Sharif reflected on a life marked by hardship, stating he had endured pain and loss many times but never stopped telling the truth. He hoped that his reporting would bear witness against those who ignored the suffering in Gaza.
In a powerful plea, he entrusted the world with the Palestinian cause:
“I entrust you with Palestine—the jewel in the crown of the Muslim world, the heartbeat of every free person in this world. I entrust you with its people, with its wronged and innocent children who never had the time to dream or live in safety and peace.”
He urged people not to be silenced by oppression or restricted by borders, but to work towards the liberation of Palestine and its people.
Al Sharif’s will also revealed his deep love for his family. He entrusted the care of his daughter Sham, whom he never got to watch grow, and his young son Salah, whom he wished to guide through life. He also spoke of his beloved mother, whose prayers he cherished, and his wife Bayan, from whom war had kept him apart for long periods.
In his closing words, Al Sharif reaffirmed his commitment to his principles:
“If I die, I die steadfast upon my principles. I testify before Allah that I am content with His decree, certain of meeting Him, and assured that what is with Allah is better and everlasting.”
His final plea was simple yet powerful:
“Do not forget Gaza… And do not forget me in your sincere prayers for forgiveness and acceptance.”
The message, posted online with the note that it was published upon his martyrdom, has since been widely shared, drawing condolences and tributes from around the globe. Many social media users called his will a testament to courage, resilience, and the human cost of war.
In Gaza, an Israeli strike claimed the life of an Al Jazeera journalist, sparking global outrage.
