By Pesach Benson • April 9, 2026
Jerusalem, 9 April, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel confirmed on Thursday morning the death of an Al Jazeera reporter who also worked for Hamas.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, Muhammad Washah was a key figure in Hamas’ rocket and drone production headquarters who “worked to produce drones, rockets, and weapons, and was involved in the transfer of weapons in the Gaza Strip.” Israeli efforts to ban Al Jazeera in February 2024 gained momentum when soldiers found his laptop in northern Gaza and discovered he played a role in Hamas’ anti-armor missile systems.
Washah was killed in an airstrike on his vehicle on Gaza’s coastal road on Wednesday. The IDF said he “contributed to the building of the Hamas terrorist organization’s strength, worked to carry out terrorist plots against IDF forces, and posed a real threat to the forces.”
A comprehensive study released in December 2025 found that about 60% of individuals identified as journalists killed during the war in Gaza were members of or affiliated with terrorist organizations, primarily Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Researchers at the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center described a widespread “dual identity” phenomenon in which media workers simultaneously served as armed operatives.
The report highlighted systematic coordination between Hamas and the Qatar-based Al Jazeera network.
Laptops and documents found in Gaza showed how Al Jazeera collaborated with Hamas, taking directions for covering specific incidents and establishing a secure hotline enabling the terror group to directly communicate with Al Jazeera during emergencies.
Israeli forces uncovered further documents confirming that active Al Jazeera journalists were also members of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and that reporter Ismail al-Ghoul participated in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel as a member of Hamas’ Nukhba Force. Another Al Jazeera reporter, Anas al-Sharif, was identified as a member of Hamas’s East Jabaliya Battalion who headed a cell responsible for firing guided rockets.
Israel’s Knesset passed legislation in December 2025 authorizing the government to instruct internet and content providers to block materials considered damaging to security, disrupt satellite signals or broadcasts, and revoke media credentials. The current ban on Al Jazeera requires renewal every 90 days.
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