11/08/2025
In the coming hours, you will hear a lot about Anas Al-Sharif, a rocket cell commander from east Jabalia who also worked for Al Jazeera. Whether he was a good or bad person, or what he did as a journalist (such as trying to silence protests in Gaza against Hamas, praising the October 7 massacre, and glorifying Hamas leaders) is not particularly relevant. What is relevant is that he took up arms and participated in combat on behalf of a terrorist organization — making him a legitimate military target.
Who you will not hear much about in the coming hours is Omar Abd Rabbo, who was indeed a journalist in Gaza. He also reported on issues that Al Jazeera and Hamas did not like — such as protests against them by Gazans, the looting of humanitarian aid, and the activities of GHF aid centers. Abd Rabbo was attacked by Hamas and its operatives several times; they beat him with iron rods in front of cameras. He never took up arms and never fought as part of any group. In recent days, he has been pleading for someone to help him escape the Strip, as Hamas has forbidden him to continue working as a journalist and has already injured and tortured him several times.
You will not hear about Omar Abd Rabbo. His very existence as a journalist willing to criticize Hamas disrupts the narrative that many insist on portraying about the war. His name will not appear in reports on press freedom violations or in statements from journalist organizations. And he will remain alone, at the mercy of Hamas gangs — until the day those gangs are defeated and lose their power.
