Do not forget Gaza: Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif’s final message shared after his death
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Gaza City: Hours after Al Jazeera Arabic’s Gaza correspondent Anas al-Sharif was killed in an Israeli airstrike near Al-Shifa Hospital, his final message, written months earlier, was posted on his X account.
The targeted strike, which also claimed the lives of four other journalists, was confirmed by the Israeli army, which alleged that al-Sharif had been a Hamas member involved in launching rockets at Israel. The veteran journalist, who had received repeated threats for his coverage of the Israeli assault on Gaza, was known for reporting extensively on the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
In his farewell message, al-Sharif reflected on his life in Jabalia refugee camp, his hopes of returning to his ancestral home in Asqalan (Al-Majdal), and his commitment to conveying the truth “without distortion or falsification.” He entrusted the world with the cause of Palestine, calling it “the jewel of the Muslim world and the pulse of every free heart,” and urged people not to be silenced by chains or borders.
Addressing his family directly, he expressed deep love for his daughter Sham, son Salah, mother, and wife, describing their resilience and sacrifices. He asked that they be supported in his absence.
“If my words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice,” he wrote, adding a final plea: “Do not forget Gaza… And do not forget me in your good prayers for forgiveness and acceptance.”
Al-Sharif concluded by affirming his steadfastness on his principles and his hope to be accepted among the martyrs.
The April 6, 2025 letter has now become a testament to his lifelong commitment to the Palestinian cause.
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.
— أنس الشريف Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) August 10, 2025
Allah knows I gave every effort and all my strength to be a support and a voice for my…
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Indian startup's 'Drishti' satellite launched aboard SpaceX rocket
New Delhi (PTI): Bengaluru-based space start-up GalaxEye's Mission Drishti satellite was launched on Sunday aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from California.
Mission Drishti is the world's first OptoSAR satellite, integrating electro-optical (EO) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors into a single operational platform, according to the company.
While EO sensors capture high-resolution images during sunlight and clear skies, SAR sensors provide all-weather and all-time images, using radar pulses.
In a statement, Suyash Singh, founder and CEO of GalaxEye, said, "With the satellite (Mission Drishti) now successfully in orbit, our immediate focus is on completing its commissioning. As we move through this phase, we are already witnessing strong global interest in the differentiated datasets enabled by our OptoSAR payload."
The satellite will help address long-standing limitations of conventional systems and enable more reliable and consistent data acquisition across diverse environmental conditions, the company said.
As a dual-use Earth observation satellite, the mission will support use cases across defence, agriculture, disaster management, maritime monitoring, and infrastructure planning.
The satellite is also expected to complement India's broader initiatives, including the 29 active Earth Observation satellites outlined in ISRO's recent annual report.
The launch came after five years of indigenous research and development, and extensive environmental testing and performance validation of the Mission Drishti.
In a statement, Lt Gen AK Bhatt (Retd), director general of Indian Space Association (ISpA), said, "GalaxEye has achieved what only a few global players have, which is seamlessly combining optical and SAR capabilities on a single platform to enable persistent, all-weather intelligence."
What stands out is not just the technology, but its broader impact on how downstream applications will increasingly define value in the space economy, particularly in Earth observation, where timely, decision-grade insights are critical," he added.
ISpA is the premier industry association of space and satellite companies in the country.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh also took note of the Mission Drishti launch, saying the development marked a significant milestone in India's space journey.
In a post on X, the minister said, "The successful launch of the world's first OptoSAR satellite, and the largest privately-built satellite in the country, reflects the immense potential of our young innovators driving nation-building."
GalaxEye aims to scale up Mission Drishti to a constellation of 10 satellites by 2030, developing a robust and sovereign Earth observation infrastructure for India.
