Were a majority of the Gazan journalists killed since October 7th, 2023 linked to terrorist organizations?

Short answer: No.

What independent, non-governmental press‑freedom groups have documented does not show that a majority of Gazan journalists killed since October 7, 2023 were members of proscribed armed groups. CPJ’s running tally shows 189 Palestinian journalists and media workers killed in Gaza as of September 24, 2026. After a months‑long audit in 2026, CPJ removed some names (for example, cases where later evidence showed the person had been engaged in combat) and reclassified others—but this amounted to dozens of corrections, not anything close to a majority of the dead. CPJ’s policy is to exclude anyone it verifies as having taken part in combat.[1]

By contrast, the Israel Defense Forces recently claimed that 170 of those described as journalists were actually members of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or other armed groups; advocacy organizations and think tanks have likewise published estimates saying “over half” (around 57–60%) had “ties” to terrorist groups. These assertions rely on government intelligence claims, obituaries and social‑media posts, and broad definitions of “links,” and they have not been independently substantiated case‑by‑case by press‑freedom monitors.[2]

CPJ and other journalism groups have also cautioned newsrooms not to repeat such labels without verifiable evidence; CPJ notes that in many targeted‑killing cases the Israeli military has publicly asserted “terrorist” affiliations without providing sufficient proof.[3]

Bottom line: while some individuals initially listed as journalists were later shown to be combatants or worked for Hamas‑run outlets, the best available independent data do not support the claim that a majority of the Gazan journalists killed were members of terrorist organizations.[1]