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

Short answer: There isn’t independent evidence that “most” of the Gazan journalists killed since October 7, 2023 were members of terrorist organizations. That majority claim comes primarily from Israeli military/intelligence–aligned sources and a few advocacy groups, and is disputed by press‑freedom monitors.

What the “majority” claim is based on

•Israel’s military published names/photos in October 2026 asserting that 170 people presented as journalists actually belonged to Hamas, PIJ or other armed groups.[1]

•The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (an Israeli research institute) reported roughly 60% of deceased Gazan “journalists and other media personnel” were members of or affiliated with Hamas/PIJ—often counting employment at Hamas/PIJ media outlets as “affiliation.”[2]

•The watchdog HonestReporting has similarly claimed “over half” on the basis of its own audit of CPJ’s database.[3]

How independent monitors characterize the picture

•The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) completed a comprehensive review on September 24, 2026, removing 22 people (19 for participating in hostilities and 3 not meeting the journalist definition) but did not endorse any claim that a majority of the dead were militants; CPJ emphasizes it excludes anyone found to have engaged in combat and that official allegations of “terror affiliation” alone don’t strip civilian protection.[4]

•Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has filed multiple ICC complaints alleging Israeli war crimes against journalists and warns against conflating journalism with terrorism; RSF has not issued a finding that most of the dead were militants.[5]

Bottom line

•Whether “most” were linked to terrorist groups depends heavily on definitions (e.g., counting work for Hamas‑run outlets as “affiliation”) and on intelligence claims that are not publicly verifiable case‑by‑case. Independent press‑freedom organizations, after reviews, acknowledge some cases of combatant involvement but do not substantiate that a majority were militants.[4]

If you want, I can break down the different tallies and criteria used (IDF/ITIC vs. CPJ/RSF) side‑by‑side.

Citations (5)

1idf.ilGovernment
Background Does the IDF Target Journalists in Gaza? 170 Gazan Journalists Exposed as Terrorists | IDF
Backs: “Israel’s military published names/photos in October 2026 asserting that 170 people presented as journalists actually belonged to Hamas, PIJ or other armed groups.”
2terrorism-info.org.ilNonprofits and think tanks
About 60% of the Gazans Classified as "Journalists" and Other Media Personnel Killed in the Gaza Strip War Belonged to Hamas and Other Terrorist Organizations - The Amit Terrorism and Intelligence Research Institute
Backs: “The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (an Israeli research institute) reported roughly 60% of deceased Gazan “journalists and other media personnel” were members of or affiliated with Hamas/PIJ—often counting employment at Hamas/PIJ media outlets as “affiliation.””
3honestreporting.comNonprofits and think tanks
Audit of CPJ Gaza Journalists Database Shows Over Half Linked to Terrorism | HonestReporting
Backs: “The watchdog HonestReporting has similarly claimed “over half” on the basis of its own audit of CPJ’s database.”
4cpj.orgNonprofits and think tanks
CPJ completes review of journalists killed in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory - Committee to Protect Journalists
Backs: “CPJ emphasizes it excludes anyone found to have engaged in combat and that official allegations of “terror affiliation” alone don’t strip civilian protection.”
5rsf.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Gaza: RSF files its fourth complaint in a year with the ICC for Israel’s war crimes against journalists | RSF
Backs: “RSF has not issued a finding that most of the dead were militants.”