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

Whether a majority of Gazan journalists killed since October 7, 2023, were linked to terrorist organizations is a subject of intense global dispute. The answer depends entirely on how "linked" is defined and which definitions under international law are applied.

Israeli authorities and pro-Israel media watchdogs argue that a majority of the killed media workers were active members of or affiliated with Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), or other armed groups. Conversely, international press freedom organizations and human rights groups contend that the vast majority were legitimate civilian journalists, accusing Israel of using a overly broad definition of "links" to justify targeting them and silence reporting.

The Argument That a Majority Had Terrorist Links

Israeli military assessments, intelligence studies, and pro-Israel media watchdogs present data asserting that more than half of the deceased media workers had ties to terrorist groups:

•IDF Assertions: In October 2026, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a database asserting that after extensive intelligence research, at least 170 Palestinians who had been publicly mourned as journalists and media workers killed in Gaza were verified as active members of the military wings of Hamas, PIJ, or other armed factions. Given that total journalist death toll estimates range between 190 and 270, 170 individuals would represent a clear majority.

•Intelligence Studies: A December 2025 study by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC) reviewed 266 individuals identified as killed journalists and media workers. The study concluded that about 60% were active operatives or closely affiliated with terrorist organizations. They found that many held "dual roles" as military operatives (such as rocket unit commanders, snipers, or electronic engineers) while working in media.

•Independent Audits of Watchdog Lists: Media watchdogs like HonestReporting audited the casualty lists of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and claimed that approximately 53% to 57% of the individuals on those lists had documented ties to terrorist organizations.

•Militant Obituaries: Pro-Israel researchers note that in several prominent cases, Hamas and PIJ published official obituaries following ceasefire pauses, celebrating deceased "journalists" (such as Al Jazeera correspondents Ismail al-Ghoul and Hamza al-Dahdouh, among others) as fighters or military commanders in their ranks.

The Argument That a Majority Were Civilian Journalists

International press freedom watchdogs—including the CPJ, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)—strongly dispute the claim that a majority of those killed were legitimate military targets, arguing that Israel conflates civilian partisan employees with active combatants.

•The Distinction Under International Law: Under international humanitarian law (IHL), journalists are classified as civilians and are protected from attack. They only lose this protection if they directly participate in hostilities (i.e., combat). Press freedom groups argue that working for state-backed media, state-run radio, or factional outlets (such as Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV or PIJ's Al-Quds Al-Youm) does not strip a media worker of civilian status, provided they are not engaging in combat.

•Watchdog Audits and Database Removals: In mid-to-late 2026, following the release of the aforementioned militant obituaries, CPJ, RSF, and IFJ conducted rigorous, months-long internal reviews of their Gaza casualty databases. CPJ ultimately removed 27 individuals whom they verified had participated in combat or whose journalistic credentials could not be established. However, CPJ and other watchdogs reinstated or kept the vast majority of the other names, asserting that their non-combat political affiliations, employment by partisan media, or lack of direct military roles meant they remained civilian journalists.

•Accusations of "Smear Campaigns": Organizations like RSF, CPJ, and Al Jazeera have accused the IDF of fabricating or exaggerating terrorism allegations against prominent local reporters (such as Anas al-Sharif) as a pre-emptive measure to "moral[ly] assassinate" them and justify their targeted killings. These groups point out that because Israel has blocked foreign journalists from entering Gaza independently, local Palestinian reporters are the sole observers on the ground, making them highly vulnerable.

Summary

•Yes, a majority are linked if you define "linked" to include holding non-combat employment at Hamas- or PIJ-run media outlets, being members of their political wings, or being associated with their propaganda departments.

•No, a majority are not linked if you apply the strict definitions of international humanitarian law, which require proof of active military combat or direct participation in hostilities to strip an individual of their civilian journalist status. Under this latter standard, the vast majority of those killed were civilian media workers.

Citations (21)

1honestreporting.comNonprofits and think tanks
honestreporting.com
Backs: “Israeli authorities and pro-Israel media watchdogs argue that a majority of the killed media workers were active members of or affiliated with Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), or other armed groups.”
2timesofisrael.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
timesofisrael.com
Backs: “Israeli authorities and pro-Israel media watchdogs argue that a majority of the killed media workers were active members of or affiliated with Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), or other armed groups.”
3apnews.comNews and mediaquality 1.00
apnews.com
Backs: “Conversely, international press freedom organizations and human rights groups contend that the vast majority were legitimate civilian journalists, accusing Israel of using a overly broad definition of "links" to justify targeting them and silence reporting.”
4gijn.orgNonprofits and think tanks
gijn.org
Backs: “Conversely, international press freedom organizations and human rights groups contend that the vast majority were legitimate civilian journalists, accusing Israel of using a overly broad definition of "links" to justify targeting them and silence reporting.”
5timesofisrael.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
timesofisrael.com
Backs: “IDF Assertions: In October 2026, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a database asserting that after extensive intelligence research, at least 170 Palestinians who had been publicly mourned as journalists and media workers killed in Gaza were verified as active members of the military wings of Hamas, PIJ, or…”
6jpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.81
jpost.com
Backs: “IDF Assertions: In October 2026, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a database asserting that after extensive intelligence research, at least 170 Palestinians who had been publicly mourned as journalists and media workers killed in Gaza were verified as active members of the military wings of Hamas, PIJ, or…”
7terrorism-info.org.ilNonprofits and think tanks
terrorism-info.org.il
Backs: “Given that total journalist death toll estimates range between 190 and 270, 170 individuals would represent a clear majority.”
8ngo-monitor.orgNot yet classified
ngo-monitor.org
Backs: “They found that many held "dual roles" as military operatives (such as rocket unit commanders, snipers, or electronic engineers) while working in media.”
9wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “Militant Obituaries: Pro-Israel researchers note that in several prominent cases, Hamas and PIJ published official obituaries following ceasefire pauses, celebrating deceased "journalists" (such as Al Jazeera correspondents Ismail al-Ghoul and Hamza al-Dahdouh, among others) as fighters or military commanders in their…”
10fdd.orgNonprofits and think tanks
fdd.org
Backs: “Militant Obituaries: Pro-Israel researchers note that in several prominent cases, Hamas and PIJ published official obituaries following ceasefire pauses, celebrating deceased "journalists" (such as Al Jazeera correspondents Ismail al-Ghoul and Hamza al-Dahdouh, among others) as fighters or military commanders in their…”
11cpj.orgNonprofits and think tanks
cpj.org
Backs: “International press freedom watchdogs—including the CPJ, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)—strongly dispute the claim that a majority of those killed were legitimate military targets, arguing that Israel conflates civilian partisan employees with active combatants.…”
12wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “International press freedom watchdogs—including the CPJ, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)—strongly dispute the claim that a majority of those killed were legitimate military targets, arguing that Israel conflates civilian partisan employees with active combatants.…”
13ngo-monitor.orgNot yet classified
ngo-monitor.org
Backs: “Press freedom groups argue that working for state-backed media, state-run radio, or factional outlets (such as Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV or PIJ's Al-Quds Al-Youm) does not strip a media worker of civilian status, provided they are not engaging in combat. Watchdog Audits and Database Removals: In mid-to-late 2026,…”
14jpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.81
jpost.com
Backs: “Watchdog Audits and Database Removals: In mid-to-late 2026, following the release of the aforementioned militant obituaries, CPJ, RSF, and IFJ conducted rigorous, months-long internal reviews of their Gaza casualty databases. CPJ ultimately removed 27 individuals whom they verified had participated in combat or whose…”
15newlinesmag.comNews and media
newlinesmag.com
Backs: “Watchdog Audits and Database Removals: In mid-to-late 2026, following the release of the aforementioned militant obituaries, CPJ, RSF, and IFJ conducted rigorous, months-long internal reviews of their Gaza casualty databases. CPJ ultimately removed 27 individuals whom they verified had participated in combat or whose…”
16jpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.81
jpost.com
Backs: “However, CPJ and other watchdogs reinstated or kept the vast majority of the other names, asserting that their non-combat political affiliations, employment by partisan media, or lack of direct military roles meant they remained civilian journalists. Accusations of "Smear Campaigns": Organizations like RSF, CPJ, and…”
17cpj.orgNonprofits and think tanks
cpj.org
Backs: “Accusations of "Smear Campaigns": Organizations like RSF, CPJ, and Al Jazeera have accused the IDF of fabricating or exaggerating terrorism allegations against prominent local reporters (such as Anas al-Sharif) as a pre-emptive measure to "moral[ly] assassinate" them and justify their targeted killings. These groups…”
18creativesunite.euNot yet classified
creativesunite.eu
Backs: “Accusations of "Smear Campaigns": Organizations like RSF, CPJ, and Al Jazeera have accused the IDF of fabricating or exaggerating terrorism allegations against prominent local reporters (such as Anas al-Sharif) as a pre-emptive measure to "moral[ly] assassinate" them and justify their targeted killings. These groups…”
19witness.co.zaNot yet classified
witness.co.za
Backs: “Accusations of "Smear Campaigns": Organizations like RSF, CPJ, and Al Jazeera have accused the IDF of fabricating or exaggerating terrorism allegations against prominent local reporters (such as Anas al-Sharif) as a pre-emptive measure to "moral[ly] assassinate" them and justify their targeted killings. These groups…”
20arabnews.jpNews and media
arabnews.jp
Backs: “These groups point out that because Israel has blocked foreign journalists from entering Gaza independently, local Palestinian reporters are the sole observers on the ground, making them highly vulnerable. Summary”
21themedialine.orgNews and media
themedialine.org
Backs: “Yes, a majority are linked if you define "linked" to include holding non-combat employment at Hamas- or PIJ-run media outlets, being members of their political wings, or being associated with their propaganda departments. No, a majority are not linked if you apply the strict definitions of international humanitarian…”