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

Short answer: No credible, independent evidence shows that a majority of Gazan journalists killed since October 7, 2023 were members of militant or terrorist organizations.

What the best evidence says

•CPJ, the main watchdog tracking these deaths, began a formal review of its Gaza database on June 25, 2026 after some militant obituaries surfaced. As of that reporting, CPJ had removed a small number of names; CJR’s summary of CPJ’s internal figures said 20 people had been removed in total since Oct 7, 2023, including eight later determined to be active combatants—not a majority of the dead.[1]

•An investigation by the Guardian and Forbidden Stories found that about 30% of those killed worked for outlets affiliated with or closely tied to Hamas (e.g., Al‑Aqsa), which is far short of a majority. Legal experts note that employment at a Hamas‑linked outlet does not make someone a combatant under the laws of war.[2]

•CPJ’s methodology treats journalists as civilians unless there is evidence they directly participated in hostilities; affiliation with a non‑state actor’s media arm alone does not remove civilian protection. CPJ has also criticized repeated Israeli assertions labeling slain Palestinian journalists as “terrorists” without presenting verifiable proof.[3]

Claims that “most” had terror ties

•Pro‑Israel advocacy groups and an Israeli research center have published audits claiming that over half had “ties” to terrorist groups. These counts generally define “ties” to include working for Hamas‑run or affiliated media, or rely on martyr posters and broad organizational labels; they have not been validated by independent press‑freedom organizations and are disputed.[4]

Bottom line: While a subset of those killed either worked for Hamas‑linked outlets or, in a limited number of cases, were later identified as combatants and removed from independent databases, the available independent reporting does not support the claim that a majority of Gazan journalists killed since Oct 7, 2023 were linked to terrorist organizations.[5]

Citations (5)

1cpj.orgNonprofits and think tanks
CPJ undertakes review of its documentation of journalists killed in Israel-Gaza war since 2023 - Committee to Protect Journalists
Backs: “CJR’s summary of CPJ’s internal figures said 20 people had been removed in total since Oct 7, 2023, including eight later determined to be active combatants—not a majority of the dead.”
2theguardian.comNews and mediaquality 0.75
‘The grey zone’: how IDF views some journalists in Gaza as legitimate targets | Israel-Gaza war | The Guardian
Backs: “Legal experts note that employment at a Hamas‑linked outlet does not make someone a combatant under the laws of war.”
3cpj.orgNonprofits and think tanks
FAQ: How CPJ documents press killings in the Israel-Gaza war - Committee to Protect Journalists
Backs: “CPJ has also criticized repeated Israeli assertions labeling slain Palestinian journalists as “terrorists” without presenting verifiable proof.”
4honestreporting.comNonprofits and think tanks
Audit of CPJ Gaza Journalists Database Shows Over Half Linked to Terrorism | HonestReporting
Backs: “These counts generally define “ties” to include working for Hamas‑run or affiliated media, or rely on martyr posters and broad organizational labels; they have not been validated by independent press‑freedom organizations and are disputed.”
5cjr.orgNot yet classified
Who Counts? - Columbia Journalism Review
Backs: “While a subset of those killed either worked for Hamas‑linked outlets or, in a limited number of cases, were later identified as combatants and removed from independent databases, the available independent reporting does not support the claim that a majority of Gazan journalists killed since Oct 7, 2023 were linked to…”