Were a majority of the Gazan journalists killed since October 7th, 2023 linked to terrorist organizations?
Yes, according to a detailed study by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC, also referred to as the Amit Terrorism and Intelligence Research Institute), an Israeli research body, a majority—roughly 60%—of Gazans identified as journalists or media personnel killed since October 7, 2023, had links to terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).[1]
The December 2025 ITIC study (updating a February 2024 one) examined 266 individuals listed as journalists/media workers killed in Gaza through November 30, 2025. These names largely came from the Hamas-run government media office (which reported ~256) and Palestinian media, with international tallies (e.g., CPJ, RSF/IFJ) in a similar range of ~220+. Of the 266:
Affiliation criteria included clear membership/military wing roles or employment by outlets run by/affiliated with these groups (indicating identification and acting on their behalf). Many held dual roles as media workers (including propaganda) and armed operatives. The study drew on open sources (Palestinian media, social media), public records, and Hamas documents seized by the IDF. It notes Hamas’s systematic use of media for propaganda, coordination with outlets like Al Jazeera (with specific IDF claims and documents alleging some of its Gaza correspondents were operatives), and cases of journalists covering combat while embedded or dual-hatted.[3]
Later developments provided some corroboration: Hamas and PIJ published obituaries naming fallen operatives, including some previously identified (including by press groups) as journalists or media workers. This led groups like the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) to review and remove certain names (e.g., confirmed combatants) from their databases, though CPJ emphasizes that affiliation alone does not disqualify someone as a journalist under IHL if they are not directly participating in hostilities.[4]
Context and Counterpoints
In short, the primary detailed analysis supporting a majority linked to terror organizations is the ITIC study (~60% of those examined), backed by open-source and captured material plus later admissions by Hamas/PIJ of dual roles for some individuals. Definitions of “journalist,” “linked,” and combatant status are contested, access for independent verification is severely limited, and press freedom organizations maintain that many (or most) were legitimate media workers whose deaths raise serious IHL concerns. The dual-role phenomenon (media + militant/propaganda) has historical precedent in Gaza conflicts and complicates distinctions on the battlefield.
Citations (6)
- https://www.thejc.com/news/israel/most-gazan-journalists-killed-idf-links-terror-x81ahi2c
Backs: “Yes, according to a detailed study by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC, also referred to as the Amit Terrorism and Intelligence Research Institute), an Israeli research body, a majority—roughly 60%—of Gazans identified as journalists or media personnel killed since October 7, 2023, had…”
- https://t.co/J1DuaXdDLy
Backs: “Smaller numbers tied to other groups Israel designates as terrorist organizations (e.g., PFLP, DFLP, Popular Resistance Committees, Fatah’s al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades).”
- https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-880082
Backs: “It notes Hamas’s systematic use of media for propaganda, coordination with outlets like Al Jazeera (with specific IDF claims and documents alleging some of its Gaza correspondents were operatives), and cases of journalists covering combat while embedded or dual-hatted.”
- https://www.timesofisrael.com/finally-naming-their-war-dead-gazan-terror-groups-admit-slain-journalists-were-fighters/
Backs: “This led groups like the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) to review and remove certain names (e.g., confirmed combatants) from their databases, though CPJ emphasizes that affiliation alone does not disqualify someone as a journalist under IHL if they are not directly participating in hostilities.”
- https://cpj.org/2023/10/journalist-casualties-in-the-israel-gaza-war/
Backs: “No foreign accredited journalists have been killed inside Gaza in the same way, partly due to access restrictions.”
- https://cpj.org/2024/08/cpj-denounces-israels-smearing-of-killed-palestinian-journalists-with-unsubstantiated-terrorist-labels/
Backs: “Specific high-profile denials exist (e.g., Al Jazeera rejecting IDF claims about its staff).”