Were a majority of the Gazan journalists killed since October 7th, 2023 linked to terrorist organizations?
The Meir Amit Center and HonestReporting say a majority (53-60%) of killed journalists had terror ties, while CPJ and RSF found militant involvement in only about 19 of 200+ cases and dispute Israel's evidence.
This is a contested claim with significant disagreement between sources, and the answer depends heavily on which organization's methodology you trust.
The claim that a majority were linked to terrorism comes from Israeli sources:
The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, an Israeli research institute, published a study asserting that a majority of Gaza-based journalists killed since the outbreak of the war were operatives in, or closely affiliated with, terrorist organizations, primarily Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, examining 266 individuals killed between October 7, 2023, and November 30, 2025. Specifically, at least 157 of them — roughly 60 percent — were members of terror groups or clearly affiliated with them, including at least 47 belonging to Hamas's military wing and 45 linked to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including 18 confirmed operatives. The researchers said they matched Hamas casualty lists and Palestinian press reports with Israel Defense Forces documents, internal rosters, and social media evidence that showed dual roles.
However, this conclusion is strongly disputed by press freedom organizations:
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the main international watchdog tracking these deaths, has taken a very different position. After conducting its own audit, CPJ says that 19 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire who it had previously identified as journalists or media workers were actually militants or participants in combat — out of roughly 200+ names, not a majority. CPJ has stated it has considered all Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza to have been killed in connection with their work since they can do their work anywhere and because they are not allowed to leave the territory.
Importantly, Israel has said a number of slain journalists were members of Hamas or other armed groups posing as reporters, and in some cases has provided evidence of such ties that was rejected by their employers. In several high-profile cases, Israel's specific evidence has been challenged. For example, when Israel accused Al Jazeera journalist Ismail al-Ghoul of being a Hamas member, it released an apparently fabricated document as supposed evidence, which claimed that al-Ghoul received a Hamas military rank in 2007 – when he would have been 10 years old. Similarly, RSF's Middle East desk head said accusations against journalist Hussam Shabat "can in no way justify his murder, as they are based on documents that in no way constitute that the journalist had any affiliation" with Hamas's armed wing.
A more recent HonestReporting audit of CPJ's own database claimed that more than half of those who remain on CPJ's list were individuals with ties to terrorist organizations, and that the CPJ review removed almost two dozen individuals who participated in combat, but 53 percent of those still listed have terrorist ties — though this comes from a pro-Israel advocacy organization, not an independent press-freedom body.
Bottom line: There is no consensus. Pro-Israel research institutes (Meir Amit Center, HonestReporting) claim roughly 53-60% of those counted as "journalists" had terrorist ties, based largely on Israeli military intelligence and documents. Independent press freedom organizations like CPJ and RSF dispute this, having found evidence of combat/militant involvement in only a small fraction of cases (around 19 out of ~200+ on CPJ's list) and have specifically challenged some of Israel's evidence as fabricated or insufficiently substantiated. Given this sharp divide and reliance on classified/military intelligence that isn't independently verifiable, whether "a majority" were linked to terrorism is a disputed political claim rather than a settled fact.
Citations (10)
- Majority of journalists killed in Gaza linked to terror organizations, study says | The Times of Israel
Source excerpt: “(AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) A new study by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center asserts that a majority of Gaza-based journalists...”
attribution, article, points to yes. Claim: Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center study asserts a majority of Gaza-based journalists killed were operatives or affiliated with terrorist organizations.
- Majority of journalists killed in Gaza linked to terror organizations, study says | The Times of Israel
Source excerpt: “According to the center, at least 157 of them — roughly 60 percent — were members of terror groups or clearly affiliated with them, including 104 link...”
statistic, article, points to yes. Claim: At least 157 of 266 journalists killed, roughly 60 percent, were members of or clearly affiliated with terror groups.
- Some 60% of journalists killed in Gaza were part of terrorist organizations - study
Source excerpt: “At least 47 belonged to Hamas’s military wing and 45 were linked to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including 18 confirmed operatives. ”
statistic, article, points to yes. Claim: At least 47 belonged to Hamas's military wing and 45 were linked to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including 18 confirmed operatives.
- Study Says up to 60% of Gaza War Journalists Killed Were Affiliated With Terrorist Groups - The Media Line
Source excerpt: “Researchers said they matched Hamas casualty lists and Palestinian press reports with Israel Defense Forces documents, internal rosters, and social me...”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: Researchers matched Hamas casualty lists and Palestinian press reports with IDF documents, rosters, and social media evidence showing dual roles.
- Rights group says some journalists killed in Gaza were actually militants - Action News Jax
Source excerpt: “The Committee to Protect Journalists says that 19 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire who it had previously identified as journalists or media workers...”
statistic, article, points to no. Claim: CPJ audit found 19 Palestinians previously identified as journalists were actually militants or combat participants, out of roughly 200+ names.
- Rights group says some journalists killed in Gaza were actually militants - Action News Jax
Source excerpt: “CPJ says that it considers all Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza to have been killed in connection with their work since they can do their work a...”
attribution, article, points to no. Claim: CPJ considers all Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza to have been killed in connection with their work.
- Rights group says some journalists killed in Gaza were actually militants - Action News Jax
Source excerpt: “Israel denies targeting journalists and has said a number of slain journalists were members of Hamas or other armed groups posing as reporters. In som...”
attribution, article, points to yes. Claim: Israel says a number of slain journalists were Hamas or armed group members posing as reporters, sometimes with evidence rejected by employers.
- Media freedom watchdog decries Israel’s killing of journalists in Gaza
Source excerpt: “Israel had also said that al-Ghoul was a member of Hamas and later released an apparently fabricated document as supposed evidence, which claimed that...”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: Israel released an apparently fabricated document claiming Ismail al-Ghoul held a Hamas rank in 2007 when he would have been 10.
- Israel says Al Jazeera journalist it killed in Gaza was Hamas ‘sniper’
Source excerpt: “Jonathan Dagher, head of the RSF’s Middle East desk, said in a statement that the accusations from last year “can in no way justify his murder, as the...”
attribution, article, points to no. Claim: RSF's Middle East desk head said accusations against Hussam Shabat cannot justify his killing and are not based on proof of affiliation.
- CPJ Audits List of Dead Gazan Journalist – More Than Half Still Have Terrorist Ties | HonestReporting
Source excerpt: “But a preliminary audit by HonestReporting found more than half of those who remain were individuals with ties to terrorist organizations. Although th...”
statistic, article, points to yes. Claim: HonestReporting audit claimed more than half (53%) of those remaining on CPJ's list had terrorist ties; it is a pro-Israel advocacy group.