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

I'll examine claims about Gazan journalists killed since October 7th and their alleged ties to terrorist groups.

According to studies that reviewed the names of Gazans listed as journalists/media workers killed since October 7, 2023 - a majority were found to be linked to terrorist organizations.

•The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center published a 140-page study examining, name by name, Palestinians identified as journalists or media workers killed in Gaza, and concluded that roughly 60% were members of or affiliated with terrorist organizations — primarily Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad

•The study examined 266 media workers reported killed between Oct. 7, 2023, and Nov. 30, 2025, and found that 157 were members of or affiliated with terror groups

•At least 157 of them, or about 60%, were operatives or affiliated with terrorist organizations, primarily Hamas and PIJ as follows: 104 were identified as Hamas members, of whom at least 47 were members of the movement and/or military operatives; 45 were operatives or affiliated with the PIJ, of whom at least 18 were identified as members

Two criteria were used: clear information of membership in an organization or in its military wing, or employment by media outlets belonging to one of the organizations

A parallel audit by HonestReporting reached similar conclusions:

•An HonestReporting audit of CPJ's deceased Gaza journalist database showed that 57% of the individuals had ties to terrorism

•CPJ maintains a database of 209 Gazan media workers that were killed during the war with Hamas, but a review indicates that 120 of the individuals, or 57%, had terrorist ties

•A separate HonestReporting review determined that CPJ's list still includes at least 120 names linked to Hamas and other terror factions out of 209 total, well over half【6103534820264776131†H78-H81】

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), whose database is widely cited for the death toll, has acknowledged some misclassifications:

•The Committee to Protect Journalists said that 19 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire who it had previously identified as journalists or media workers were actually militants or participants in combat

•Since the Oct. 7 attack, CPJ has removed a total of 27 people from its list of slain journalists after finding that they participated in combat or belonged to a militant group

•CPJ said it initially did not consider membership in a military media unit alone as proof of engagement in combat, but has since revised its criteria to exclude anyone with active membership of any military arm of a state or non-state actor

CPJ and other press freedom groups dispute the broader 60% claim, noting:

•CPJ says its process requires at least two independent sources before someone is added to the database

•In-person verification by outside researchers has been impossible since Israel barred international correspondents from entering Gaza independently at the start of the war

•CPJ CEO said the group does not include anyone when there is evidence they were engaged in combat or inciting imminent violence, and that journalists affiliated with non-state actors remain civilians under international humanitarian law as long as they do not directly participate in hostilities

The 60% figure most widely cited traces to the Meir Amit analysis which reviewed a list of 266 people described as journalists or media workers killed in Gaza, an institute linked to Israeli military intelligence.

Citations (4)

1algemeiner.comNews and mediaquality 0.77
Group Behind Gaza Press Death Toll Quietly Removes Hamas and Islamic Jihad Fighters From Its List
Backs: “According to studies that reviewed the names of Gazans listed as journalists/media workers killed since October 7, 2023 - a majority were found to be linked to terrorist organizations. The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center published a 140-page study examining, name by name, Palestinians…”
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 study examined 266 media workers reported killed between Oct. 7, 2023, and Nov. 30, 2025, and found that 157 were members of or affiliated with terror groups. At least 157 of them, or about 60%, were operatives or affiliated with terrorist organizations, primarily Hamas and PIJ as follows: 104 were identified as…”
3honestreporting.comNonprofits and think tanks
Audit of CPJ Gaza Journalists Database Shows Over Half Linked to Terrorism | HonestReporting
Backs: “Two criteria were used: clear information of membership in an organization or in its military wing, or employment by media outlets belonging to one of the organizations. A parallel audit by HonestReporting reached similar conclusions: An HonestReporting audit of CPJ's deceased Gaza journalist database showed that 57%…”
4lapost.comNot yet classified
Rights group says some people it classified as journalists killed in Gaza were militants
Backs: “The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), whose database is widely cited for the death toll, has acknowledged some misclassifications: The Committee to Protect Journalists said that 19 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire who it had previously identified as journalists or media workers were actually militants or…”