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

Whether a majority of the Gazan journalists killed since October 7, 2023, were linked to terrorist organizations is a highly contested question. The answer depends heavily on how different organizations define "linked," "journalist," and "combatant" under international law.

While Israeli intelligence and some media investigations have identified a significant number of killed media workers who had ties to militant groups, international press freedom watchdogs and human rights organizations maintain that the vast majority of those killed were civilian journalists and not active combatants.

The evidence and perspectives surrounding this issue are detailed below.

1. The Israeli Position and the "60%" Study

Israeli officials and military intelligence have consistently argued that many of the individuals identified as journalists in Gaza were actually members of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

•The Meir Amit Study (December 2025): The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (an Israeli research group with ties to military intelligence) published a study analyzing 266 individuals identified as journalists or media workers killed in Gaza between October 7, 2023, and November 30, 2025. The center asserted that at least 157 of them (roughly 60%) were operatives in or closely affiliated with terrorist groups, including 104 linked to Hamas and 45 to PIJ. The report claimed some of these individuals held active, dual roles as both reporters and armed combatants.

•The IDF’s Stance: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have frequently accused specific journalists—particularly those working for outlets like Al-Aqsa TV or Al Jazeera—of being active military operatives, snipers, or drone operators.

2. Media Investigations and Revisions by Press Watchdogs

During the conflict, several independent investigations and reviews by international bodies led to the removal of dozens of names from lists of killed journalists, confirming that some individuals previously labeled as media workers did have combatant ties.

•The Telegraph Investigation (September 2026): An investigation by the UK's Telegraph newspaper reviewed a BBC Arabic report that listed more than 180 journalists killed in Gaza. The Telegraph found that 53 of those named (about 29%) had verified ties to Hamas or other armed groups. Evidence included photographs of the individuals in military uniform, carrying weapons, or being memorialized by militant groups as "martyrs" or field commanders after their deaths. In response, the BBC launched a review of its reporting.

•Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Audits (2026): In mid-2026, the CPJ launched a comprehensive review of its database of casualties. This was prompted by Hamas and PIJ publishing official military obituaries for several individuals who had previously been recorded on the CPJ's list as civilian journalists. Following this audit, the CPJ removed approximately 30 names from its tally after concluding that they had "engaged in combat" or did not meet the criteria of being media workers. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) made similar, smaller revisions to its database.

3. The Counterargument: Press Freedom and International Law

Despite these verified cases of combatant overlap, international watchdogs, UN experts, and human rights groups strongly reject the claim that a majority of the killed journalists were linked to terrorist organizations.

•The Majority Remain Classified as Civilians: Even after the CPJ and IFJ audits, the vast majority of the journalists on their lists (which include well over 100 to 200+ names depending on the watchdog and timeframe) remain classified as civilian casualties. They point out that even if dozens of individuals had militant ties, they represent a minority of the overall journalist death toll, which they describe as the deadliest for media workers in modern history.

•Distinction Under International Humanitarian Law: A central point of contention is the definition of "linked". Organizations like Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the CPJ emphasize that working for a politically affiliated, state-run, or Hamas-run media organization (such as Al-Aqsa TV or Radio) does not strip a media worker of their civilian status. Under international law, a journalist remains a protected civilian unless they are actively taking a direct part in hostilities.

•Accusations of "Smear Campaigns": Press freedom advocates accuse the Israeli government of using unproven allegations and broad definitions of "militant affiliation" to retroactively justify the high number of journalist deaths and evade accountability for what they argue is the systematic targeting of media personnel.

Summary

While investigations by Israel and international media have proven that a significant minority (ranging roughly from 15% to 30% depending on the specific list analyzed) of those initially classified as killed journalists were indeed combatants or members of armed groups, independent press freedom organizations maintain that the majority of the killed Gazan journalists were civilian media workers with no active role in hostilities.

Citations (9)

1algemeiner.comNews and mediaquality 0.77
algemeiner.com
Backs: “The Israeli Position and the "60%" Study. Israeli officials and military intelligence have consistently argued that many of the individuals identified as journalists in Gaza were actually members of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).”
2timesofisrael.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
timesofisrael.com
Backs: “The Israeli Position and the "60%" Study. Israeli officials and military intelligence have consistently argued that many of the individuals identified as journalists in Gaza were actually members of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).”
3facebook.comSocial media and video
facebook.com
Backs: “The report claimed some of these individuals held active, dual roles as both reporters and armed combatants.”
4i24news.tvNot yet classified
i24news.tv
Backs: “The IDF’s Stance: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have frequently accused specific journalists—particularly those working for outlets like Al-Aqsa TV or Al Jazeera—of being active military operatives, snipers, or drone operators. 2.”
5aipac.orgNonprofits and think tanks
aipac.org
Backs: “The IDF’s Stance: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have frequently accused specific journalists—particularly those working for outlets like Al-Aqsa TV or Al Jazeera—of being active military operatives, snipers, or drone operators. 2.”
6wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “The IDF’s Stance: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have frequently accused specific journalists—particularly those working for outlets like Al-Aqsa TV or Al Jazeera—of being active military operatives, snipers, or drone operators. 2.”
7israelhayom.comNot yet classified
israelhayom.com
Backs: “The Telegraph found that 53 of those named (about 29%) had verified ties to Hamas or other armed groups. Evidence included photographs of the individuals in military uniform, carrying weapons, or being memorialized by militant groups as "martyrs" or field commanders after their deaths.”
8cpj.orgNonprofits and think tanks
cpj.org
Backs: “The Counterargument: Press Freedom and International Law. Despite these verified cases of combatant overlap, international watchdogs, UN experts, and human rights groups strongly reject the claim that a majority of the killed journalists were linked to terrorist organizations. The Majority Remain Classified as…”
9theguardian.comNews and mediaquality 0.75
theguardian.com
Backs: “They point out that even if dozens of individuals had militant ties, they represent a minority of the overall journalist death toll, which they describe as the deadliest for media workers in modern history. Distinction Under International Humanitarian Law: A central point of contention is the definition of "linked".”