Were a majority of the Gazan journalists killed since October 7th, 2023 linked to terrorist organizations?
Short answer: No independent evidence shows that a majority of the Palestinian (Gazan) journalists killed since October 7, 2023 were members of terrorist organizations. Press‑freedom groups that track these deaths dispute that claim.
What we know
•As of September 24, 2026, CPJ’s running tally attributes 189 Palestinian journalists and media workers killed in Gaza to Israeli fire (part of a wider total across the region). CPJ has reviewed and corrected its database over time, removing some names after confirming combat roles or non‑journalist status, but it has not concluded that most of those killed were militants.[1]
•Israel’s military and aligned research bodies assert higher militant involvement: the IDF has published a claim that at least 170 people described as “journalists/media personnel” who were killed were actually members of Hamas, PIJ, or other militant groups; the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC) reported that about 60% of 266 deceased “media personnel” had organizational affiliations. These assertions have not been independently verified by neutral watchdogs.[2]
•CPJ and RSF say Israeli authorities have frequently labeled slain Palestinians as “terrorists” without providing sufficient publicly verifiable evidence; CPJ undertook a formal review in June 2026 and adjusted some entries, but still rejects broad, unsubstantiated accusations that most were militants. RSF has likewise pressed the ICC, arguing journalists were largely targeted because of their work.[3]
Bottom line
•Some killed individuals have since been identified by militant groups themselves as combatants, and CPJ has removed such names. But available, independently vetted evidence does not support the claim that a majority of the Gazan journalists killed were militants. The “majority” claim currently rests on Israeli military/intelligence–aligned analyses, not on consensus among independent press‑freedom organizations.[4]
If you’d like, I can break down the specific names CPJ removed or reclassified in its 2026 review.[1]
Backs: “CPJ has reviewed and corrected its database over time, removing some names after confirming combat roles or non‑journalist status, but it has not concluded that most of those killed were militants.”
Backs: “The “majority” claim currently rests on Israeli military/intelligence–aligned analyses, not on consensus among independent press‑freedom organizations.”