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

Short answer: No reliable, independent body has found that a majority were militants. That claim comes mainly from Israeli government/affiliated analyses and has been disputed by press‑freedom groups.

Key points:

•The Israel Defense Forces published “The Press Files,” asserting that at least 170 of those publicly described as Gaza journalists or media workers killed in the war were actually members of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or other groups. The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center likewise claimed “about 60%” had such affiliations; the media watchdog HonestReporting claimed 57%. These figures rely on Israeli intelligence and open‑source attributions that outside groups have generally not been able to verify.[1]

•After a months‑long review completed on September 24, 2026, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) removed 22 names from its database for Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territory; 19 of those were reclassified as militants or participants in combat. CPJ still counts the large majority of the dead as journalists or media workers, not militants; Associated Press coverage of the review put the Gaza/Palestinian toll at 191 after the revisions—far from a majority being militants.[2]

•Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and CPJ have repeatedly said Israeli allegations often lack publicly verifiable evidence, and they stress that working for an outlet affiliated with a faction (for example, a Hamas‑run media outlet) does not by itself make someone a combatant under international humanitarian law unless they directly participate in hostilities.[3]

Bottom line: While Israeli military and allied analyses claim that more than half of the Gaza journalists/media workers killed since October 7, 2023 were tied to terrorist groups, independent press‑freedom organizations do not corroborate that; based on CPJ’s latest audited review, only a smaller subset were found to be militants or engaged in combat, not a majority.[1]

Citations (3)

1idf.ilGovernment
The Press Files | IDF
Backs: “These figures rely on Israeli intelligence and open‑source attributions that outside groups have generally not been able to verify.”
2cpj.orgNonprofits and think tanks
CPJ completes review of journalists killed in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory - Committee to Protect Journalists
Backs: “Associated Press coverage of the review put the Gaza/Palestinian toll at 191 after the revisions—far from a majority being militants.”
3rsf.orgNonprofits and think tanks
RSF files fifth complaint with ICC about Israeli war crimes against journalists in Gaza | RSF
Backs: “Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and CPJ have repeatedly said Israeli allegations often lack publicly verifiable evidence, and they stress that working for an outlet affiliated with a faction (for example, a Hamas‑run media outlet) does not by itself make someone a combatant under international humanitarian law unless…”