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

Yes, according to detailed analyses by Israeli sources including the IDF and the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC), a majority (roughly 50-60% or more) of those identified as Gazan journalists or media workers killed since October 7, 2023, had links to terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). These findings are supported in part by the groups’ own admissions and open-source material, though they are contested by press freedom groups like the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which use narrower criteria and dispute the strength or relevance of many claims.[1]

Key Supporting Evidence

•Meir Amit ITIC study (December 2025): Examined 266 individuals identified as journalists or media workers killed in Gaza from October 7, 2023, to November 30, 2025. It found at least 157 (~60%) were members of or clearly affiliated with terror groups: 104 linked to Hamas (including at least 47 as military operatives or members) and 45 to PIJ (including at least 18 operatives), plus smaller numbers tied to Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, PFLP, DFLP, and Popular Resistance Committees. Some held dual roles as armed operatives. The analysis drew on Palestinian media lists (including from the Hamas-run Government Media Office), seized internal documents, public records, and other sources. It noted the blurring of lines due to terror groups’ control of or influence over much of Gaza’s media for propaganda.[2]

•IDF disclosures (notably October 2026 “Press Files”): Identified 170 Gazans presented as journalists/media personnel who were military wing members of terror groups (118 Hamas, 49 PIJ, plus a few others). Evidence cited includes terror organizations’ own documents and materials (some seized in Gaza), military IDs, photos (e.g., with weapons or in uniform), martyr posters/obituaries, and other records. Seventeen allegedly participated in the October 7 attacks. Some had worked as stringers or for outlets including Reuters, CNN, BBC, AFP, Al Jazeera, and others. The IDF maintains it targets terrorists, not journalists, and that dual roles (including propaganda) are common.[3]

•HonestReporting audits of CPJ lists: Multiple reviews found over half of those remaining on CPJ’s Gazan journalist casualty lists had terrorist ties. For example, of ~191 remaining after CPJ removals (as of late 2026), about 102 (~53%) had connections via martyr notices from terror groups, IDF identifications, open-source info (family statements, social media), or employment at terror-affiliated outlets. Earlier audits of larger CPJ lists put the figure around 54-57%. CPJ itself has removed dozens (e.g., 19+ for participating in hostilities, plus others for not meeting journalist definitions) after terror groups published obituaries confirming combatant roles, and after reviews prompted by such revelations.[4]

•Terror groups (Hamas, PIJ) have publicly claimed some of the deceased as their fighters/operatives via obituaries, martyr posters (often detailing units/roles), and statements—evidence that is hard to dismiss when it comes from the groups themselves. Work for Hamas-controlled or affiliated media (e.g., Al-Aqsa TV, Al-Resalah) is frequently cited as a form of affiliation, given the propaganda role.[5]

Early analyses (e.g., 2024) of smaller samples also found substantial shares (~50%+) with ties.[6]

Contestation and Counterpoints

Press freedom organizations report high totals of Palestinian journalists/media workers killed in Gaza (CPJ: around 189-207+ after revisions as of mid/late 2026; IFJ: 200+; Gaza authorities higher, ~260+ in some counts) and accuse Israel of deliberate targeting or a pattern of killings, often in a context of restricted foreign media access.[7]

•CPJ position and methodology: CPJ excludes those “directly participating as combatants” at the time of death but has included individuals affiliated with militant groups or their media (if not actively in combat or inciting imminent violence). It has removed names based on new evidence (including from terror groups) but retains many, arguing affiliation alone does not strip civilian/journalist protections under international humanitarian law. CPJ has called many Israeli claims “unsubstantiated,” “smears,” or lacking credible public evidence, and notes verification challenges in Gaza. An external audit of its review process found it generally followed its criteria. It criticizes Israel for a longstanding pattern of labeling journalists as terrorists.[8]

•Critiques of IDF/Israeli lists (e.g., +972 Magazine): Argue that evidence for many of the 170 is weak or absent in public files (empty pages relying on “intelligence sources,” allegedly edited documents, unverifiable snippets); some named individuals were critics of Hamas or had been victimized by it; “October 7 participants” may include people who simply went to the border to document events; and Israel has a history of disputed claims. Not all “links” equate to combat roles that would make someone a lawful target.[9]

•Definitional issues: “Linked to” is broad—it can range from active military membership/operatives (strongest cases, with IDs, photos, claims of responsibility) to employment at affiliated media, family ties, social media activity, or propaganda roles. International law protects journalists as civilians unless they directly participate in hostilities. Hamas’s governance and media control in Gaza complicate independent journalism. Totals of “journalists killed” vary by source and inclusion criteria (e.g., freelancers, media workers, those killed at home vs. while reporting).

Bottom Line

Israeli analyses (ITIC, IDF) and supporting open-source/terror-group material indicate that a majority of those labeled as Gazan journalists killed since October 7 had affiliations or roles with designated terrorist organizations, often dual civilian-military/propaganda functions. This is consistent across multiple reports and has led even CPJ to remove confirmed combatants. However, the precise percentage, the strength of evidence in every case, and whether “links” (especially non-combat affiliations) justify the deaths or remove protections remain heavily disputed. Independent verification is inherently difficult due to the war environment, access restrictions, and polarized sourcing. Many specific cases have compelling evidence (e.g., groups claiming their own dead as fighters); others rely more on intelligence or looser ties.

Citations (9)

1timesofisrael.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
https://www.timesofisrael.com/majority-of-journalists-killed-in-gaza-linked-to-terror-organizations-study-says/
Backs: “These findings are supported in part by the groups’ own admissions and open-source material, though they are contested by press freedom groups like the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which use narrower criteria and dispute the strength or relevance of many claims.”
2thejc.comNews and mediaquality 0.51
https://www.thejc.com/news/israel/most-gazan-journalists-killed-idf-links-terror-x81ahi2c
Backs: “It noted the blurring of lines due to terror groups’ control of or influence over much of Gaza’s media for propaganda.”
3timesofisrael.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-documents-terror-affiliations-of-170-palestinian-journalists-killed-in-gaza-war/
Backs: “The IDF maintains it targets terrorists, not journalists, and that dual roles (including propaganda) are common.”
4honestreporting.comNonprofits and think tanks
https://honestreporting.com/cpj-audits-list-of-dead-gazan-journalist-more-than-half-still-have-terrorist-ties/
Backs: “CPJ itself has removed dozens (e.g., 19+ for participating in hostilities, plus others for not meeting journalist definitions) after terror groups published obituaries confirming combatant roles, and after reviews prompted by such revelations.”
5timesofisrael.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
https://www.timesofisrael.com/finally-naming-their-war-dead-gazan-terror-groups-admit-slain-journalists-were-fighters/
Backs: “Work for Hamas-controlled or affiliated media (e.g., Al-Aqsa TV, Al-Resalah) is frequently cited as a form of affiliation, given the propaganda role.”
6algemeiner.comNews and mediaquality 0.77
https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/02/26/who-are-the-killed-gazan-journalists-affiliated-with-palestinian-terror-groups/
Backs: “Early analyses (e.g., 2024) of smaller samples also found substantial shares (~50%+) with ties.”
7cpj.orgNonprofits and think tanks
https://cpj.org/2023/10/journalist-casualties-in-the-israel-gaza-war/
Backs: “Gaza authorities higher, ~260+ in some counts) and accuse Israel of deliberate targeting or a pattern of killings, often in a context of restricted foreign media access.”
8archive.phData and tools
https://archive.ph/2025.03.24-210548/https://cpj.org/2024/08/cpj-denounces-israels-smearing-of-killed-palestinian-journalists-with-unsubstantiated-terrorist-labels/
Backs: “It criticizes Israel for a longstanding pattern of labeling journalists as terrorists.”
9972mag.comNews and mediaquality 0.84
https://www.972mag.com/israeli-army-gaza-journalists-terrorists-debunked/
Backs: “Not all “links” equate to combat roles that would make someone a lawful target.”