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

I'll search for data on journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023 and examine claims about terrorist ties.

There is no independent consensus - answer depends on source and definition of "linked."

What Israeli and affiliated sources claim - yes, a majority

•The Israel Defense Forces published what it calls the Press Files on Oct 1-2, 2025, saying after extensive research it had identified 170 Gazans killed during the war who were presented as journalists and media personnel but were in fact serving as terrorists

•Breakdown given: 118 were affiliated with Hamas's military wing, 49 with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, two with the Popular Resistance Committees, and one with the Mujahideen Brigades

•IDF said 17 of the 170 participated in the Hamas-led invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023

If compared to total figures cited by Hamas authorities:

•The Government Media Office in Gaza stated the total number of journalists killed has reached 261. 170 of 261 would be ~65%, a majority.

Studies cited to support the majority claim:

•Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center analyzed 266 Palestinians identified as journalists or media workers killed in Gaza between October 2023 and late November 2025 and concluded that about 60% had roles in Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or other armed factions

•The same study concluded at least 157 were either members of or affiliated with terrorist groups, including 104 tied to Hamas and 45 to Islamic Jihad

Audits of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) database, which is widely cited for journalist deaths, by Israeli watchdog HonestReporting:

•HonestReporting told the Washington Free Beacon its audit shows at least 57 percent of supposed media workers have some ties to terrorist organizations

•The audit found the CPJ still includes at least 120 names linked to Hamas and other terror factions on its 209-person list

•After CPJ's own review, HonestReporting found although CPJ removed almost two dozen individuals, 53 percent of those still listed have terrorist ties

•An earlier count: As of June 23, 2026, 112 of the 207 journalists listed by CPJ as having been killed during the war had direct affiliations with terrorist organizations

CPJ itself acknowledges some names should not have been listed:

•CPJ acknowledged removing eight people after subsequent evidence established they were Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad combatants

•Later, after its completed review CPJ had removed 22 individuals, with six being reinstated

•Detailed review: CPJ ultimately removed 19 terrorists and 3 other fake journalists from the list, but reinstated 4 others [...] That leaves a total of 191 supposed Gazan journalists [...] —102 of whom still have demonstrable "connections to terrorist groups," according to HonestReporting

Press freedom groups note that about 61 names that remain include individuals working for media outlets that are affiliated with known terrorist organizations, such as Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV and PIJ-affiliated Al Quds Today TV. Under CPJ's definition, organizations affiliated with militant groups meet the criteria of a legitimate journalistic outlet provided they are not engaging in combat, so employment alone is counted as "affiliation" by the Israeli audits but not as combatant status by CPJ.

What international press freedom and other independent sources say - disputed / not proven

Totals for journalists killed vary by methodology:

•CPJ reported 192 journalists, at least 184 of them Palestinian, had been killed as of August 2025 ; elsewhere CPJ says Israeli forces have killed 191 Palestinian journalists and media workers since the start of the war

•As of June 25, 2026, CPJ documented 209 journalists or media workers killed by Israel in Gaza since October 7, 2023

•Reporters Without Borders says Israeli forces have killed more than 220 journalists

An analysis of the IDF Press Files published by +970 Magazine and reported by Quds News Network concluded:

•Israel's latest list has been debunked due to a lack of credible evidence, with some files containing empty pages, clearly edited documents, and unverifiable snippets

•Mohammed is among 59 journalists whose files contain no photographs, documents, military identification or other publicly available evidence

•The analysis identified 42 cases in which the Israeli military provides no credible incriminating evidence

•Of the 170 names on Israel's list, only 78 reportedly appear in the CPJ database, which records 191 journalists and media workers killed in Gaza

Critics also argue that photographs showing journalists with weapons or military-style clothing, or obituaries published by Hamas or Islamic Jihad cited in 49 cases, do not establish active combatant status at time of death.

CPJ maintains that affiliation with a political or militant organization alone does not exclude someone from being considered a journalist, but individuals actively serving as combatants are excluded, and that determinations are made solely based on whether individuals meet definitions of who is a journalist, not an individual's affiliation.

In short:

•Under Israel's definition and evidence - which includes employment by Hamas/PIJ media, membership in non-military wings, and intelligence documents/payroll records - Israeli sources claim ~53-60% were linked, therefore a majority.

•Under CPJ, RSF and independent journalistic definitions - which require active combatant status or incitement to imminent violence to disqualify someone - press freedom groups dispute that a majority were terrorists, say the IDF evidence is thin, inconsistent and largely unverifiable, and continue to list most of those killed as journalists killed by Israel.

Citations (4)

1worthynews.comNot yet classified
IDF: 170 Gazans Listed As Journalists Were Members Of Terror Groups - Worthy Christian News
Backs: “There is no independent consensus - answer depends on source and definition of "linked.". What Israeli and affiliated sources claim - yes, a majority. The Israel Defense Forces published what it calls the Press Files on Oct 1-2, 2025, saying after extensive research it had identified 170 Gazans killed during the war…”
2substack.comBlogs and newsletters
EXCLUSIVE: Committee to Protect Journalists Still Has Dozens of Violent Militants on Its List of ‘Journalists’ Slain in Gaza, 120 Names Have Terror Ties
Backs: “Audits of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) database, which is widely cited for journalist deaths, by Israeli watchdog HonestReporting: HonestReporting told the Washington Free Beacon its audit shows at least 57 percent of supposed media workers have some ties to terrorist organizations”
3substack.comBlogs and newsletters
More Than Half the Names on Committee to Protect Journalists List of Slain Gaza Journalists Are Still Linked to Terror Outfits Despite Group’s Self-Policing ‘Audit’
Backs: “The audit found the CPJ still includes at least 120 names linked to Hamas and other terror factions on its 209-person list. After CPJ's own review, HonestReporting found although CPJ removed almost two dozen individuals, 53 percent of those still listed have terrorist ties”
4qudsnen.comNot yet classified
Israel’s ‘Terrorist’ List of Palestinian Journalists in Gaza Debunked Over Lack of Evidence
Backs: “Reporters Without Borders says Israeli forces have killed more than 220 journalists. An analysis of the IDF Press Files published by +970 Magazine and reported by Quds News Network concluded: Israel's latest list has been debunked due to a lack of credible evidence, with some files containing empty pages, clearly…”