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 subject of intense dispute. The answer depends entirely on how "terrorist link" is defined and which database is examined.

The debate centers on two sharply contrasting perspectives: one from the Israeli military and Israeli-affiliated research bodies, and the other from international press freedom organizations.

1. The Israeli Government and IDF Claims

Israeli authorities and Israel-aligned research groups assert that a majority of those identified as journalists killed in Gaza were indeed operatives or affiliates of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), or other armed groups.

•The Meir Amit Center Study (December 2025): The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center published a comprehensive study examining 266 individuals identified as journalists or media workers killed in Gaza between October 7, 2023, and November 30, 2025. The center concluded that about 60% (157 individuals) were members of or affiliated with terrorist organizations. This included 104 linked to Hamas and 45 linked to PIJ, with dozens identified as having "dual roles" as both active military combatants and media workers.

•The IDF Database (October 2026): In October 2026, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) published an online database identifying 170 individuals killed in Gaza who had been publicly presented as journalists, but whom the military asserted were active terror operatives. According to the IDF, 118 were active in Hamas’s military wing, 49 in PIJ, and others in smaller factions. The IDF cited seized documents, organizational records, and the individuals' own social media or operational histories as evidence.

From the Israeli perspective, these individuals were utilizing the guise of "PRESS" insignia as cover for military operations, or were actively integrated into the propaganda and information warfare wings of designated terrorist groups.

2. International Press Freedom Organizations

International watchdogs, such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), reject the claim that a majority of the killed media workers were terrorists, though they have acknowledged that some individuals initially listed as journalists were active combatants.

•CPJ's 2026 Review and Database Adjustments: In mid-2026, CPJ launched a comprehensive review of its Gaza casualty database. This review was triggered when Hamas and PIJ published official "martyr" obituaries and military eulogies identifying several individuals—previously listed by CPJ as journalists—as military commanders or active combatants.

•The Outcome of the Review: Concluding its review in September 2026, CPJ removed a net total of 36 names from its database of slain media workers because they were confirmed to have been active combatants or failed to meet CPJ's definition of a journalist.

•The Maintained Tally: Despite these removals, CPJ maintains that the overwhelming majority of those killed were legitimate, civilian media workers. As of late 2026, CPJ's database attributes the deaths of over 190 civilian journalists and media workers to Israeli forces, declaring the war in Gaza the deadliest conflict for journalists in CPJ's history.

The Definitional Divide

The core disagreement regarding whether a "majority" of the killed journalists had terrorist links rests on how the term "affiliated" is interpreted under international law:

1.The Broad Definition (Israel): Under the Israeli and Meir Amit Center's criteria, any individual employed by a Hamas-run or PIJ-run media outlet (such as Al-Aqsa TV, Al-Quds TV, or Al-Rai Radio) is classified as a "terrorist affiliate" or "propaganda operative". Because Hamas governs Gaza and controls much of the local media infrastructure, a large percentage of local media workers were employed by these U.S.-sanctioned, party-controlled outlets.

2.The Narrow Definition (International Watchdogs): CPJ, RSF, and international humanitarian law experts draw a strict line between active combatants (who take a direct part in hostilities) and media workers (even those working for highly biased, state-run, or party-affiliated outlets). Under international law, working for a propaganda outlet or expressing partisan views does not strip a journalist of their civilian status. Unless a media worker is actively participating in military combat or violence, international watchdogs continue to classify them as civilian casualties.

Summary

While Hamas and PIJ have officially acknowledged that dozens of individuals previously presented as civilian journalists were actually military combatants (prompting international watchdogs to remove them from casualty lists), there is no independent international consensus that a majority of the killed journalists were linked to terrorist organizations.

Israel and aligned researchers argue a majority (~60%) were linked because they include anyone working for Hamas-run media operations. Conversely, global press freedom organizations argue the vast majority were legitimate civilian journalists, maintaining that employment by a Hamas-run outlet does not make a media worker a military target under international law.

Citations (16)

1jpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.81
jpost.com
Backs: “Whether a majority of the Gazan journalists killed since October 7, 2023, were linked to terrorist organizations is a subject of intense dispute.”
2timesofisrael.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
timesofisrael.com
Backs: “Whether a majority of the Gazan journalists killed since October 7, 2023, were linked to terrorist organizations is a subject of intense dispute.”
3nzfoi.orgNot yet classified
nzfoi.org
Backs: “The answer depends entirely on how "terrorist link" is defined and which database is examined.”
4facebook.comSocial media and video
facebook.com
Backs: “The Israeli Government and IDF Claims. Israeli authorities and Israel-aligned research groups assert that a majority of those identified as journalists killed in Gaza were indeed operatives or affiliates of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), or other armed groups.”
5timesofisrael.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
timesofisrael.com
Backs: “The Israeli Government and IDF Claims. Israeli authorities and Israel-aligned research groups assert that a majority of those identified as journalists killed in Gaza were indeed operatives or affiliates of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), or other armed groups.”
6terrorism-info.org.ilNonprofits and think tanks
terrorism-info.org.il
Backs: “The Meir Amit Center Study (December 2025): The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center published a comprehensive study examining 266 individuals identified as journalists or media workers killed in Gaza between October 7, 2023, and November 30, 2025.”
7jpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.81
jpost.com
Backs: “The IDF Database (October 2026): In October 2026, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) published an online database identifying 170 individuals killed in Gaza who had been publicly presented as journalists, but whom the military asserted were active terror operatives.”
8aipac.orgNonprofits and think tanks
aipac.org
Backs: “From the Israeli perspective, these individuals were utilizing the guise of "PRESS" insignia as cover for military operations, or were actively integrated into the propaganda and information warfare wings of designated terrorist groups.”
9timesofisrael.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
timesofisrael.com
Backs: “International Press Freedom Organizations. International watchdogs, such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), reject the claim that a majority of the killed media workers were terrorists, though they have acknowledged that some individuals initially listed as journalists…”
10cpj.orgNonprofits and think tanks
cpj.org
Backs: “CPJ's 2026 Review and Database Adjustments: In mid-2026, CPJ launched a comprehensive review of its Gaza casualty database. This review was triggered when Hamas and PIJ published official "martyr" obituaries and military eulogies identifying several individuals—previously listed by CPJ as journalists—as military…”
11apnews.comNews and mediaquality 1.00
apnews.com
Backs: “The Outcome of the Review: Concluding its review in September 2026, CPJ removed a net total of 36 names from its database of slain media workers because they were confirmed to have been active combatants or failed to meet CPJ's definition of a journalist. The Maintained Tally: Despite these removals, CPJ maintains…”
12youtube.comSocial media and video
youtube.com
Backs: “As of late 2026, CPJ's database attributes the deaths of over 190 civilian journalists and media workers to Israeli forces, declaring the war in Gaza the deadliest conflict for journalists in CPJ's history.”
13honestreporting.comNonprofits and think tanks
honestreporting.com
Backs: “The Broad Definition (Israel): Under the Israeli and Meir Amit Center's criteria, any individual employed by a Hamas-run or PIJ-run media outlet (such as Al-Aqsa TV, Al-Quds TV, or Al-Rai Radio) is classified as a "terrorist affiliate" or "propaganda operative". Because Hamas governs Gaza and controls much of the…”
14camera.orgNot yet classified
camera.org
Backs: “The Broad Definition (Israel): Under the Israeli and Meir Amit Center's criteria, any individual employed by a Hamas-run or PIJ-run media outlet (such as Al-Aqsa TV, Al-Quds TV, or Al-Rai Radio) is classified as a "terrorist affiliate" or "propaganda operative". Because Hamas governs Gaza and controls much of the…”
15cjr.orgNot yet classified
cjr.org
Backs: “The Narrow Definition (International Watchdogs): CPJ, RSF, and international humanitarian law experts draw a strict line between active combatants (who take a direct part in hostilities) and media workers (even those working for highly biased, state-run, or party-affiliated outlets). Under international law, working…”
16themedialine.orgNews and media
themedialine.org
Backs: “Israel and aligned researchers argue a majority (~60%) were linked because they include anyone working for Hamas-run media operations. Conversely, global press freedom organizations argue the vast majority were legitimate civilian journalists, maintaining that employment by a Hamas-run outlet does not make a media…”