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

I'll investigate journalists killed in Gaza since October 7th and examine any reported ties to terrorist groups.

Evidence indicates a majority were linked, according to Israeli studies and military intelligence, though the figure is disputed by press-freedom groups.

•A December 2025 study by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center examined, name by name, Palestinians identified as journalists or media workers killed in Gaza and concluded that roughly 60% were members of or affiliated with terrorist organizations — primarily Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The study examined 266 media workers reported killed between Oct. 7, 2023, and Nov. 30, 2025, and found that 157 were members of or affiliated with terror groups.

More detailed: The research examined 266 media workers reported killed between October 7, 2023, and November 30, 2025. Of these, 157 — roughly 60% — were either members of terrorist groups or worked for outlets affiliated with them. At least 47 belonged to Hamas's military wing and 45 were linked to Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The Institute described a 140-page study reaching the same ~60% conclusion.

•The analysis drew on seized Hamas documents, Palestinian media reports and IDF intelligence, determining ~60% — at least 157 individuals — were affiliated with terrorist organizations, primarily Hamas (104 cases, including 47 confirmed military operatives). It also found approximately 60% of Gazans listed as killed media personnel were affiliated with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

•The Israel Defense Forces published a separate database in 2026 that it says identifies 170 Gazans who were described as journalists but served in militant groups. The IDF said:

> "After conducting extensive research, the IDF has now revealed that 170 Gazans killed during the war and presented as journalists and media personnel were actually terrorists working for terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, primarily Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad,"

with a breakdown of 118 tied to Hamas's military wing, 49 to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, two to the Popular Resistance Committees and one to another group, and 118 belonged to Hamas's military wing, 49 to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the rest to smaller factions. Seventeen of them actually crossed into Israel on 7 October 2023.

•Independent review of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) list also found a majority still linked after CPJ's own audit:

HonestReporting examined the rejiggered list and found 102 of 191 people still on the roster have demonstrable connections to terrorist groups, 53 percent.

Other HonestReporting audits found:

•Of the 191 Gazan journalists on CPJ's list, 102 were found in a preliminary audit to have connections to terrorist groups

•The HonestReporting audit found that 120 of the 209 Gazan media workers, or 57 percent, had terrorist ties

•CPJ itself has acknowledged the issue and removed individuals:

CPJ completed a comprehensive review of 229 deaths documented between October 2023 and August 2026 and removed 22 people previously included in its database, including 19 whom subsequent research established had engaged in combat. Combined with eight earlier removals made on the same grounds, CPJ had removed 27 individuals after establishing combat participation.

Other reporting notes CPJ removed 27 “journalists” from its lists after determining that they were Hamas or PIJ combatants, but retained others despite militant obituaries when evidence did not establish active combatant status.

•The BBC Arabic report listing more than 180 journalists killed was found by a Telegraph investigation to have 53 of those named had ties to Hamas or other terrorist groups, and the BBC said it was reviewing the names following CPJ's findings.

Press-freedom organizations dispute the breadth of the Israeli claims, with CPJ calling on Israel to stop labeling journalists as terrorists without providing sufficient and reliable evidence, while also condemning the "misrepresentation of combatants as journalists or media workers".

In summary, Israeli government and affiliated research institute findings conclude that a majority — about 60% (157/266 in the Meir Amit sample, 170 identified by IDF, and 53-57% of CPJ's remaining list per HonestReporting) — of Gazans killed since October 7, 2023 who were presented as journalists had documented affiliation with or membership in Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad or other armed factions.

Citations (3)

1tps.co.ilGovernment
‘Dual Roles Undermine Trust in Media’: Most Journalists Killed in Gaza Had Terror Ties, Study Finds
Backs: “More detailed: The research examined 266 media workers reported killed between October 7, 2023, and November 30, 2025.”
2grokipedia.comNot yet classified
Violence against Palestinian journalists
Backs: “The analysis drew on seized Hamas documents, Palestinian media reports and IDF intelligence, determining ~60% — at least 157 individuals — were affiliated with terrorist organizations, primarily Hamas (104 cases, including 47 confirmed military operatives). It also found approximately 60% of Gazans listed as killed…”
3honestreporting.comNonprofits and think tanks
CPJ Audits List of Dead Gazan Journalist – More Than Half Still Have Terrorist Ties
Backs: “HonestReporting examined the rejiggered list and found 102 of 191 people still on the roster have demonstrable connections to terrorist groups, 53 percent. Other HonestReporting audits found: Of the 191 Gazan journalists on CPJ's list, 102 were found in a preliminary audit to have connections to terrorist groups”