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

Whether a majority of Gazan journalists killed since October 7, 2023, were linked to terrorist organizations is a subject of intense international dispute, with the answer depending heavily on how one defines a "journalist" and the criteria used to establish a "link" to a militant group.

The debate is characterized by two vastly different conclusions from Israeli authorities and international press freedom organizations.

The Israeli and Pro-Israel Research Perspective: "Yes"

Israeli authorities and affiliated research groups argue that a majority of the individuals identified as journalists killed in Gaza were indeed members of or closely affiliated with terrorist organizations, primarily Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

•The Meir Amit Center Study: In December 2025, the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (an Israeli-based research group) published a comprehensive study analyzing 266 individuals identified as journalists or media workers killed in Gaza between October 7, 2023, and November 30, 2025. The study concluded that roughly 60% (157 individuals) were members of, or clearly affiliated with, terrorist groups (including 104 linked to Hamas and 45 to PIJ).

•Active Military Roles: The study and subsequent military intelligence claims asserted that dozens of these individuals had "dual identities"—serving simultaneously as active military operatives (such as snipers, commanders, or intelligence agents) while carrying press credentials.

•IDF Database: In October 2026, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a database listing 170 Gazans killed in the war who had been presented to the world as journalists, but whom the IDF claimed were active operatives for Hamas or PIJ, using seized documents and public militant obituaries as evidence.

•Hamas-Run Media: A significant portion of those counted in Gaza's official journalist death tolls were employees of Hamas-operated media networks, such as Al-Aqsa TV or Al-Aqsa Voice Radio. Israeli advocates argue that these outlets function purely as propaganda and information-warfare arms of a terrorist organization, meaning their employees are part of the militant infrastructure.

The International Press Freedom and Humanitarian Law Perspective: "No"

International press watchdogs—such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)—as well as the United Nations, dispute the claim that a majority of the killed media workers were terrorists. They maintain that the vast majority were civilian journalists protected under international law.

•Civilian Status Under International Law: Under international humanitarian law (IHL), journalists are considered civilians and are protected from attack unless they directly participate in hostilities. Legally, a media worker does not lose their civilian status simply because they work for a state-run, partisan, or even a militant-affiliated outlet (such as Al-Aqsa TV), nor does shaping public opinion or broadcasting propaganda make them a combatant.

•Watchdog Definitions: CPJ defines a journalist as anyone who regularly reports or shares fact-based information with an audience. Its policy includes those working for faction-linked or state-backed media, provided they are not actively engaging in combat or inciting imminent violence.

•CPJ’s Database Audits and Removals: Following the publication of "martyrdom notices" and obituaries by Hamas and PIJ identifying some slain journalists as their active combatants, CPJ conducted extensive internal reviews in mid-to-late 2026.

•Through these reviews, CPJ removed 27 individuals from its list of slain journalists after confirming they had participated in combat or were active combatants in militant groups.

•However, even after these corrections, CPJ still listed 191 Palestinian journalists and media workers as civilian casualties of the conflict. This means that in CPJ's audited dataset, only a small minority (around 12%) of those initially identified as journalists were verified to have militant combat ties, leaving the vast majority (about 88%) classified as protected civilian media workers.

•Allegations of Slander: RSF, the UN, and other watchdogs have accused the Israeli government of using broad, unproven, or retroactive allegations of terrorist affiliation to justify what they describe as the systematic and historically unprecedented killing of journalists in Gaza.

Summary

If one classifies anyone employed by a Hamas-run media outlet or affiliated with a political faction as a "terrorist link," then a majority of those killed fit that description. However, according to international law and global press freedom watchdogs, simply working for partisan or faction-backed media does not strip a journalist of civilian status. Under this standard, while several dozen individuals have been proven to have active combatant ties, the vast majority of those killed were civilian media workers who did not directly participate in hostilities.

Citations (17)

1themedialine.orgNews and media
themedialine.org
Backs: “Whether a majority of Gazan journalists killed since October 7, 2023, were linked to terrorist organizations is a subject of intense international dispute, with the answer depending heavily on how one defines a "journalist" and the criteria used to establish a "link" to a militant group.”
2jns.orgNews and mediaquality 0.78
jns.org
Backs: “Whether a majority of Gazan journalists killed since October 7, 2023, were linked to terrorist organizations is a subject of intense international dispute, with the answer depending heavily on how one defines a "journalist" and the criteria used to establish a "link" to a militant group.”
3timesofisrael.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
timesofisrael.com
Backs: “The Israeli and Pro-Israel Research Perspective: "Yes". Israeli authorities and affiliated research groups argue that a majority of the individuals identified as journalists killed in Gaza were indeed members of or closely affiliated with terrorist organizations, primarily Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).”
4terrorism-info.org.ilNonprofits and think tanks
terrorism-info.org.il
Backs: “The Meir Amit Center Study: In December 2025, the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (an Israeli-based research group) published a comprehensive study analyzing 266 individuals identified as journalists or media workers killed in Gaza between October 7, 2023, and November 30, 2025.”
5facebook.comSocial media and video
facebook.com
Backs: “Active Military Roles: The study and subsequent military intelligence claims asserted that dozens of these individuals had "dual identities"—serving simultaneously as active military operatives (such as snipers, commanders, or intelligence agents) while carrying press credentials. IDF Database: In October 2026, the…”
6jpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.81
jpost.com
Backs: “IDF Database: In October 2026, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a database listing 170 Gazans killed in the war who had been presented to the world as journalists, but whom the IDF claimed were active operatives for Hamas or PIJ, using seized documents and public militant obituaries as evidence. Hamas-Run…”
7timesofisrael.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
timesofisrael.com
Backs: “IDF Database: In October 2026, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a database listing 170 Gazans killed in the war who had been presented to the world as journalists, but whom the IDF claimed were active operatives for Hamas or PIJ, using seized documents and public militant obituaries as evidence. Hamas-Run…”
8wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “Hamas-Run Media: A significant portion of those counted in Gaza's official journalist death tolls were employees of Hamas-operated media networks, such as Al-Aqsa TV or Al-Aqsa Voice Radio. Israeli advocates argue that these outlets function purely as propaganda and information-warfare arms of a terrorist…”
9honestreporting.comNonprofits and think tanks
honestreporting.com
Backs: “Hamas-Run Media: A significant portion of those counted in Gaza's official journalist death tolls were employees of Hamas-operated media networks, such as Al-Aqsa TV or Al-Aqsa Voice Radio. Israeli advocates argue that these outlets function purely as propaganda and information-warfare arms of a terrorist…”
10apnews.comNews and mediaquality 1.00
apnews.com
Backs: “The International Press Freedom and Humanitarian Law Perspective: "No". International press watchdogs—such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)—as well as the United Nations, dispute the claim that a majority of the killed…”
11washingtonpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
washingtonpost.com
Backs: “They maintain that the vast majority were civilian journalists protected under international law. Civilian Status Under International Law: Under international humanitarian law (IHL), journalists are considered civilians and are protected from attack unless they directly participate in hostilities.”
12youtube.comSocial media and video
youtube.com
Backs: “They maintain that the vast majority were civilian journalists protected under international law. Civilian Status Under International Law: Under international humanitarian law (IHL), journalists are considered civilians and are protected from attack unless they directly participate in hostilities.”
13diplomacyandlaw.comNot yet classified
diplomacyandlaw.com
Backs: “Civilian Status Under International Law: Under international humanitarian law (IHL), journalists are considered civilians and are protected from attack unless they directly participate in hostilities. Legally, a media worker does not lose their civilian status simply because they work for a state-run, partisan, or…”
14icrc.orgNot yet classified
icrc.org
Backs: “Civilian Status Under International Law: Under international humanitarian law (IHL), journalists are considered civilians and are protected from attack unless they directly participate in hostilities. Legally, a media worker does not lose their civilian status simply because they work for a state-run, partisan, or…”
15ned.orgNot yet classified
ned.org
Backs: “Legally, a media worker does not lose their civilian status simply because they work for a state-run, partisan, or even a militant-affiliated outlet (such as Al-Aqsa TV), nor does shaping public opinion or broadcasting propaganda make them a combatant. Watchdog Definitions: CPJ defines a journalist as anyone who…”
16newslaundry.comNot yet classified
newslaundry.com
Backs: “Watchdog Definitions: CPJ defines a journalist as anyone who regularly reports or shares fact-based information with an audience. Its policy includes those working for faction-linked or state-backed media, provided they are not actively engaging in combat or inciting imminent violence.”
17newlinesmag.comNot yet classified
newlinesmag.com
Backs: “Through these reviews, CPJ removed 27 individuals from its list of slain journalists after confirming they had participated in combat or were active combatants in militant groups. However, even after these corrections, CPJ still listed 191 Palestinian journalists and media workers as civilian casualties of the…”