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

Short answer: No. There is no independent evidence that a majority of the Gazan journalists killed since October 7, 2023 were linked to terrorist organizations.

•What independent watchdogs found: After a full review published on September 24, 2026, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it examined 229 deaths and removed 22 people from its list because new evidence showed they had engaged in combat; it had previously removed eight others for the same reason. That is about 12% (27 of 229), far from a majority.[1]

•What some governments and advocacy groups claim: The Israel Defense Forces recently asserted that 170 of those presented publicly as Gaza “journalists/media personnel” were actually members of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or other groups, and an Israeli research center claimed roughly 57% had such affiliations. These claims have not been corroborated by CPJ or other independent press‑freedom organizations.[2]

•How press‑freedom groups view those claims: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has repeatedly said Israeli authorities and aligned actors have labeled Palestinian journalists “terrorists” without providing verifiable evidence, and that such labeling does not by itself strip journalists of civilian protection.[3]

Bottom line: While a number of cases have emerged in which individuals counted as media workers were later found to be combatants, independent reviews to date do not support the assertion that a majority of slain Gazan journalists were linked to terrorist organizations.[4]

Citations (4)

1cpj.orgNonprofits and think tanks
CPJ completes review of journalists killed in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory - Committee to Protect Journalists
Backs: “After a full review published on September 24, 2026, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it examined 229 deaths and removed 22 people from its list because new evidence showed they had engaged in combat; it had previously removed eight others for the same reason. That is about 12% (27 of 229), far from a…”
2idf.ilGovernment
Background Does the IDF Target Journalists in Gaza? 170 Gazan Journalists Exposed as Terrorists | IDF
Backs: “These claims have not been corroborated by CPJ or other independent press‑freedom organizations.”
3rsf.orgNonprofits and think tanks
“Gazawood”: The deadly accusations against Gaza’s journalists | RSF
Backs: “Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has repeatedly said Israeli authorities and aligned actors have labeled Palestinian journalists “terrorists” without providing verifiable evidence, and that such labeling does not by itself strip journalists of civilian protection.”
4cpj.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Journalist casualties during the Israel–Gaza war and related regional conflicts - Committee to Protect Journalists
Backs: “While a number of cases have emerged in which individuals counted as media workers were later found to be combatants, independent reviews to date do not support the assertion that a majority of slain Gazan journalists were linked to terrorist organizations.”