Were a majority of the Gazan journalists killed since October 7th, 2023 linked to terrorist organizations?
Short answer: It’s contested and depends on how “linked” is defined. There isn’t independent, consensus evidence that a majority of the Gazan journalists killed since October 7, 2023 were members of terrorist groups.
What different sources say
•Israeli military/intelligence claims: The IDF recently said 170 people presented as Gaza “journalists/media personnel” who were killed were in fact members of militant wings (mainly Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad). An Israeli research center (Meir Amit/ITIC) likewise argued that about 60% of 266 deceased “journalists and media workers” had membership or clear affiliation with armed groups. These figures count people employed by, or contributing to, outlets aligned with Hamas or other factions as “affiliated.”[1]
•Independent press‑freedom groups: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) did a months‑long review in 2026. It removed 22 names from its Gaza list (19 for participating in hostilities; 3 not qualifying as journalists) but continues to count most of the deceased as journalists or media workers. CPJ stresses it excludes anyone found to be “engaging in combat,” and that government assertions of ideological affinity or employment by a partisan outlet don’t by themselves turn a journalist into a combatant. CPJ has not concluded that a majority were militants.[2]
•Reporters Without Borders (RSF): RSF has acknowledged a few cases where slain individuals were later identified by Palestinian factions as fighters, but it has repeatedly challenged sweeping Israeli accusations, warning that smearing Gaza reporters without verifiable evidence is dangerous and calling for independent investigations into killings of journalists. RSF has not endorsed the “majority were terrorists” claim.[3]
Bottom line
•If “linked” means any association (e.g., working for a Hamas‑run or aligned outlet such as Al‑Aqsa TV, which the U.S. Treasury designated in 2010), some Israeli sources say a majority. If “linked” means actually serving as members/operatives or taking part in hostilities, independent press‑freedom organizations that audit these cases have not found that a majority did so; they have removed a smaller subset on those grounds and continue to list most as journalists/media workers.[4]
If you want, I can break down the competing counts by category (combatant membership vs. employment at faction‑aligned outlets vs. unaffiliated) and the methodologies each source used.
Backs: “CPJ stresses it excludes anyone found to be “engaging in combat,” and that government assertions of ideological affinity or employment by a partisan outlet don’t by themselves turn a journalist into a combatant. CPJ has not concluded that a majority were militants.”
Backs: “RSF has acknowledged a few cases where slain individuals were later identified by Palestinian factions as fighters, but it has repeatedly challenged sweeping Israeli accusations, warning that smearing Gaza reporters without verifiable evidence is dangerous and calling for independent investigations into killings of…”
Backs: “If “linked” means actually serving as members/operatives or taking part in hostilities, independent press‑freedom organizations that audit these cases have not found that a majority did so; they have removed a smaller subset on those grounds and continue to list most as journalists/media workers.”