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 international dispute. The answer depends heavily on which sources are consulted and, crucially, how "links" or "affiliations" to these organizations are defined.

The two main conflicting frameworks represent the Israeli military perspective and that of independent international press freedom organizations:

1. The Israeli Perspective: The "60%" Claim and Broad Definitions of Affiliation

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli research institutions argue that a majority of the individuals identified by Gazan authorities as "journalists" killed in the conflict were indeed members of or affiliated with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

•The Meir Amit Center Study: In December 2025, the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (an Israeli research group with close ties to Israel's defense and intelligence establishment) published a comprehensive study analyzing 266 Palestinians identified as journalists or media workers killed in Gaza between October 7, 2023, and November 30, 2025. The study concluded that 157 of them (roughly 60%) were members of or affiliated with terror groups—primarily Hamas and PIJ.

•The IDF's 2026 Declaration: In October 2026, the IDF stated that its internal research concluded 170 Palestinians previously identified as journalists killed in Gaza were active members of terrorist groups, including 118 in Hamas’s military wing and 49 in PIJ.

•The Definition of "Affiliation": A vital nuance of the Israeli claims is how "affiliation" is defined. The Meir Amit Center determined organizational affiliation based on two categories:

1.Clear, documented membership in a militant group or its active military wing.

2.Employment in Hamas-run or Hamas-affiliated media outlets (such as Al-Aqsa TV or Al-Aqsa Radio).

The Israeli defense establishment argues that because Hamas is a designated terrorist organization that governs Gaza, its media arms operate as propaganda wings for its military objectives, meaning employees of these outlets are part of the organizational apparatus and cannot be considered independent, civilian journalists.

2. The International Press Freedom Perspective: Distinguishing Combatants from Partisan Media

Independent international watchdogs—including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)—strongly dispute the assertion that a majority of the killed journalists were terrorists.

•International Humanitarian Law: Under the Geneva Conventions, journalists are classified as civilians and are protected from targeted attacks. International press watchdogs maintain that working for a partisan or state-affiliated media outlet (even one run by Hamas) does not strip a media worker of their civilian status unless they are directly participating in hostilities (i.e., acting as active combatants).

•Revisions and Audits: In mid-2026, after Hamas and PIJ published official military obituaries claiming some deceased individuals (whom CPJ had previously categorized as journalists) as active combatants, CPJ launched a full audit of its database. By September 2026, CPJ revised its criteria to exclude anyone with active membership in any military arm of a state or non-state actor.

Following this review, CPJ removed a total of 27 names from its list of slain journalists after confirming they had active combatant roles or belonged to militant military wings.

•The Remaining Majority: Even after removing those 27 individuals, the vast majority of those on the CPJ's list—at least 189 to 191 Gazan journalists and media workers—were confirmed by the watchdog to be civilian journalists killed in connection with their work.

•Charges of "Smear Campaigns": Press freedom organizations and major media outlets (such as Al Jazeera) have accused the Israeli government of using broad, unsubstantiated terror allegations as a "license to kill" and to justify what they describe as the deliberate targeting of reporters to suppress coverage of the war. They point out that Israel has consistently barred independent foreign journalists from entering Gaza, making first-hand verification of the military's claims exceptionally difficult.

Summary

If one accepts the Israeli definition—which classifies anyone working for a Hamas-run media company or possessing political ties to the group as "affiliated with a terrorist organization"—then a majority (~60%) of the killed media workers meet that description.

However, under the definitions of international law and independent press watchdogs, merely working for a partisan media outlet does not make a journalist a terrorist or a combatant. While watchdogs have confirmed and removed a minority (roughly 10% to 12%) of the originally reported list for having active combat or militant roles, they maintain that the vast majority of the killed Gazan journalists were civilian media workers protected under international law.

Citations (16)

1jpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.81
jpost.com
Backs: “The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli research institutions argue that a majority of the individuals identified by Gazan authorities as "journalists" killed in the conflict were indeed members of or affiliated with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).”
2hrvoices.orgNonprofits and think tanks
hrvoices.org
Backs: “The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli research institutions argue that a majority of the individuals identified by Gazan authorities as "journalists" killed in the conflict were indeed members of or affiliated with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).”
3timesofisrael.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
timesofisrael.com
Backs: “The Meir Amit Center Study: In December 2025, the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (an Israeli research group with close ties to Israel's defense and intelligence establishment) published a comprehensive study analyzing 266 Palestinians identified as journalists or media workers killed in Gaza…”
4reddit.comForums and Q&A
reddit.com
Backs: “The Meir Amit Center Study: In December 2025, the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (an Israeli research group with close ties to Israel's defense and intelligence establishment) published a comprehensive study analyzing 266 Palestinians identified as journalists or media workers killed in Gaza…”
5ynetnews.comNews and mediaquality 0.80
ynetnews.com
Backs: “The Definition of "Affiliation": A vital nuance of the Israeli claims is how "affiliation" is defined. The Meir Amit Center determined organizational affiliation based on two categories:”
6wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “Employment in Hamas-run or Hamas-affiliated media outlets (such as Al-Aqsa TV or Al-Aqsa Radio).”
7timesofisrael.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
timesofisrael.com
Backs: “Employment in Hamas-run or Hamas-affiliated media outlets (such as Al-Aqsa TV or Al-Aqsa Radio).”
8cpj.orgNonprofits and think tanks
cpj.org
Backs: “Independent international watchdogs—including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)—strongly dispute the assertion that a majority of the killed journalists were terrorists. International Humanitarian Law: Under the Geneva…”
9imemc.orgNews and media
imemc.org
Backs: “International Humanitarian Law: Under the Geneva Conventions, journalists are classified as civilians and are protected from targeted attacks. International press watchdogs maintain that working for a partisan or state-affiliated media outlet (even one run by Hamas) does not strip a media worker of their civilian…”
10jpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.81
jpost.com
Backs: “International press watchdogs maintain that working for a partisan or state-affiliated media outlet (even one run by Hamas) does not strip a media worker of their civilian status unless they are directly participating in hostilities (i.e., acting as active combatants). Revisions and Audits: In mid-2026, after Hamas…”
11aipac.orgNonprofits and think tanks
aipac.org
Backs: “Revisions and Audits: In mid-2026, after Hamas and PIJ published official military obituaries claiming some deceased individuals (whom CPJ had previously categorized as journalists) as active combatants, CPJ launched a full audit of its database. By September 2026, CPJ revised its criteria to exclude anyone with…”
12jpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.81
jpost.com
Backs: “Revisions and Audits: In mid-2026, after Hamas and PIJ published official military obituaries claiming some deceased individuals (whom CPJ had previously categorized as journalists) as active combatants, CPJ launched a full audit of its database. By September 2026, CPJ revised its criteria to exclude anyone with…”
13washingtonpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
washingtonpost.com
Backs: “By September 2026, CPJ revised its criteria to exclude anyone with active membership in any military arm of a state or non-state actor. Following this review, CPJ removed a total of 27 names from its list of slain journalists after confirming they had active combatant roles or belonged to militant military wings.”
14instagram.comSocial media and video
instagram.com
Backs: “The Remaining Majority: Even after removing those 27 individuals, the vast majority of those on the CPJ's list—at least 189 to 191 Gazan journalists and media workers—were confirmed by the watchdog to be civilian journalists killed in connection with their work. Charges of "Smear Campaigns": Press freedom…”
15apnews.comNews and mediaquality 1.00
apnews.com
Backs: “Charges of "Smear Campaigns": Press freedom organizations and major media outlets (such as Al Jazeera) have accused the Israeli government of using broad, unsubstantiated terror allegations as a "license to kill" and to justify what they describe as the deliberate targeting of reporters to suppress coverage of the…”
16ground.newsData and toolsquality 0.77
ground.news
Backs: “If one accepts the Israeli definition—which classifies anyone working for a Hamas-run media company or possessing political ties to the group as "affiliated with a terrorist organization"—then a majority (~60%) of the killed media workers meet that description. However, under the definitions of international law and…”