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

Leans noSays it is contestedSources conflict

CPJ's review does not find most Gazan journalists were militants, while the IDF's Press Files claims a large share of killed Gazan journalists were terrorists.

Short answer: There isn’t independent evidence that a majority were terrorists.

•Independent watchdogs: CPJ reviewed every death it had logged between October 2023 and August 2026, removed 22 people after finding they had engaged in combat, and reaffirmed that it excludes anyone found to be a combatant. It did not conclude that most of the Gazans on its list were militants.[1]

•CPJ also documents that Israeli authorities have repeatedly labeled slain Palestinian journalists as “terrorists” without providing sufficient, verifiable evidence; CPJ continues to count over 200 Palestinian journalists and media workers killed in Gaza in this period under its methodology.[2]

•Claims that “most” or “about 60%” were linked to terrorist groups come from Israeli military/affiliated sources (e.g., the IDF’s “Press Files” and the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center). Those counts use broad criteria for “links,” such as working for Hamas- or PIJ-run media outlets, which legal and press-freedom groups have criticized.[3]

Bottom line: While some of the people initially listed as journalists were later shown to be combatants and removed, the best independent data available does not support the claim that a majority of Gazan journalists killed since October 7, 2023 were members of terrorist organizations.[1]

Citations (3)

1cpj.orgNonprofits and think tanks
CPJ completes review of journalists killed in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory - Committee to Protect Journalists
Backs: “It did not conclude that most of the Gazans on its list were militants.”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: Best independent data does not support the claim that a majority of killed Gazan journalists were members of terrorist organizations.
2cpj.orgNonprofits and think tanks
CPJ documentation of Israeli harm against Palestinian journalists, media workers - Committee to Protect Journalists
Backs: “CPJ continues to count over 200 Palestinian journalists and media workers killed in Gaza in this period under its methodology.”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: Israeli authorities repeatedly labeled slain Palestinian journalists terrorists without sufficient verifiable evidence; CPJ counts over 200 killed in Gaza.
3idf.ilGovernment
Background Does the IDF Target Journalists in Gaza? 170 Gazan Journalists Exposed as Terrorists | IDF
Backs: “Those counts use broad criteria for “links,” such as working for Hamas- or PIJ-run media outlets, which legal and press-freedom groups have criticized.”
attribution, article, points to yes. Claim: Claims that most or about 60% of killed journalists were linked to terrorist groups come from Israeli military sources like the IDF's Press Files.