In the midst of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, journalists have become some of the most vulnerable casualties. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that this war has marked the deadliest month for journalists since they began recording data in 1992. Of the 61 recorded deaths as of Friday, 54 were Palestinian journalists, four were Israeli, and three were Lebanese.
The toll on journalists comes as the war enters its third month and Israel continues its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, more than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed so far. Israel launched its offensive in response to a Hamas attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the taking of over 240 hostages.
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Press freedom advocates have criticized the fact that journalists, even when clearly marked as press, are among the casualties in Gaza. The CPJ has classified 43 of the 50 journalists killed so far as being on a “dangerous assignment.” Investigations into the circumstances of the deaths are ongoing, with the CPJ looking into whether some were targeted attacks.
Sherif Mansour, coordinator for the CPJ’s Middle East program, has condemned the Israeli army’s use of lethal force against journalists and media facilities, stating that failing to do so could constitute possible war crimes.
The majority of those killed have been Palestinian journalists and media workers in Gaza, accounting for 90% of the deaths. The four Israeli journalists were killed in the Hamas attack on October 7, and the three Lebanese journalists were killed in what their organizations believe were targeted attacks on the Israeli border.
Gaza’s journalists have faced the difficult task of reporting on the war while also enduring personal losses and tragedies. Communication blackouts in Gaza have made their job even more challenging, as phone and internet links have periodically gone down. The risks are high for all journalists in the besieged territory, as most people cannot leave.
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The Israeli military has stated that it cannot guarantee the safety of journalists operating in the Gaza Strip. Freelance journalist Nour Swirki, currently living in a shelter in the southern Gaza Strip, described the challenges of reporting while fearing for her life and that of her family.
As the conflict continues, journalists remain at risk, with some questioning the effectiveness of wearing press vests for their safety. Plestia Alaqad, a Palestinian journalist, recently posted on social media that she no longer feels safe in Gaza, even when wearing her press vest and helmet. Many journalists have been forced to flee their homes and are unaware of the situation in other parts of the territory, as communication blackouts have made it difficult to obtain information.
The deaths of journalists in this conflict highlight the dangers faced by those reporting on the ground and the importance of protecting press freedom in times of war.
