Killing of journalists in the Israel–Hamas war

During the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, at least 34 journalists have been killed, alongside other violence against journalists, making it the deadliest period for journalists in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict since 1992 and the deadliest start of a war in the 21st century for journalists.

An estimated 48 media facilities in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed by Israeli airstrikes.

Casualties

See also: List of journalists killed in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war

As of 25 October, 24 journalists had been killed in the conflict, making it the deadliest stretch in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict for journalists since 1992, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. It is also and the most heightened period of risk for the media since the Second Intifada, when 13 journalists were documented as being killed. Of the journalists killed, 20 were Palestinian, 3 Israeli and 1 Lebanese – a situation a CPJ spokesperson called "unprecedented". The CPJ has noted that it is still investigating a further 100 additional reports of journalists killed, missing, detained or threatened, and so its tally is likely an undercount.

The Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association has condemned the spate of deaths and restated that: "Targeting journalists is a stark violation of press freedom and international human rights law".

On 31 October, RSF said that 34 journalists have been killed in the conflict, including 12 "in connection with their work", 10 of which were killed in Israel's attack on Gaza; they described the first two weeks of the conflict as the deadliest start of a war in the 21st century for journalists.

Violence against journalists by Israeli forces

On October 7, Israeli police damaged equipment of a television crew reporting in Ashkelon. On the same day, a journalist named Omar Abu Shawish was killed in Gaza.

Journalists Mohammed El Salhi, Ibrahim Mohamed Lafi, Mohamed Jarghoun, Ibrahim Qanan, Nidal Al Wahidi, and Haitham Abdelwahid also faced various forms of violence or went missing.

On 10 October 2023, the Hajji Tower airstrike destroyed an apartement block housing journalists' offices, killing at least three journalists along with civilians. Salam Khalil, the head of the Gaza Journalists Syndicate's Committee of Women Journalists, was also killed in an Israeli strike on the same day.

On October 12, Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah was killed and six others were wounded by IDF artillery in southern Lebanon.

On 25 October, the wife, son and daughter of Al Jazeera journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh were killed by an Israeli airstrike of the house where they were residing in the Nuseirat camp in the middle of the Gaza Strip.

Claims of IDF targeting of journalists

See also: Israeli war crimes

During the conflict, reports emerged that the IDF were deliberately targeting journalists. A Reporters Without Borders (RSF) investigation said that Israel had targeted journalists in missile strikes on 13 October that killed Reuters reporter Issam Abdallah and injured four others. These two Israeli missile strikes, 30 seconds apart, hit a group of seven journalists in southern Lebanon who were reporting on the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. In a video, the journalists are seen wearing vests and helmets identifying them as "PRESS". The marking was also present on the roof of their car, which exploded after being hit by the second missile.

According to the Council of Europe, the intentional targeting of journalists constitutes a war crime. The killing of journalists by Israeli forces in Gaza had been a recurring issue, with previous incidents in 2018 and 2021. Earlier in 2023, the CPJ released a report stating that 20 journalists had been killed by Israeli military fire since 2001, for which "to date, no one has been held accountable".

Violence against journalists by Palestinian militants

Four Israeli journalists and photographers were killed on the 7 October amid the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, including Yaniv Zohar, a photographer for Israel Hayom, who was killed along with his wife and two daughters in Nahal Oz massacre; Roy Edan, a photographer for Ynet, who was killed in the Kfar Aza massacre; and two editors who were killed in the Re'im music festival massacre: Shai Regev, an entertainment news editor for Ma'ariv, and Ayelet Arnin, an editor for KAN.

Other violence

Alongside those killed, missing or detained, the CPJ has received numerous reports of damage done to journalists' offices and homes, and estimates that "48 media facilities in Gaza have been hit or destroyed".

In Israel, the Israeli journalist Israel Frey was also forced into hiding after he dedicated a prayer to the victims of the war in Gaza and a right-wing mob stormed his home, threatening his family.

International response and investigation

Libanon

Lebanon denounced the killing of Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, who was killed during an Israeli artillery strike aimed at a group of reporters. Following Abdallah's death, the Lebanese army conducted an on-site assessment, affirming that Israel had launched the missile that killed him. Lebanon's Foreign Ministry has instructed its mission to the UN in Beirut to express deep concerns regarding what they perceive as a clear infringement on freedom of opinion and press. Additionally, Lebanon is preparing to file a formal complaint with the UN Security Council, accusing Israel of intentionally causing Abdallah's death.

Israel

The Israeli military said it using tank and artillery fire in the vicinity to deter a potential infiltration from Lebanon at the time Issam Abdallah was killed. They stated that their actions were in response to Hezbollah fire along the Israel-Lebanon border, and the incident is currently being reviewed. The Israeli army also initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Abdallah's death.

International press bodies

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is actively looking into all cases of journalists affected—whether killed, injured, detained, or missing—due to the conflict. They have urged Israel to conduct a thorough investigation into the death of Palestinian journalist Mohammad El-Salhi, make the results of the investigation public, and promptly take measures to guarantee the safety of media personnel covering the conflict. Reuters has called on Israel to conduct a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Abdallah's death.

Protests and rallies

Numerous Pakistani journalists gathered for a rally in Karachi to condemn what they viewed as intentional attacks on the media in Gaza. They called upon the United Nations to take action to halt Israeli aggression against media outlets. During the rally, they prominently displayed banners and placards featuring images of journalists who had been killed in Israeli airstrikes.

Funerals

Funerals for the journalists who had been killed have taken place in their respective countries. In Lebanon, a large gathering attended Issam Abdallah's funeral in his hometown. His body was adorned with a Lebanese flag and was transported from his family residence to the nearby cemetery in the southern town of Khiam.