Journalists Face Deadliest Toll On Record In Israel-Gaza Conflict

Israeli airstrike in Gaza, Palestine, on October 12, 2023. (Photo by Momen Faiz/NurPhoto via AP)

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) announced Tuesday that the first three weeks of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict have been the deadliest for journalists since its records began.

The escalating conflict between Israel and Gaza, initiated by Hamas’s aggressive strike on Israel on October 7, followed by Israel’s war declaration and subsequent airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, has had a devastating impact on journalists. Since the beginning of the conflict, the CPJ has sought to keep track of journalists working in the warzone.

Reporters in Gaza grapple with heightened risks. They face challenges from Israeli ground incursions into Gaza City, airstrikes, communications breakdowns, and widespread power blackouts.

As of the end of October, CPJ reports:

– 31 journalists have been confirmed dead: 26 Palestinian, 4 Israeli, and 1 Lebanese.
– Reports indicate 8 journalists injured.
– 9 journalists are either missing or have been detained.

Other journalists face continual threats and even instances where their family members have been harmed or killed. The family of Al Jazeera Arabic’s bureau chief in Gaza, Wael Dahdouh, were killed in an Israeli strike last week. BBC’s Gaza reporter Rushdi Abualouf and his family narrowly survived a drone attack and have been displaced four times in two weeks. All the while, both journalists continued to work.

On seeking safety assurances for their reporters in the Gaza Strip, Reuters and Agence France Press were informed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that ensuring the safety of journalists in the area was not feasible. The IDF’s communication with the agencies on October 27 highlighted that they were targeting “all Hamas military activity throughout Gaza” and that the IDF couldn’t guarantee the safety of journalists.

Sherif Mansour, the Middle East and North Africa program coordinator for CPJ, said: “Journalists are civilians who play a pivotal role during crisis periods and should never be a target for any combatant group… Journalists, especially in Gaza, have endured and continue to experience unmatched hardships. They have witnessed the loss of colleagues, family, media setups, and many have been forced to flee, seeking refuge in places where safety remains elusive.”

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