Middle East: For two years, journalists in the Gaza Strip have become direct targets of Zionists' war machine in what has turned into one of the most brutal assaults on the press in modern history.

Since the start of the full-scale Israeli aggression following the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on October 7, 2023, the occupation forces have systematically attacked journalists and media institutions using airstrikes, assassinations, and widespread destruction—tools of repression against a profession that international law is meant to protect.

Amid the ongoing genocide, numerous local and international human rights and media organizations have documented systematic crimes against journalists in Gaza, where reporters are hunted by warplanes as much as by efforts to silence their voices and erase their images.

According to The Gulf Times, at least 255 Palestinian journalists, including 27 women, have been killed by Israeli forces — one of the deadliest assaults on the media ever recorded. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) confirmed that 154 journalists were killed as of March 2025, while many others remain injured or missing.

Despite variations in figures due to different documentation mechanisms, most sources agree the real toll likely exceeds 250 journalists, according to L’Orient Today, with documentation still ongoing amid catastrophic field conditions.

Beyond killings, the Government Media Office in Gaza recorded over 433 injuries among journalists during field coverage and 48 arrests, in blatant violation of international conventions that guarantee the protection of journalists in conflict zones.

Deliberate Targeting of the Media Infrastructure

Israel’s attacks have extended beyond individuals to media institutions and infrastructure, in what appears to be a calculated attempt to silence the Palestinian narrative.

Dozens of local and international media outlets have been directly targeted, causing widespread damage and disrupting reporting operations. According to The Gulf Times, 12 print media offices were destroyed or severely damaged, 23 digital platforms were bombed or disabled, 11 local radio stations and 16 TV channels—some headquartered outside Gaza—were also hit or jammed.

The occupation also destroyed five major printing presses and 22 small presses, crippling the production of newspapers and awareness materials, while 53 journalists’ homes were completely or partially destroyed in apparent personal targeting aimed at intimidation and deterrence.

The Government Media Office confirmed that this systematic destruction constitutes a full-scale crime against press freedom, not incidental damage, demanding that perpetrators be prosecuted under international law.

Field Testimonies: Lives Silenced Under Fire

Individual stories of Gaza’s slain journalists reveal the profound human toll of Israel’s campaign against truth.

On August 25, 2025, Israeli warplanes bombed Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, followed by a second strike half an hour later that killed five journalists — Maryam Abu Daqa, Hossam Al-Masri, Mohammed Salama, Moaz Abu Taha, and Ahmad Abu Azy — as they documented the humanitarian catastrophe at the besieged hospital.

Earlier, on August 10, an airstrike targeted a media tent near Al-Shifa Hospital, killing Anas Al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqa, two of Gaza’s last remaining voices transmitting the horrors of war.

In January 2025, journalist Saed Abu Nabhan was shot dead by an Israeli sniper while covering events in Al-Nuseirat camp, despite wearing a clearly marked press vest.

In January 2024, a strike on a press vehicle in western Khan Younis killed Hamza Al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya. Hamza — son of veteran Al Jazeera journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh — had lost his mother and siblings in an earlier strike but continued his reporting until his death.

Prominent journalist Bilal Jadallah, founder and director of the Press House Foundation, was also killed in November 2023 when Israeli warplanes targeted his vehicle in central Gaza. Jadallah had long been a defender of media freedom, providing safety training and equipment to reporters across the Strip.

Legal Challenges and the Absence of Justice

While the intentional targeting of journalists constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law — as stated in Article 79 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions — Israel continues to violate these norms with impunity.

Dozens of international organizations, including the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate, the IFJ, and human rights groups, have called for independent investigations and for these crimes to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

However, progress remains obstructed by Israel’s refusal to cooperate with investigation committees, the destruction of media archives, the killing of field teams, and political interference that shields Israel from accountability — particularly by its Western allies.

Massive Losses and Enduring Defiance

According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, the financial losses to the media sector have surpassed $800 million, due to the systematic destruction of press facilities, equipment, and journalists’ homes.

Despite the devastation, 143 Palestinian media institutions continue to operate, many from beneath rubble or makeshift offices — a testament to the resilience and unwavering commitment of Gaza’s journalists.

Their perseverance proves that words cannot be buried under bombs, and images remain stronger than siege and censorship.