Israeli Attacks Have Killed Nearly 200 Palestinian Journalists Since October 2023

Mourners gather around two bodies of journalists killed Sunday in Gaza. The bodies are wrapped in white sheets and a press vest lays on top.

Since the beginning of Israel’s military operation in Gaza in October 2023, nearly 200 Palestinian journalists have been killed, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The recent deaths include six journalists—five from Al Jazeera and one freelancer—who were killed by Israeli forces in Gaza City on Sunday. Those who lost their lives include reporters Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, Moamen Aliwa, and freelance journalist Mohammad al-Khaldi.

The journalists were reportedly struck while in a tent opposite the Al-Shifa Medical Complex. Al-Khaldi was hit in a nearby tent, witnesses said. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed targeting al-Sharif, claiming he was a “Hamas terrorist” posing as an Al Jazeera journalist—a charge that al-Sharif denied. The IDF has previously accused him of being affiliated with Hamas since 2013, a claim strongly rejected by Al Jazeera, which called it a “campaign of incitement.”

A man in a press vest stands inside a tent riddled with bullet holes. — Palestinians inspect the scene at the journalists’ tent struck by Israel.

Al Jazeera described al-Sharif as “one of Gaza’s bravest journalists” and condemned the attack as an attempt to silence voices exposing Gaza’s dire conditions. His final report detailed the surge in starvation deaths caused by the ongoing blockade and bombardments. On Sunday, he reported intensified Israeli shelling in Gaza City through his social media account.

The fatalities of journalists during this period are unprecedented, surpassing the casualties of war correspondent deaths from 2020-2022 worldwide. More than 190 journalists have been killed during this conflict alone, with reports suggesting the figure exceeds 200, including many from Gaza. A report by Brown University states that the number of journalists killed in Gaza surpasses casualties from major historical wars combined.

Human rights and press freedom groups condemned the killings, with CPJ’s Sara Qudah calling the Sunday strike “murder” and accusing Israel of targeting messengers. Reporters Without Borders urged the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting, emphasizing that the attacks are part of a systematic effort to suppress documentation of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Despite this, the U.S. has yet to publicly condemn the recent killings.

Before his death, al-Sharif posted a message on social media, expressing his unwavering commitment to truth and asking for support for his family, stating, “If I die, I die steadfast upon my principles.”