Occupied Jerusalem, Feb.12 (SANA) Palestinian journalist organizations said Israeli forces have killed 256 journalists in Gaza, Palestine, since Oct. 7, 2023, amid what they described as ongoing aggression against the Strip. The Government Media Office in Gaza said in a statement that “256 journalists have been killed since the start of the war of genocide on Oct. 7, 2023”.
The office condemned what the systematic targeting of media workers and urged the International Federation of Journalists, the Federation of Arab Journalists and the international community to take action to hold those responsible accountable and to protect journalists.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Journalists Protection Center (PJPC) said more than 60 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of 2025.
It said many were killed while performing their duties, inside homes, displacement tents or hospitals. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate documented the arrest of between 50 and 65 journalists over the past two years, including those still in detention and others later released. The syndicate also cited cases described as field executions, destruction of media offices and prevention of crews from accessing sites.
International organizations concerned with press freedom, including the International Federation of Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, strongly condemned the attacks. They warned that targeting journalists constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and threatens the safety of media work in the region, calling for an independent international investigation.
Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), said Palestinian journalists had served as “our eyes and ears in covering the horrors of the war in Gaza” and expressed regret that they, alongside humanitarian workers, “paid a heavy price.”
The British newspaper The Independent published reports over the past two years, citing U.N. and human rights documents, criticizing the targeting of Palestinians and journalists, destruction of media institutions and restrictions on coverage in Gaza and the West Bank.
Palestinian journalist bodies said the continued targeting of journalists represents an attempt to silence reporting and restrict the public’s right to information, as calls grow internationally for accountability and protection of media workers.
R.A
