Media Deaths in Gaza Prompt Calls for Accountability
UN, NGOs Demand Protection for Gaza Journalists
Geneva: Two years after the Gaza war began with Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, at least 217 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Israeli strikes, according to the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a Geneva-based Non-Governmental Organisation established in 2004 to protect media workers in conflict zones. This marks the deadliest conflict for journalists since World War II.
“This scale of media casualties in an armed conflict is historically unprecedented. The deaths of journalists and media facilities in Gaza demand a thorough investigation and accountability,” said PEC President Blaise Lempen.
PEC’s figures, based on local sources, report 81 journalist deaths in 2023, 80 in 2024, and 56 so far in 2025. Multiple organisations, including the United Nations, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), estimate total Palestinian journalist deaths since the war began range from 217 to over 240. Independent, on-the-ground investigations are limited due to restricted access, which makes determining whether journalists were intentionally targeted or killed as civilians difficult.
Journalists in Gaza continue to report despite extreme risks, documenting the humanitarian crisis where foreign media access is scarce. The New York Times quoted photographer Gevara al-Safadi saying, “I’ve reached a point where I fear reporting,” reflecting the dangerous environment.
Incidents such as the airstrike on Al Jazeera’s media tent near al-Shifa Hospital, which killed five journalists, have drawn condemnation from media organisations and the United Nations. Al Jazeera described the attack as an assault on press freedom, while UNESCO and UN human rights officials called for those responsible to be held accountable. Israeli officials have stated that investigations into such incidents will be conducted.
Several international groups have called for protecting journalists in Gaza, including CPJ, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), IFJ, the International Press Institute (IPI), Al Jazeera, UNESCO, and UN human rights experts. These groups urge respect for media safety, safe access for foreign journalists, and an independent commission to investigate attacks on journalists.
Under international humanitarian law, journalists covering armed conflicts are considered civilians if they refrain from hostilities and are protected accordingly. The 1949 Geneva Conventions and their 1977 Additional Protocol I explicitly protect journalists engaged in professional missions, forbidding direct targeting. UN Security Council Resolution 2222 (2015) further condemns crimes against journalists and calls on states to investigate and prosecute violations.
Journalist casualty figures are compiled by organisations like PEC, CPJ, and RSF using local sources, hospital records, eyewitness reports, and media networks. The blockade and restricted access limit independent verification, but cross-checked information confirms a high number of casualties.
Globally, 2025 is the deadliest year on record for journalists, with 138 killed between January and September, 56 of them in Gaza alone. This exceeds the death tolls in recent wars such as Syria and Yemen.
The conflict also involves challenges beyond physical danger. UN experts in 2024 reported widespread restrictions on freedom of expression in Gaza, including censorship and intimidation by armed groups, complicating journalists’ work further. A Gaza-based reporter told the BBC that pressures from multiple sides create a hostile working environment, yet journalists remain committed to reporting despite these risks.
The deaths of media workers in Gaza highlight the need for stronger enforcement of international protections and call attention to gaps in accountability. PEC today urged the creation of an independent commission to investigate these deaths and break the impunity that perpetuates violence against journalists in Gaza and other conflict zones globally.
– global bihari bureau
