Two Years of Media Genocide
Prepared by: The Freedoms Committee of the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate
Introduction
The Palestinian media landscape has witnessed a dangerous escalation in crimes and violations against journalists, committed by the Israeli occupation forces through ongoing persecution and harassment of journalists and digital media professionals.
Data collected by the Freedoms Committee of the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate shows a steady increase in the scale of these violations over the past three years, with a significant surge during 2025 up to the beginning of October.
A total of 252 journalists have been documented as martyred, including 34 female journalists, who were killed by Israeli army fire during its aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip.
Summary of Crimes
2023: A total of 102 journalists, media workers, and social media activists were martyred, in addition to dozens of injuries and arrests, as well as the destruction of media institutions. Field journalists in the West Bank and Gaza Strip were directly targeted.
2024: 91 journalists were martyred as crimes continued at a high rate, including field arrests, online harassment, and the destruction of media equipment, alongside a rise in physical injuries sustained during coverage.
2025 (up to October): 59 journalists were martyred, and the committee’s data recorded a significant increase in direct targeting of journalists’ lives and property, with a noticeable rise in the number of female journalists killed and cases of direct physical assaults during coverage.
Patterns of Crimes and Violations
Direct Killing and Martyrdom
A total of 252 journalists were killed while covering events, in an attempt to suppress and silence the truth and freedom of the press. The year 2025 was particularly marked by massacres targeting journalists, where incidents claimed the lives of six and five journalists in single attacks.
Arrests and Harassment
Campaigns of arrest against journalists continued in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip, along with restrictions on movement during work.
The total number of detained journalists (October 2023 – October 2025) reached 153, distributed as follows:
• 2023: 48 journalists
• 2024: 69 journalists
• 2025: 36 journalists
Injuries by Bullets and Shrapnel
Journalists were injured by live bullets and missile shrapnel, causing severe disabilities and physical harm, including cases of amputation. The breakdown is as follows:
• 2023: 63 cases
• 2024: 86 cases
• 2025: 54 cases
Destruction of Offices and Media Institutions
More than 150 media offices and institutions have been destroyed since the beginning of the aggression, including offices located in Al-Ghafri Building in Gaza City.
• 2023: 90 offices and media institutions
• 2024: 30 offices and media institutions
• 2025: 20 offices and media institutions
Targeting of Journalists’ Families
The occupation forces did not refrain from targeting journalists in their homes, resulting in the killing of children, mothers, fathers, spouses, brothers, and sisters. The toll is as follows:
• 2023: Around 250 relatives of journalists killed
• 2024: Around 164 relatives killed
• 2025: Around 61 relatives killed
Additionally, approximately 140 journalists’ homes were destroyed.
Intimidation with Live Ammunition Toward Press Crews
Incidents of dispersing and driving away journalists through live gunfire have increased significantly over the past three years:
• 2023: 16 incidents
• 2024: 148 incidents
• 2025: 91 incidents
Settler Terrorism
The past three years have seen a rise in physical and verbal assaults and armed threats by settlers against journalists:
• 2023: 27 assaults
• 2024: 36 assaults
• 2025: 28 assaults
Targeting with Toxic Gas and Sound Bombs
Occupation forces have used gas bombs and sound grenades to inflict greater harm on journalists, sending dozens to hospitals. The data shows:
• 2023: 90 injuries
• 2024: 85 injuries
• 2025: 72 injuries
Cyber Threats
Active journalists online have been subjected to direct threats and intimidation, with global platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok accused of collaborating with the occupation government in censoring Palestinian content. This included blocking journalists’ accounts, agencies, and news channels.
Other forms of violations include: physical assault, home raids, equipment confiscation, travel bans, summons and interrogations, deletion of recorded materials, threats, and incitement — amounting to nearly 25 types of crimes.
Displacement of Journalists
One of the most severe violations, both emotionally and materially, has been the forced displacement of journalists from their homes. Hundreds were forced to flee due to the constant threat of death — many were later killed in rented homes, relatives’ houses, or shelters in schools and even tents near hospitals, where about 50 journalists were killed.
Most Affected Categories
• Field Journalists: The most exposed to direct injury during assaults.
• Female Journalists: Targeted with direct killings, especially in Gaza, and subjected to persecution and arrests in the West Bank.
• Foreign Journalists and Collaborators: Faced restrictions and attacks in both occupied and Palestinian territories and were often banned from coverage.
Indicators and Analysis
1. Escalation of Crimes Against Media Workers: A clear trend toward directly targeting journalists’ lives, rather than merely harassing or arresting them.
2. Focus on the Gaza Strip: The main hotspot for the most brutal crimes, with lethal force used against journalists and photographers.
3. Targeting Women in Media: An attempt to silence female voices and suppress their influence both locally and internationally.
4. Systematic Targeting of Field Journalists: A deliberate effort to prevent independent coverage and reporting from areas facing genocide.
Immediate and Urgent Recommendations
1. Provide Field Protection for Journalists:
• Supply all journalists working in conflict zones with bulletproof vests and helmets.
• Prepare field ambulances and emergency centers in high-risk areas for immediate aid.
2. Strengthen Family Emergency Plans:
• Establish safety networks for journalists’ families and designate safe zones in case of direct attacks on homes.
3. Continuous Documentation of Violations:
• Intensify real-time documentation of killings, assaults, arrests, and destruction using video, photos, and legal documents to present to international human rights bodies.
Short-Term Recommendations
1. Enhance Digital Security for Journalists:
• Use encrypted communication and data systems.
• Provide training on protecting social media accounts from hacking or suspension.
2. Offer Psychological Support for Journalists:
• Provide mental health and professional support for journalists who experienced direct trauma or witnessed attacks on colleagues and family members.
3. Launch Local and International Awareness Campaigns:
• Publish accurate data on violations against Palestinian journalists to increase international pressure on the occupation.
• Cooperate with human rights organizations and international journalists to highlight ongoing violations.
Medium-Term Recommendations
1. Strengthen Legal and International Advocacy:
• File complaints with international bodies such as the United Nations, Human Rights Council, International Criminal Court, and the International Federation of Journalists.
• Pursue accountability for those responsible under international human rights and armed conflict laws.
2. Support Independent Palestinian Media:
• Provide financial and technical aid to small and medium media institutions to sustain coverage despite attacks.
• Establish backup storage for media equipment and safely archive journalistic materials.
3. Develop Training Programs for Field Journalists:
• Train journalists on safety in conflict zones, risk management, and self-protection during field coverage.
• Provide instruction on handling arrests and protecting equipment and journalistic materials.
Conclusion
The current situation reflects a systematic targeting of journalists, field correspondents, and media families by the occupation, with a dangerous escalation in 2025.
These actions constitute a flagrant violation of international laws concerning press freedom and the protection of journalists in conflict zones.
Implementing these recommendations will help reduce human and material losses, improve journalists’ protection, and increase international pressure to stop these crimes and violations.