When covering the news about the realities of war, journalists in Gaza face heavy risk and are very vulnerable. Despite this, they are also the most needed. Sherif Mansour states, “Without them, we don’t have eyes or ears for what’s happening on the ground. We rely on journalists to provide timely, accurate, and independent information because press freedom is the antidote to the fog of war.”
The CPJ (Committee to Protect Journalists) did an investigation and discovered that 83 journalists and media workers died. Four of the journalists who were killed were Israeli, three were Lebanese, and 76 of them were Palestinians. This war has taken a relentless toll on journalists, and according to CPJ, this war has been the deadliest period for journalists since 1992, as journalists in Gaza face risk when they try to cover the conflict. As of January 18th, there have been multiple threats, cyberattacks, censorship, assaults, and the killing of family members. Sherif Mansour, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator, stated, “Journalists across the region are making great sacrifices to cover this heart-breaking conflict. Those in Gaza, in particular, have paid, and continue to pay, an unprecedented toll and face exponential threats. Many have lost colleagues, families, and media facilities and have fled seeking safety when there is no haven or exit.”
Duaa Jabbour, a freelance journalist who, along with her husband and children, were killed in an Israeli Airstrike, said, “To survive every day is exhausting.” While many journalists have died, CPJ has also counted that 44 journalists were reported injured, missing, and arrested. They are still investigating unconfirmed reports about other journalists. Sheriff Mansour has said, “CPJ emphasizes that journalists are civilians doing important work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties.” Some of the journalists killed include Yazan al-Zuweidi, Mohamed Jamal Sobhi Al-Thalathini, Ahmed Bdeir, and Hamza Dahdouh. The people listed were all Palestinian Journalists who were killed by airstrikes/drone strikes and have died in their homes, in public areas, and alongside family. Hamza Dahdouh’s father, Hamzah Al-Dahdouh Wael, who had also buried his wife, sons, daughter, and grandson, says, “Hamzah was all mine, he was my breath, and he was my soul, but certainly, this loss and this pain will not stop us from continuing on this path…And it will not deter us from continuing to perform this duty.” Hamzah had used a drone to capture footage and had been killed by an airstrike on Jan.7th. Israel confirmed the strike. It stated they “were targeting a terrorist” and “An IDF aircraft identified and struck a terrorist who operated an aircraft that posed a threat to IDF troops.”
As of October 7th, 2023, more than 25,000 people in Gaza have been murdered by Israel Defence Forces military air strikes. IDF warplanes have been carrying out airstrikes across Gaza with a “clear goal of destroying Hamas military and governing capabilities,” says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Most have died with their families in their homes, and others have been killed in airstrikes on hospitals, refugee camps, and other public spaces.
