As the world observes World Press Freedom Day 2025, Palestinian journalists in Gaza persist in their vital reporting on the ongoing Israeli assault, despite facing grave dangers such as bombings, sniper fire, and arrests. These brave reporters have been documenting the ongoing violence and atrocities committed by Israel since the deadly escalation began on October 7, 2023. Their work comes amid what many see as a disturbing silence from the international community and global institutions, which human rights organizations argue has only enabled Israel’s actions to continue unchecked.
Since the conflict’s outbreak, the Israeli military, with the backing of the United States, has killed 212 Palestinian journalists, including 13 women. This figure, confirmed by the Gaza Government Media Office, represents the highest documented number of journalists killed in a conflict zone since record-keeping began in 1992, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights. These deaths are described as “deliberate assassinations,” targeting journalists for their role in exposing the truth about the war and its devastating effects on Gaza’s civilian population.
The international response has been largely inadequate. Although human rights organizations and United Nations bodies frequently condemn the targeting of journalists in Gaza, little has been done to safeguard their rights or to hold Israel accountable for these attacks. The press in Gaza, much like the 2.4 million Palestinians living under a suffocating Israeli siege, faces daily threats ranging from direct assaults to arrests, all while enduring the hardships of the blockade, food scarcity, water shortages, and a lack of medical care.
On April 18, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sharply criticized the silence of international media institutions and human rights organizations regarding the killing of journalists and children in Gaza. This inaction, he argued, has allowed Israel to continue its violent campaign without facing significant consequences.
As of April 25, the situation remains dire. Israel’s actions have led to the deaths of 212 journalists since October 7, 2023. According to the Gaza Government Media Office, this includes reporters from local media outlets, international news agencies, and various other channels. Furthermore, 409 journalists have been injured, and 48 others have been arrested. In addition to these direct attacks, Israel has also targeted prominent media activists, with 21 social media influencers and media figures being killed in the conflict.
The targeting of journalists has extended beyond individuals to entire media families. The families of 28 media workers have lost loved ones, and 44 media-related homes have been either partially or completely destroyed. The Gaza Government Media Office has labeled these actions as part of a deliberate campaign aimed at silencing the truth and obstructing the documentation of what it describes as an ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinian civilians. These attacks, they argue, represent serious breaches of international law, particularly the Geneva Conventions, which call for the protection of journalists in conflict zones.
The financial toll on Gaza’s media sector has been staggering, with estimated losses of around $400 million. Many media institutions have been devastated, including 12 print media outlets, 23 digital platforms, and numerous radio and television stations. The destruction of printing presses and other essential equipment has crippled the ability of Gaza’s media outlets to operate effectively. Despite these setbacks, 143 media institutions continue to operate in the region, defying the odds to provide crucial coverage of the situation.
Israel has also targeted media equipment, such as broadcast vehicles, cameras, and transmitters, with the “PRESS” insignia clearly visible. These actions have further hindered the ability of journalists to work in the region, limiting their ability to document the conflict and report on the human suffering in Gaza.
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, Ismail Al-Thawabta, the director of the Gaza Government Media Office, condemned the international community’s failure to protect journalists and to take meaningful action against Israel’s war crimes. He emphasized that true press freedom cannot exist without concrete measures to protect journalists and ensure their right to report without fear of retaliation.
On April 26, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights issued a statement accusing Israel of deliberately targeting journalists in Gaza to intimidate them and prevent them from documenting the realities of the war. According to the center, many of the journalists were killed in airstrikes, while others were shot by Israeli snipers. The group argued that these killings constitute war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which holds those responsible for such actions accountable for crimes against humanity.
The center also called on the international community to do more to protect civilians in Gaza and to hold Israel accountable for the ongoing attacks on journalists. It urged the ICC’s prosecutor, Karim Khan, to expedite investigations into these crimes, particularly those involving the killing of journalists who have sacrificed their lives in pursuit of truth.
World Press Freedom Day, established by a United Nations resolution on December 20, 1993, serves as a reminder of the importance of press freedom in conflict zones and around the world. For the journalists of Gaza, however, it is a day marked by both sorrow and defiance, as they continue to report in the face of extreme danger, hoping to expose the truth of the suffering they witness daily.