IDF Alleges 170 Gazan Journalists Were Members of Terrorist Groups

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a report on Thursday claiming that 170 individuals killed during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, who were previously identified as journalists or media workers, were active members of terrorist organizations. According to the military, 118 of these individuals were affiliated with Hamas, 49 with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and others with smaller militant groups. The IDF further alleged that 17 of these individuals participated in the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.

To support these findings, the IDF published a database containing names, identification numbers, and intelligence materials, including documents and records allegedly recovered within Gaza. The military stated that this evidence contradicts claims that Israeli forces have deliberately targeted journalists, asserting instead that their operations are directed at combatants. Some of the individuals named in the report had reportedly worked with various international news outlets. The disclosure follows a review by the Committee to Protect Journalists, which has previously removed certain names from its own casualty database.