Legitimization Cell’: Israel’s Shadow Campaign to Justify Journalist Killings in Gaza

August 28, 2025 – Palestine –

Israel’s military has come under scrutiny for reportedly establishing a covert intelligence unit—dubbed the “Legitimization Cell”—tasked with manufacturing narratives to justify the deaths of journalists in Gaza. Over 200 journalists have reportedly died during Israel’s military operations, prompting alarm over claims that Palestinian reporters are being deliberately targeted.

According to independent Israeli Palestinian outlet +972 Magazine, the unit was created in the aftermath of the 7 October attacks to salvage Israel’s international image. Its key function: discredit journalists by asserting—even tenuously—that they have links to Hamas. Political scientist Ahron Bregman and press freedom advocates describe this approach as an attempt to rationalize journalist killings by retroactively labeling them as militant operatives.

The case of Al Jazeera reporter Anas Al‑Sharif stands as a glaring example. After he was killed in an Israeli airstrike, the army swiftly circulated documents alleging he had been a Hamas operative since 2013. Yet the files showed his last contact with Hamas was in 2017, years before the current conflict began. Observers argue that such allegations are circulated largely to delegitimize journalists’ work, strip them of protection, and make their deaths appear justified.

Critics—alongside those who have faced such targeting firsthand—warn that the effort is far more propaganda than genuine national security. An anonymous Gaza-based journalist called the strategy “alarming,” noting that beyond the immediate threats of violence, journalists are now also fighting for their reputations and international support.

Israel maintains that its military does not intentionally target journalists and asserts that strikes are aimed only at militants or military infrastructure. Access to Gaza is controlled via embedding journalists with Israeli forces, and officials have not confirmed the existence of the Legitimization Cell. Yet, despite a preliminary investigation following a hospital strike that killed journalists, press freedom groups argue that smearing reporters as militants effectively becomes the narrative that justifies their deaths.

Reference – 

https://theweek.com/world-news/israel-legitimisation-cell-justifying-journalist-killings-in-gaza