In Occupied Palestinian Territory, Journalism Becomes Both Lifeline and Battleground, U.N. Says

December 09, 2025 – Palestine – 

Journalism in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has taken on dual — and deadly — roles in the ongoing war, according to United Nations officials and media observers who highlighted the perilous conditions facing reporters from Gaza, the West Bank, and beyond. At a major forum on media and the Middle East held at U.N. headquarters in New York, speakers underscored that reporting from the territory is “both a battleground and a lifeline,” capturing the immense risks journalists endure while providing information the world urgently needs.

The discussion came against the backdrop of one of the deadliest combat environments for journalists in recent history, with more than 260 media professionals killed during the recent hostilities in Gaza, making it the deadliest conflict for journalists in decades. Reporters, camera operators, editors, and support staff have been killed, injured, or displaced as they attempt to cover airstrikes, ground operations, and humanitarian crises affecting millions of civilians.

U.N. officials described how journalists in the territory face extraordinary hazards, including indiscriminate violence, targeted attacks, difficulties accessing conflict zones safely, and restrictions on movement. In many cases, media workers have been killed while wearing clearly visible press gear, illustrating the blurred lines between civilians and combatants in heavily contested areas.

Despite these dangers, panelists stressed that independent journalism remains a crucial lifeline for civilians and the international community alike. Reporters on the ground and in exile work to document human-rights violations, civilian casualties, displacement, and other realities that might otherwise go unseen amid restricted access and fragmented information flows. Their reporting is central to accountability efforts, humanitarian response, and global understanding of the conflict’s impact on ordinary lives.

The U.N. forum reiterated calls for all parties to uphold protections for journalists under international law, ensure safe access for media coverage, and support mechanisms that protect press freedom even in active conflict zones. Observers warned that without such measures, the capacity to gather and share accurate information will continue to deteriorate, deepening the humanitarian and informational crises in the region.

Reference – 

https://dppa.un.org/en/occupied-palestinian-territory-journalism-is-both-battleground-and-lifeline

https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/12/1166481