111 Palestinian Journalists Killed in 2024: Gaza Becomes the Deadliest Zone for Media Workers

January 6, 2025 – Palestine/Israel –

Israeli forces killed 111 Palestinian journalists in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Journalists and Reporters Association. This brings the total number of Palestinian media workers killed since the beginning of the Gaza war in October 2023 to 202, making it one of the deadliest periods for journalists in modern history.

The report highlights that journalists in Gaza have been targeted not only by direct attacks but also by indiscriminate bombing, often while wearing press insignia. Several high-profile journalists, such as Saed Abu Nabhan and Omar Al-Derawi, were killed in the field while covering the conflict. Press freedom groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), have verified dozens of these deaths and described the situation as unprecedented.

Alongside the killings, over 145 journalists have reportedly been arrested, with around 60 still detained, raising further concerns about the systematic silencing of press voices in Palestinian territories. Media offices have also been destroyed by airstrikes, crippling local news operations and eliminating platforms that could independently document the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

These deaths represent more than the loss of individual lives—they signify the erosion of press freedom in conflict zones and an attack on the global right to know. Journalists serve a critical role in reporting atrocities, providing real-time updates, and humanizing the consequences of war. Their elimination limits independent coverage and allows narratives to be shaped solely by state actors.

International humanitarian law explicitly protects journalists working in war zones, but the lack of accountability and independent investigation into these killings has reinforced a climate of impunity. Press organizations are urging the international community to take decisive action, calling for investigations, legal consequences for those responsible, and stronger protections for journalists in all conflict regions.

Without justice and accountability, 2024 may set a dangerous precedent where reporting the truth becomes a death sentence. The loss of 111 journalists is a tragic marker of how journalism itself is being targeted—and silenced—in Gaza.

Reference – 

https://en.mehrnews.com/news/226558/Israeli-forces-martyr-111-Palestinian-journalists-in-2024