Journalism Under Fire: Palestinian and Lebanese Reporters Face Escalating Deadly Threats

The Mancunion shed light on the increasingly perilous conditions facing journalists in Gaza and southern Lebanon, where local reporters are bearing the brunt of regional conflict with limited protection and escalating danger. The article highlights a disturbing trend: journalists are not just collateral damage—they are being deliberately targeted.

In Gaza, where foreign media have been largely barred, Palestinian journalists are now the sole chroniclers of events on the ground. Over 120 have been killed since October 2023, with at least 35 cases involving what watchdogs have identified as direct targeting by Israeli forces. Despite wearing marked “PRESS” vests and helmets, journalists have been struck in locations where no active combat was taking place. UN experts and international human rights groups have labeled some of these attacks as possible war crimes, calling on Israel to uphold international humanitarian law.

Reporters in Gaza describe working under constant bombardment, forced to relocate frequently and report even while grieving the deaths of colleagues and family members. Over 90% of Palestinian journalists have reportedly lost either their homes, essential equipment, or loved ones in the ongoing bombardments. Yet they continue to risk their lives to provide firsthand documentation of the war, amid growing global concern over the loss of independent access to the region.

Meanwhile, in southern Lebanon, similar threats have emerged. In October 2023, Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah was killed, and several others were injured, by an Israeli tank strike. UN investigations confirmed the journalists were marked and positioned in a non-combat zone, raising serious concerns of intentional targeting. Since then, at least three more Lebanese journalists have died, and others have been wounded while covering the conflict near the Israeli border.

The article underscores that both Palestinian and Lebanese journalists are facing a brutal erosion of safety protections once guaranteed under international law. As press freedom is increasingly weaponized and reporters are labeled as combatants or threats, the global community is being called upon to ensure independent investigations and accountability. Without such action, journalism itself remains a life-threatening endeavor in these conflict zones.