Systematic Targeting: Gaza Journalists Under Fire in Israel’s Deadly War

March 27, 2025 – Palestine/Israel – 

A detailed investigation by The Intercept has exposed a disturbing pattern in which Israel has been systematically targeting Palestinian journalists during its ongoing assault on Gaza. This revelation comes amid what press freedom advocates are calling the deadliest period for journalists in modern history, with over 200 reporters killed since October 2023.

The report details how journalists, even when marked with press gear or working in known media locations, have been directly targeted by Israeli forces. Among the cases examined is that of Hossam Shabat, a 23-year-old Al Jazeera journalist killed in an Israeli airstrike in March 2025. Shabat was among six journalists who had previously been accused by the Israeli army of ties to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The Israeli military later admitted responsibility for the strike that killed him.

Another journalist, Hassan Eslayeh, head of the local news agency Alam24, had survived one airstrike only to be killed in a drone strike while being treated in a hospital. Though the IDF claimed he was affiliated with Hamas, his coworkers and press freedom groups vehemently denied the accusations and called the killing a deliberate act.

The case of Yahya Sobeih, a freelance reporter, is equally tragic. He was killed in May 2025 by an airstrike at a Gaza market, shortly after celebrating the birth of his child. None of the victims were found to be actively involved in combat or terrorism.

The Intercept also examined broader trends, suggesting Israel may be compiling “kill lists” of journalists based on social media activity or affiliations, with minimal evidence. Interviews with the families and colleagues of the victims describe a climate of fear, as press workers continue to report despite the extreme danger.

The Committee to Protect Journalists and other watchdogs have demanded independent investigations and international accountability. They warn that the apparent strategy of targeting journalists undermines freedom of the press and violates international humanitarian law, effectively silencing witnesses in one of the world’s most urgent humanitarian crises.

Reference – 

Journalists Under Fire in Gaza, Israel’s Deadly War on Reporters

Gaza Journalist Fadi al-Wahidi Avoided Israel’s “Red” Zone. Israel Shot Him Anyway.