“Gazawood”: How Smear Campaigns in Gaza Target Journalists & Undermine Their Safety

September 15, 2025 – Palestine –

Since the Israeli offensive in Gaza began in October 2023, journalists there have faced persistent efforts to discredit and endanger them. The campaign—often called “Gazawood”—employs doctored images, baseless accusations, and targeted online harassment, frequently backed by influential media outlets and government platforms.

One stark example: hours after Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif was killed in a strike near Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital, a photo circulated online of two other Gazan journalists, Mohnad Qashta and Mohamed al-Sharif, with a superimposed target over their faces and a call for their elimination. These claims were spread via a Telegram channel linked to Or Fialkov—who has no verifiable academic credentials in war studies—labelled “Gazawood.”

Groups involved in these smear operations allege journalists are terrorists, accuse them of staging horror, or tie them to Hamas simply through familial connections or because they report from conflict zones. “Media Watch Legal,” a platform supported by Israeli authorities, has promoted false narratives that link journalists to militants—often with no evidence—and uses such claims to justify official accusations.

These campaigns are not fringe. Some originate in pro-Israeli media or state-linked outlets. Others are amplified by social media platforms with state participation. One widely circulated accusation came when a journalist helping in rescue efforts was accused of “staging” a scene. Even though the event was confirmed by UN sources, it became the basis for attacks in public media and among military-affiliated accounts.

RSF warns that these smear campaigns do more than defame—they endanger lives. By framing journalists as enemies or fabricators, perpetrators attempt to justify violence against them under the guise of counterterrorism or propaganda defense. International law does not recognize association through family, coworker, or casualty status alone as a basis for targeting.

Despite repression from both sides, Gaza’s journalists continue reporting with professionalism and courage. Reporters Without Borders urges the public, media outlets, and governments to reject smear stories lacking credible evidence and recognize the crucial role press freedom plays, particularly in conflict zones.

Reference – 

https://rsf.org/en/gazawood-deadly-accusations-against-gaza-s-journalists