How Palestinian Journalists Defied the Odds to Redefine Modern Reporting

A pro-Palestinian protester holds a handmade placard paying tribute to Palestinian journalists at a rally in Whitehall to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to Israel's occupation on February 3, 2024, in London, UK [Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty]. Israel has killed about 250 journalists since launching its genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023. That exceeds the number of journalists killed in all wars over the past 150 years combined. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) states that Israel has pursued the deadliest and most deliberate effort to silence reporters in the history of the media watchdog's documentation.

Jonathan Dagher, the head of Reporters Without Fighters’ Middle East desk, described the targeting as a tragedy for journalism, while United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk labeled Gaza a death trap for reporters. Despite international statements and condolences, Israel has faced no accountability for killing Palestinian journalists—a practice that escalated dramatically over the past three years. The silence of the international community and a lack of solidarity from Western media professionals emboldened these actions.

Despite trying to suppress the truth, Israel largely failed in its propaganda efforts thanks to the bravery of the very voices it targeted. Mourners carry the body of Abd Shaat, one of three Palestinian journalists killed in an Israeli attack, during his funeral in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on January 22, 2026 [Abdel Kareem Hana/AP Photo].

Western media outlets frequently claimed neutrality, yet their coverage often shielded Israel from blame through passive phrasing while amplifying the narrative that Hamas used civilians as human shields. When Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif was killed in August 2025, CNN highlighted unverified Israeli accusations in its second paragraph. Weeks prior, UN special rapporteur Irene Khan had warned against repeated threats directed at al-Sharif by the Israeli army. Similar patterns occurred when Israel targeted media personnel in Lebanon, with outlets like Sky News framing strikes through a militant-linked lens.

Furthermore, Israel has cracked down on domestic dissent, targeting publications like Haaretz and banning Al Jazeera, which denounced the shutdown as a criminal act. These actions follow a history of suppression, including the 2022 killing of Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank and the 2021 destruction of a Gaza building housing Al Jazeera's office. Activist and Middle East historian Assal Rad noted that repeating unverified Israeli narratives helps legitimize attacks on media personnel.

Double standards were also evident when comparing international coverage of conflicts like the war in Ukraine to the reporting on Palestinian casualties. Over 21,000 children have been killed in Gaza over the last three years, yet their faces and individual stories were frequently obscured by statistics and a lack of historical context regarding the occupation and illegal settlements.

Nonetheless, the lopsided coverage sparked internal dissent. More than 1,500 Western journalists signed open letters protesting the editorial bias at organizations like the BBC and The New York Times, with several journalists of colour resigning in protest.

Meanwhile, Palestinian reporters continued to document reality on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Wael al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeera Arabic’s then-Gaza bureau chief, vowed to continue reporting despite personal tragedy. Figures like Bisan Owda, who won an Emmy Award for her coverage, captured global attention and inspired student protests worldwide. By bypassing traditional institutional gates, Palestinian journalists have fundamentally transformed the global media landscape.