The study shows 266 Palestinians labeled as journalists or media workers who died in the fighting, concluding that 157 of them were operatives or closely linked to terror organizations.
By Shula Rosen
A new intelligence review has found that most Palestinians described as journalists who were killed in the Gaza war were actually members or affiliates of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, adding fresh evidence to long-standing Israeli claims that terror groups blur the lines between media activity and military roles.
The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center released its updated findings on Thursday, identifying 266 Palestinians labeled as journalists or media workers who died in the fighting and concluding that 157 of them were operatives or closely linked to terror organizations.
Researchers said they examined names published by Hamas’ government information office and cross-checked them with Palestinian media reports and documents recovered by Israel Defense Forces troops during ground operations.
The center said individuals were categorized either by confirmed membership in a terror group or by employment in media outlets controlled by those organizations. Some were found to have served as armed operatives even when their specific organizational ties could not be fully determined.
According to the study, 104 of those listed as journalists were part of Hamas, including dozens identified as military operatives.
Another large segment belonged to Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Smaller numbers were connected to Fatah’s military wing, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Popular Resistance Committees. Many others were tied to Palestinian Authority institutions or had no confirmed affiliation.
The center said Hamas treats journalists as an integral part of its propaganda system and uses media personnel to influence public perception while embedding some of them directly in military activity. Researchers pointed to the frequent overlap between media roles and operational duties, noting that this dynamic is particularly visible in cases involving Gaza-based Al Jazeera staff.
Throughout the war, the IDF has repeatedly disclosed intelligence showing that several individuals publicly presented as journalists were in fact terrorists who joined attacks on October 7 or supported Hamas and Islamic Jihad operations. Military officials said the dual roles left armed operatives moving through combat zones under the cover of press credentials, complicating efforts to distinguish genuine media workers from active participants in terror activity.
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