A devastating tally compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reveals that at least 103 journalists have been killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza in the past five months.
The victims include 91 men and 12 women, all Palestinians, who were killed while working for various media outlets.
According to RSF, at least 22 of these journalists were killed while working or because of their work. Many were reporting in the field and were clearly identifiable as journalists, while others were killed by strikes that targeted their homes.
The first three months of the war were the deadliest for the media, with nearly 80% of the 103 media fatalities occurring between October 7 and December 31. An average of nearly one journalist a day was killed during this period.
RSF has referred the crimes committed against journalists by Israel to the International Criminal Court and has appealed for urgent protection for journalists in Gaza. The organization’s secretary-general, Christophe Deloire, stated, “These 103 journalists are not numbers, they are 103 voices that Israel has silenced, 103 fewer witnesses of the catastrophe unfolding in Palestine, 103 lives extinguished.”
The report highlights the extreme danger faced by journalists in Gaza, where no place is safe, and no journalist has been spared. RSF correspondent Ola al-Zaanoun described the situation as an “omnipresent danger of death” since October 7.
The killings have continued into 2024, with 11 journalists killed in January and 11 in February, an average of one every four days. Journalists have been killed in their offices, in the field, in their homes, in refugee camps, outside hospitals, and in their cars, with nowhere considered safe.
RSF has called for donations to support its work in monitoring respect for press freedom and taking action worldwide. The organization relies on donations to remain independent and continue its mission to protect media freedom.