A new report found that 706 family members of Palestinian journalists have been killed during Israel’s two-year onslaught. Over 250 Palestinian journalists have been killed since October 2023.
“A report issued by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate revealed that the targeting of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli occupation army has not been limited to direct killing, injury, arrest, or prevention from reporting,” a statement from PJS explained. “It has escalated to a more dangerous and brutal dimension, targeting journalists’ families and relatives in a clear attempt to transform journalistic work into an existential burden paid for by children, wives, fathers, and mothers.”
It continues, “Targeting journalists’ families has become a systematic and recurring pattern during the years 2023, 2024, and 2025, claiming the lives of approximately 706 members of journalists’ families in the Gaza Strip. All indicators confirm that these targetings are not accidental incidents resulting from the conditions of war.”
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Israel has killed about 250 Palestinian journalists since October 7, 2023. Reports Without Borders said Israel killed about half of all journalists who were murdered in 2025. RSF labeled Israel “the worst enemy of journalists.”
Israel’s targeting of journalists and their families is likely an effort to create a media blackout of the horrific war and conditions inflicted on the people of Gaza. Video evidence of Israeli war crimes has caused Israel’s public reputation to plummet across the globe.
Israel has also tortured journalists. Speaking with CPJ earlier this month, Palestinian freelance journalist Sami al-Sai said he was tortured and raped in Israeli detention.
