In recent months, a coalition of over 110 French journalists has publicly condemned the killing of Palestinian journalists by Israeli forces during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This unprecedented collective response highlights the grave risks faced by media professionals reporting from the region and calls attention to what they describe as a systematic campaign of violence against Palestinian journalists. The open letter, published in prominent French outlets and supported by major international press freedom organizations, underscores the urgent need for international solidarity, unrestricted media access to Gaza, and protection for journalists working under extreme conditions.
The Scale of the Crisis: A Massacre of Journalists
The conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of nearly 200 Palestinian journalists over the past 18 months, making it the deadliest period for journalists in any conflict since records began in 1992. According to a joint report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the International Federation of Journalists, at least 181 media workers have been killed by Israeli military actions in Gaza and Lebanon since the war began. This staggering figure includes at least 45 journalists killed while actively reporting.
This crisis is unprecedented in the history of journalism. A recent study by Brown University highlighted that the number of journalists killed in Gaza during this period exceeds the total number killed in both World Wars and five other major conflicts combined over the past 150 years. The scale and systematic nature of these killings have led French journalists to describe the situation as “a massacre unlike any before” (French journalists collective).
Many of the victims were clearly identifiable as journalists, wearing helmets and bulletproof vests emblazoned with the word “PRESS.” Despite this, they were targeted, with some receiving prior threats or being falsely accused by Israeli military spokespeople of affiliations with armed groups. These facts strongly suggest deliberate targeting by Israeli forces.
Personal Stories that Illuminate the Tragedy
The open letter and accompanying reports bring to light poignant stories of individual Palestinian journalists who paid the ultimate price. One such case is that of Hossam Shabat, a 23-year-old correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher in Gaza. Aware of the lethal risks, Shabat wrote his will moments before being killed by an Israeli drone strike while traveling in a vehicle clearly marked with the Al Jazeera logo. His final message, shared posthumously on social media, reads:
“If you are reading this, it means I have been killed… I am finally at rest – something I haven’t known in the past 18 months”
(Le Monde, 2025).
Similarly, Ahmed Al-Louh, a 39-year-old cameraman for Al Jazeera, was killed while filming a report in the Nusseirat refugee camp. Ibrahim Mohareb, a 26-year-old journalist for Al-Hadath newspaper, died from a tank shell while covering Israeli military movements. These stories humanize the staggering statistics and reveal the extreme dangers faced by journalists trying to document the conflict.
Media Access Restrictions and the Silencing of Gaza
The killing of Palestinian journalists is compounded by severe restrictions on international media access to Gaza. Israeli authorities have largely barred foreign journalists from entering the territory, allowing only tightly controlled and brief visits. This media blockade has forced Palestinian journalists to bear the sole responsibility of reporting from the ground, often under life-threatening conditions, including displacement, hunger, and constant bombardment.
More than 130 media organizations, including RSF and CPJ, have issued public appeals demanding that Israel grant unrestricted access to foreign journalists. They argue that without independent international media presence, the world is deprived of accurate, firsthand information about the realities on the ground. This lack of access enables misinformation and propaganda to flourish, further complicating the global understanding of the conflict.
CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg emphasized the critical nature of this issue, stating,
“When journalists are killed in such unprecedented numbers and independent international media is barred from entering, the world loses its ability to see clearly, to understand fully, and to respond effectively to what is happening. Access must be restored, and the rights of journalists must be respected”
(CPJ, 2025).
French Journalists’ Solidarity and Internal Debate
The open letter was initiated primarily by journalists from La Provence, a Marseille-based newspaper, reflecting a deep sense of professional solidarity with their Palestinian colleagues. The letter states,
“We, journalists at La Provence, who share the shores of the Mediterranean Sea with our Palestinian colleagues, cannot remain silent in the face of this unfolding horror. We cannot bring ourselves to remain silent, in the face of this massacre of journalists, with whom we share a profession: informing the world”
(La Provence journalists).
Despite this strong collective voice, the editor-in-chief of La Provence declined to publish the letter as an institutional position, framing it instead as a personal initiative by staff. The letter was published in other French outlets such as Politis and received widespread attention.
Lyse Mauvais, a signatory from La Provence, expressed hope that the letter would resonate with Palestinian journalists and inspire other French newsrooms to take a stand.
She said,
“We want this message to reach our Palestinian colleagues, and for them to know that many of their [fellow journalists] stand in solidarity with them. We also hope that other newsrooms and journalists in France will launch similar initiatives and take an active stand against the massacre unfolding against Palestinian journalists and their families”
(La Provence, 2025).
French journalists’ associations have also called on French authorities to urgently evacuate Palestinian journalists working for French media who remain trapped in Gaza. These journalists face mortal danger, with many having lost their homes and access to medical care amidst the ongoing bombardment.
International and Legal Implications
The killing of journalists is not only a humanitarian tragedy but also a violation of international law. Under international humanitarian law, deliberately targeting journalists is considered a war crime. The media blockade and killings in Gaza represent a systematic attempt to silence Palestinian voices and suppress independent reporting.
The open letter and statements from media freedom organizations call on governments and international institutions to end their silence and compel Israel to allow free media access to Gaza. They warn that the continued obstruction of journalists’ work facilitates the erasure of the Palestinian narrative and undermines the global community’s ability to hold parties accountable.
Criticism of Western Media and Governments
French journalists and their international counterparts have criticized Western media and governments for applying double standards in their coverage and response to the conflict. The disproportionate suffering of Palestinians, including the deaths of thousands and the near-total displacement of Gaza’s population, has received comparatively muted coverage.
The journalists’ collective questions whether the world would remain silent if hundreds of French journalists had been killed in such a manner, highlighting the disparity in international attention and response. This critique extends to the failure to adequately condemn or investigate the systematic targeting of Palestinian journalists, which they argue amounts to complicity in the suppression of press freedom.
Conclusion: A Call for Justice and Media Freedom
The killing of nearly 200 Palestinian journalists in Gaza over the past 18 months represents an unprecedented assault on press freedom and the right to report from conflict zones. French journalists, alongside international media freedom organizations, have raised their voices in solidarity, condemning these acts as a massacre that must not be ignored.
“The right to inform and be informed is the cornerstone of our democracies. It is a fundamental freedom, enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,”
wrote journalist associations in a joint letter, urging Israeli authorities to protect journalists and allow the international press to operate freely in Gaza (Arab News, 2024).
The international community faces a critical test: whether it will uphold the principles of press freedom and human rights by ensuring the safety of journalists and restoring independent media access to Gaza. Without such action, the truth of the conflict risks being silenced, and the voices of those most affected will remain unheard.