The ongoing Israel-Iran war, which reignited on June 13, 2025, has intensified an already fraught environment for Palestinian journalists operating within Israel and the occupied territories. This conflict has not only resulted in widespread violence and displacement but has also led to a systematic campaign of harassment, censorship, and violence targeting Palestinian Israeli journalists. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), alongside other press freedom organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, has issued urgent condemnations of these actions, highlighting the grave implications for press freedom and the safety of journalists in the region.
The Scale of Violence and Harassment Against Palestinian Journalists
The statistics emerging from the past months paint a grim picture of the risks faced by Palestinian journalists. In May 2025 alone, 137 distinct incidents of violence, abuse, and rights violations were recorded in Gaza and the West Bank. These incidents include the killing of 12 journalists and the destruction of four media offices in Gaza, underscoring the lethal environment in which journalists operate. The first quarter of 2025 saw the deaths of at least 15 journalists in Gaza—seven in January and eight in March—alongside the tragic loss of 17 family members of journalists and the destruction of 12 journalists’ homes due to missile and artillery strikes.
More broadly, since the beginning of 2025, Israeli forces have killed over 6,347 Palestinians, including 37 journalists, 1,265 children, and 322 women. Additionally, at least 17,279 people have been injured. These figures reflect not only the scale of the conflict but also the particular vulnerability of journalists who are targeted both as individuals and through attacks on their workplaces. A total of 343 attacks on journalists were reported in early 2025, encompassing lethal attacks, arrests, and property destruction. Forty-nine of these incidents involved live fire directed at press crews, and 15 journalists were detained either during home raids or while reporting in the field.
The human toll extends beyond physical harm. Forced displacement has uprooted approximately 250 journalists from Khan Younis in southern Gaza and another 100 from northern Gaza, leaving them and their families exposed to life-threatening danger and unemployment. Physical assaults have been widespread, with 14 journalists beaten, often by Israeli soldiers or settlers, some requiring hospitalization. Moreover, journalists face obstruction and censorship, with 64 documented cases of detention or obstruction of journalists and media crews, 15 incidents involving tear gas suffocation, five cases of live fire intimidation, four attempted vehicular assaults, and three arrests. Legal harassment compounds these challenges, with four journalists brought before Israeli military courts, two summoned for interrogation, and three experiencing the demolition of their homes in Gaza.
The Committee to Protect Journalists documented at least eight separate incidents on June 14 and 15, 2025, involving harassment, obstruction, equipment confiscation, incitement, and forced removal of at least 14 journalists by Israeli police. Most of these journalists worked for Arabic-language outlets and were reporting from sites impacted by Iranian or Israeli strikes, highlighting the targeting of those covering the conflict from a Palestinian perspective.
Statements from Key Stakeholders
The International Federation of Journalists, alongside other press freedom groups, has been vocal in condemning these violations. Sara Qudah, CPJ Regional Director, expressed deep concern over the targeting of Palestinian journalists working inside Israel, stating,
“We are deeply concerned by the troubling pattern of targeting Palestinian journalists working inside Israel. On June 14 and June 15, at least 14 journalists were obstructed, incited against, or physically assaulted for simply doing their jobs. Israeli authorities must immediately investigate these violations, hold perpetrators accountable, and stop treating Palestinian journalists covering the war as threats.”
This statement underscores the urgent need for accountability and protection for journalists in conflict zones.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate has consistently highlighted the systematic nature of these violations. The Syndicate’s Freedom Committee emphasized,
“The ongoing violations committed by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian journalists in both Gaza and the West Bank are systematic and brutal. Journalists have been killed, displaced, and targeted in their homes and workplaces. We continue to coordinate with relevant bodies to safeguard journalists and pursue legal accountability for the Israeli occupation.”
This reflects a coordinated effort by Palestinian media organizations to document abuses and seek justice despite the immense challenges.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has also drawn attention to the extreme dangers faced by journalists in the region. The RSF 2025 World Press Freedom Index declared Palestine the most dangerous place for journalists globally, noting,
“Nearly 200 journalists have been killed in the first 18 months of the war, with at least 42 losing their lives while actively reporting in the field. Trapped in the enclave, journalists in Gaza have no shelter and lack access to basic necessities, including food and water.”
This highlights the dire humanitarian conditions exacerbating the risks for journalists.
Israeli authorities have remained largely silent in public regarding the surge in violence and censorship against Palestinian journalists during the current conflict. However, their longstanding policies of barring foreign journalists from Gaza for over 20 months and restricting access for Palestinian reporters are well documented and contribute to the ongoing suppression of independent media coverage.
Patterns of Harassment and Censorship
The targeting of Palestinian journalists is not a new phenomenon but part of a broader, long-term campaign to control narratives and suppress dissenting voices. Palestinian journalists inside Israel have frequently been accused of “working for the enemy,” leading to their exclusion from reporting sites and exposure to violence and racial slurs. This stigmatization fuels both official and civilian hostility.
Physical violence and intimidation are common tactics used to silence journalists. Many have been beaten, had their equipment confiscated, or forcibly expelled from reporting sites by police or border guards. Civilians have also perpetrated attacks, often with impunity, creating a pervasive atmosphere of fear. Legal and administrative barriers further restrict journalistic work, with repeated interrogations, court summons, and bans on reporting from sensitive locations such as Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem’s Old City.
The conflict has also seen targeted killings and destruction of media infrastructure. Airstrikes and artillery have destroyed media offices and journalists’ homes, with many deaths attributed to direct targeting. The suppression extends to foreign media as well, with Israeli authorities barring foreign journalists from entering Gaza for extended periods, severely limiting independent coverage and leaving the international community reliant on official narratives.
The Human Toll on Journalists and Their Communities
The cumulative effect of these violations is devastating. Hundreds of journalists have been forcibly displaced, losing their homes and livelihoods, while enduring constant threats and violence. The psychological trauma from witnessing colleagues and loved ones killed or injured, combined with the destruction of their communities, takes a profound toll on their mental health and ability to work.
The lack of accountability for perpetrators of violence against journalists perpetuates a climate of impunity and fear. Despite repeated calls for investigations, those responsible rarely face consequences, emboldening further abuses and encouraging self-censorship among journalists who fear for their safety.
Broader Implications for Press Freedom
The relentless targeting of Palestinian journalists has far-reaching implications beyond the immediate conflict zone. The systematic campaign of violence and censorship stifles critical coverage of the war, undermining the public’s right to information and leaving the international community dependent on official narratives. This erosion of media pluralism marginalizes Palestinian and independent voices, consolidating control over the narrative in favor of pro-government outlets.
Globally, press freedom organizations have condemned these actions and called for urgent measures to protect journalists and uphold the fundamental right to report without fear of violence or reprisal. The situation in Palestine serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of press freedom in conflict zones and the vital role of international solidarity and advocacy.
The escalating harassment and censorship of Palestinian Israeli journalists amid the Israel-Iran war represent a grave assault on press freedom and the safety of those who risk their lives to report the truth. The documented statistics reveal a systematic pattern of violence, displacement, and legal harassment that threatens not only individual journalists but the very fabric of independent media in the region.
As Sara Qudah of CPJ asserts,
“Israeli authorities must immediately investigate these violations, hold perpetrators accountable, and stop treating Palestinian journalists covering the war as threats.”
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate’s call for coordinated efforts to safeguard journalists and pursue legal accountability echoes this urgent demand. Meanwhile, the RSF’s designation of Palestine as the most dangerous place for journalists globally underscores the extreme risks faced by media professionals trapped in this protracted conflict.
The international community must respond decisively to protect journalists, ensure their safety, and uphold the fundamental right to free and independent reporting. Without such action, the voices of Palestinian journalists will continue to be silenced, and the world will be deprived of critical perspectives on one of the most enduring and complex conflicts of our time.