‘Unparalleled’: Israel-Gaza war takes record toll on journalists

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A new analysis released today by CPJ shows that more journalists have been killed in the first 10 weeks of the war than have ever been killed in a single country over an entire year.

As of December 20, 2023, at least 68 journalists and media workers have been killed since the October 7 start of the conflict. Sixty-one were Palestinian, four were Israeli, and three were Lebanese. More than half of these deaths occurred during the first month of the war, making it the deadliest single month ever documented by CPJ since it began keeping records in 1992.

“The concentration of journalists killed in the Israel-Gaza war is unparalleled in CPJ’s history and underscores how grave the situation is for press on the ground,” said CPJ President Jodie Ginsberg.

CPJ is calling for the international community to act. Read our six calls to action here.

?? View comparisons with the death tolls in Iraq, the Philippines, and other countries in a state of war or insurrection during their most deadly years.

?? Watch journalists on the ground talk about persevering in their reporting of the war.

Catch up on CPJ’s latest reporting on the war:

?? CPJ’s full coverage of the war and photos of the war’s unprecedented toll on journalists.

?? Al-Jazeera cameraperson Samer Abu Daqqa killed, correspondent Wael Al Dahdouh injured in drone attack in Khan Yunis.

?? Israeli police officers beat, injured Anadolu photographer Mustafa Alkharouf in Jerusalem.

?? CPJ is deeply concerned by an apparent pattern of targeting journalists and their families by the Israeli military.

Global press freedom updates

• CPJ calls for Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai’s release ahead of national security trial
• Dawei Watch journalists Aung San Oo and Myo Myint Oo arrested in Myanmar
• CPJ and partners send letter to UN rapporteurs over Kyrgyzstan deportation of investigative reporter Bolot Temirov
• Hungary’s Russian-style national sovereignty bill threatens independent media
• CPJ calls for a thorough investigation into killing of Mozambican journalist Jo?o Chamusse
• Four DRC journalists attacked or threatened while covering election campaigns, one radio station closed
• Four All? Sénégal journalists detained, charged with defamation and incitement following minister’s complaint
• Guinean radio and TV broadcasters and social media sites blocked
• Belarusian authorities detain at least two journalists in Mahilou

Spotlight

Nineteen years after the murder of Gambian editor Deyda Hydara—“an immensely respected editor, columnist, and press freedom advocate known for his criticism of President Yahya Jammeh’s repressive media policies”—CPJ and his family renew our calls for full justice.

?? “It was a fight [for justice] that was maintained by never really giving up.” Watch a video interview with Hydara’s son.

In November, a member of former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh’s death squad was convicted in Germany and sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the murder. Others responsible, including Jammeh himself, have yet to be held to account.

What we are reading

• Schatz, Welch, Van Hollen, Kaine, Booker call on Biden to urge Israeli, Egyptian governments to allow journalists into Gaza, protect free press —?U.S. Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii
• At least 68 journalists killed since start of Israel-Hamas war — Ellison Barber, NBCNews
• UNESCO indicators unveil gendered realities of journalists' safety in East Africa —?UNESCO
• Turkey: Press freedom crisis deepens amid earthquake and national elections —?International Press Institute

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