Israel's War on Journalism

History teaches us that silencing the press is the first step to silencing the truth. From NATO's shelling of media buildings during the Kosovo war to targeted killings of journalists by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, regimes during both times of peace and war have seen the importance of controlling the narrative. In Syria, Bashar al-Assad's forces routinely bombed areas known to hold media to hide war crimes. Right now in Ukraine, Russia has detained independent journalists who have disappeared after uncovering evidence of massacres against civilians. These aren't "unfortunate occurrences during war," they are calculated moves to avoid condemnation. Remove the witnesses of your atrocities, and the crime is easier to commit. Kill the storytellers, and stories can't be written.

Since 1948, Israel's record has been characterized by massacres against the press. For decades, both journalists from Palestine and broad coverage of the occupation have faced harassment, expulsions, and in many cases, death. The 2022 killing of renowned Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh while she covered a raid in Jenin, in the West Bank, remains one of the most infamous examples. Independent investigations, using a review of audio, photo, and witness evidence, including by The Washington Post, concluded that she was certainly killed by an Israeli soldier. Yet, despite the acknowledgement by the U.S. that Israeli fire was "likely responsible," Israel faced zero consequence, her death was ruled "unintentional," and no one faced any accountability. Killing a reporter, even in broad daylight with a marked press vest, carried no real consequences to the IDF.

That pattern has not only persisted; With Israel seeing that they haven't faced any consequence, they have escalated their attacks. Yesterday, a targeted Israeli drone strike on tents near Al-Shifa Hospital killed an entire Al-Jazeera crew, including Pulitzer Prize-winning Anas al-Sharif, along with independent journalist Mohamad al-Khaldi. Eyewitnesses and medics confirmed no fighting was occurring at the time, and Israel admitted responsibility soon after the attacks. Israel used their usual excuse, claiming al-Sharif was a "Hamas commander" who was involved in rocket attacks, but offered no evidence. Al-Sharif has consistently been reporting on the ground for Al-Jazeera, wearing a press jacket, far from being a militant. To international organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, this represents déjà vu: the same lies, lack of proof, and murder of journalists trying to document genocide.

Beyond the tragic incident that occurred yesterday is the broader scale of violence against civilians, documenting the conflict. Since October 7th, 2023, at least 269 journalists have been killed by Israel forces, the deadliest conflict for media workers ever recorded. The mortality rate for journalists covering the conflict is over 10%, much higher than any other occupational group in Gaza. Incidents like the strike yesterday, or the mass killing when a news vehicle was hit in December, represent a broad trend of attacks on the only people documenting the genocide. Gaza is the most dangerous place in the world for journalists; meanwhile, Israel's blockade prevents foreign press from entering. The murder of the Al-Jazeera crew came just days after Netanyahu's announcement to take over Gaza City, and to Israel, provides an opportunity for the ethnic cleansing to be done without any media to watch.

Gaza conflict has become the deadliest period for journalists in recorded history

So how does Israel keep getting away with it, avoiding blowback? Three factors stand out. First is controlling the narrative: by barring most foreign media from even entering Gaza, Israel ensures that most reporting comes from locals: easier to track, easier to attack, and easier to discredit as "Hamas terrorists." Second is hiding behind "investigations:" official probes on events are often slow and done in secret. In the case of Abu-Akleh, Israel only admitted responsibility months after the international eye was off the story. Third is dominating the narrative: governments can release "classified" claims without any evidence, framing the debate on their terms, while the murdered journalists have the only record of events.

This tactic has not started on October 7th, but the war in Gaza has exposed the IDF's history of lying. The strike yesterday was not an aberration from normal, but the endpoint of a culture where killing Palestinians carries no cost. It's part of an effort to strip Gaza of any witnesses. If Israel can kill the most prominent journalists in Palestine, it can kill anyone.

Targeting journalists is a war crime against international law. That's not my opinion, that's codified in global treaties. Yet, to Israel, violations of said law don't carry consequences. Without the independent investigations that Israel denies, there will be a lack of enforcement of law, and the killings with continue. Each journalist's death becomes more normalized.

For us, the massacre yesterday should serve as a wake-up call. It should pressure governments, news outlets, and international organizations to confront the reality of genocide that is unfolding before our eyes. And in Gaza, the strategy of killing any witnesses is working. If we don't demand accountability now, it will be too late to stop the ethnic cleansing.