The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) has strongly condemned the ongoing targeting of journalists and their families by Israeli forces in Gaza, describing it as a deliberate assault on press freedom and human rights.
In a statement issued on Monday, the PJS revealed that 219 Palestinian journalists and media personnel have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023, including 30 women. The organisation also noted that at least 430 journalists have been injured, while more than 685 family members of Palestinian journalists have lost their lives in the same period.
Adding to the dire situation, the PJS reported that around 1,000 journalists in Gaza are enduring repeated displacement, making the besieged enclave the deadliest place for journalists and media personnel in the world today.
The figures are staggering, with data revealing that more journalists have been killed in the ongoing Gaza conflict than in any other single conflict since the 1800s, including the First and Second World Wars.
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According to the Costs of War project, the Gaza War (2023–present) has seen the deaths of over 200 journalists, the highest recorded in a single conflict since the 1800s.
In comparison, the Afghanistan War (2001–2021) claimed the lives of approximately 80 journalists, while the conflicts in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos (1965–1975) saw around 70 journalists killed. The two world wars, from 1914–1918 and 1939–1945, witnessed the deaths of roughly 65 journalists, while the Yugoslav Wars (1991–2001) resulted in 45 journalist fatalities. The ongoing war in Ukraine, which began in 2014, has seen fewer than 30 journalists killed.
Further, the Korean War (1950–1953) claimed the lives of around 20 journalists, and the American Civil War (1861–1865) resulted in the deaths of just 10 media professionals.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) is a professional body that represents journalists and media workers in the Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. It serves as a union to protect the rights and interests of Palestinian journalists, advocating for press freedom, safety, and better working conditions.
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