IDF rejects report accusing it of being responsible for 70% of journalist deaths in 2024, says many were terrorists

Responding to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), claiming that Israel was responsible for nearly 70 percent of the 124 journalists killed in the past year, the IDF says that it does not intentionally target journalists in the Gaza Strip, while noting that many on the list are members of terror groups.

“The IDF takes all possible measures to minimize harm to civilians, including journalists. The IDF has never, and never will, intentionally target journalists,” the military says in response to a query by The Times of Israel.

“In light of the ongoing exchange of fire, being in an active combat zone carries risks. The IDF will continue to combat threats while making an ongoing effort to minimize harm to civilians. The IDF only directs its attacks toward military targets and militants and does not attack civilian sites or civilians, including media and journalists,” the statement continues.

“Under international humanitarian law, a member of an organized armed group [such as the military wing of Hamas], or a person directly participating in hostilities, is considered a lawful target. As it seems, many on the published list include members of the military wing of Hamas and are therefore lawful targets under international law,” the IDF adds.

According to the report, last year was the deadliest for journalists in recent history.

The uptick in killings, which marks a 22 percent increase over 2023, reflects “surging levels of international conflict, political unrest and criminality worldwide,” the CPJ said.

A total of 85 journalists died in the Hamas war, “all at the hands of the Israeli military,” the CPJ says, adding that 82 of them were Palestinians.