In response to Guardian report, IDF says it does not target all Hamas media journalists

After a British newspaper reports that Israel is targeting journalists who work for Hamas media outlets, citing senior IDF spokespeople, the military spokesperson’s office says that a Radio France interview with Colonel (res.) Olivier Rafowicz does “not reflect official IDF policy.”

“It is to be clarified that the IDF does not see Hamas’ media networks, or journalists, as such, as members of Hamas military wing,” says the IDF in a statement. “Accordingly, IDF does not target journalists as such.”

Rafowicz had said in the interview that there is “no difference between the political and the military wing of Hamas.”

“Al-Aqsa network was never identified as part of Hamas’ military wing,” the IDF continues, “and while certain Al-Aqsa network employees, including some who work or describe themselves as journalists, have been identified as members of Hamas military wing or as individuals who participate directly in hostilities, this does not project to all other employees.”

Citing the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists, The Guardian reported that some 30 percent of the 103 Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza since October 7 are “affiliated with or closely tied to Hamas.”