Journalist death toll climbs in Israel-Gaza war

Mourners attend the November 3 funeral of Palestinian journalist Mohammed Abu Hatab, who was killed in an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza Strip on November 2. (Photo: Reuters/Mohammed Salem)

The Israel-Gaza war has become the deadliest four-week period for journalists covering conflict since CPJ began documenting journalist fatalities in 1992.

As of November 5, CPJ’s investigations showed at least 36 journalists and media workers were among an estimated 11,000 killed since the war began on October 7—with more than 9,700 deaths in Gaza and the West Bank, and 1,400 in Israel. This deadly toll is coupled with harassment, detentions, and other reporting obstructions in the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank, Israel, and beyond.

And now that Israeli forces have begun their ground offensive into Gaza, they have told news agencies that they cannot guarantee safety of journalists working there.

CPJ is investigating all reports of journalists and media workers killed, injured, detained or missing in the war. Its list, published here, is based on information from CPJ sources in the region and media reports. It is unclear whether all journalists were covering the conflict at the time of their deaths, but CPJ has included them in our count as we investigate their circumstances. The list is being updated regularly.

MORE WAR COVERAGE:

Photos: The war’s unprecedented toll on journalists

CPJ condemns strike on AFP bureau in Gaza

CPJ joins call for immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Israel-Gaza war

See CPJ’s safety advice for journalists covering conflict and civil unrest



Where killers get away with murder

Map by Geoff McGhee for CPJ

Impunity for the killers of journalists continues unabated at nearly 80% worldwide and crisis-hit Haiti has emerged as one of the countries where murderers of journalists are most likely to go free, the Committee to Protect Journalists’ 2023 Global Impunity Index has found.

Haiti now ranks as the world’s third-worst impunity offender, behind Syria and Somalia respectively. Somalia, along with Iraq, Mexico, the Philippines, Pakistan, and India, have been on the index every year since its inception. Syria, South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Brazil also have been there for years – a sobering reminder of the persistent and pernicious nature of impunity.

“As journalist murders continue to go unpunished in nearly 80% of cases globally, in both democracies and authoritarian countries, the message is clear: journalists are fair game,” said CPJ President Jodie Ginsberg. “Murder is the ultimate form of censorship. Swift, transparent, independent local investigations are critical, and political will can change the course of justice to stem the pervasive impunity in cases of journalists killed for their work.”

MORE FROM THE REPORT
Amid Haiti’s instability and gang violence, murders of journalists go unpunished
A Russian mercenary leader’s death sparks hope for leads in CAR journalist murders
Commentary: Biden’s Saudi policy stymies quest for Khashoggi justice
Faces of impunity across the world
Video: ‘It’s never been this bad’


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Journalists Attacked

Samuel Wazizi

KILLED



Cameroonian news anchor and camera operator Samuel Wazizi died in government custody on August 17, 2019.

Police officers arrested him on August 2, saying they were looking for Wazizi to “get a certain information for their boss, the commissioner.”

On August 7, he was transferred to military custody and disappeared. In June 2020, military authorities disclosed that Wazizi had died of “severe sepsis” 10 days after that transfer.

CPJ has repeatedly called for authorities to allow an independent probe into Wazizi’s death.

In at least 8 out of 10 cases, the murderers of journalists go free. CPJ is waging a global campaign against impunity.

The Committee to Protect Journalists promotes press freedom worldwide.

We defend the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.

journalists killed in 2023 (motive confirmed)
imprisoned in 2022
missing globally