Journalism in Gaza: Between Truth and Propaganda

By
Greg Bouwer
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The war in Gaza has been accompanied by an equally fierce battle over information. Accusations that Israel deliberately targets journalists, imposes a “total media blackout,” and restricts press freedom have dominated international coverage. Yet behind these claims lies a far more complex (and troubling) reality. Journalism in Gaza today is caught between truth and propaganda, with Hamas weaponizing the press, foreign correspondents operating under restrictions common in every warzone, and local reporters silenced by fear of retribution.

Hamas “Journalists”

International media frequently present casualties among Palestinian reporters as evidence that Israel is targeting journalism itself. However, investigations reveal that many of those killed or celebrated as “journalists” were also (actually) operatives of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

A 2023 report by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center found that over half of the Palestinian journalists killed during the war were affiliated with terrorist organisations — either directly employed by Hamas or involved in its propaganda operations.1 Other investigations have documented that some wore “PRESS” vests while simultaneously serving military purposes, including filming and broadcasting Hamas attacks, 2 which is in itself a war crime.

One striking example is Anas al-Sharif, often cited as a Gaza photojournalist for international outlets, who was also identified as a Hamas operative. Despite this, many news reports omitted his affiliation, instead portraying him simply as a victim of press suppression.3

This deliberate blurring of lines is not incidental. Hamas understands that journalists enjoy protections under international law and credibility in the eyes of global audiences. By embedding operatives within the press corps, Hamas exploits these protections to advance its propaganda and shield combatants from scrutiny.

Historical Precedents of Abuse of Journalistic Cover 

A telling example comes from a 2012 incident during Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense, when senior Islamic Jihad operatives occupied an international media building in Gaza — using it as a meeting point and effectively turning journalists into shields. This prompted a targeted IDF strike on the building. 15

The IDF has also documented other cases where operatives literally disguised themselves as journalists (driving vehicles marked “TV”) including a senior Islamic Jihad commander who used this ruse to evade targeting. 15

These incidents are more than isolated tactics; they reflect a deliberate strategy by armed groups in Gaza to blur the line between journalism and terror operations, exploiting international norms to shield themselves. 

Terrorists Posing as Press: Documented Cases from Gaza 

A striking instance emerged on December 26, 2024, when the IDF targeted a Palestinian Islamic Jihad cell traveling in a van marked “Press.” Israeli forces asserted that the five individuals were not journalists but operatives involved in propaganda and combat planning. As the IDF spokesman put it, “Wearing a vest that says ‘press’ doesn’t turn a terrorist into a journalist.” 12

Detailed evidence subsequently revealed that these individuals held roles such as combat propagandist, operations operative, and security head for PIJ—all positions firmly within the terror infrastructure. 12

This incident, corroborated by FDD, underscores a broader and deliberate tactic by militant groups: using the vest and aura of journalism to deceive both international observers and military forces, thereby leveraging protections meant for truly neutral press actors.12

No “Blackout”

Another frequent claim is that Israel has imposed a “total blackout” on foreign press in Gaza. In reality, dozens of international journalists have already entered Gaza under Israeli supervision. Outlets including The New York Times, AP, and Reuters have published field reports based on such embeds.4

This is not a ban but a managed system (common in war reporting) where journalists are escorted for safety reasons and to prevent operational intelligence leaks. The Wall Street Journal noted that such arrangements are “standard practice” in modern conflicts and hardly unique to Israel.5

The persistence of the “blackout” narrative illustrates how quickly perception can diverge from fact when Hamas and sympathetic NGOs frame the story. The international media’s willingness to repeat this framing uncritically reinforces a misleading picture.

Standard Practice in War Zones

Far from being an Israeli innovation, embedding and restricting journalists is a universal feature of modern urban warfare.

  • In Iraq, both the 2004 Fallujah battles and the 2016–17 Mosul campaign saw strict embedding protocols, with journalists escorted by U.S. and Iraqi forces to ensure operational security.6
  • In Marawi (Philippines, 2017), reporters were barred from independent access to the city until after the fighting ended.7
  • In Grozny during the Chechen wars, Russian authorities not only restricted access but often criminalised unapproved reporting.8

The Columbia Journalism Review observed as far back as 2003 that military embedding was now a “world tour” model for conflict reporting, with virtually all major armies adopting it.9 Scholars have likewise noted that “free movement of the press” is absent in high-intensity urban conflicts, where safety and operational secrecy demand strict control.6

Against this backdrop, Israel’s policy in Gaza is entirely consistent with international precedent. The singling out of Israel as uniquely obstructive thus represents a double standard, not an objective critique.

Silenced Voices

Perhaps the most underreported dimension of Gaza journalism is the extent of Hamas control. Local reporters live under an authoritarian regime that systematically censors, intimidates, and punishes dissent.

A 2014 survey revealed widespread self-censorship among Palestinian journalists, many of whom admitted that publishing material critical of Hamas would lead to reprisals ranging from dismissal to physical assault.11 The Foreign Press Association has likewise condemned Hamas for threatening international correspondents and manipulating reporting during earlier conflicts.12

These pressures mean that much of the reporting from Gaza reflects Hamas’s narrative rather than independent journalism. Foreign correspondents, often reliant on local stringers, may unwittingly amplify propaganda. This helps explain the rapid spread of unverified casualty figures and atrocity claims, many of which later collapse under scrutiny.

Conclusion

The image of journalism in Gaza as a free press under siege is a dangerous illusion. The reality is:

  1. Many “journalists” are in fact Hamas or PIJ operatives.
  2. Israel has facilitated controlled foreign media access, in line with international norms.
  3. Restrictions on reporters are standard in modern warzones.
  4. Local journalists are silenced under Hamas’s authoritarian grip.

None of this diminishes the courage of genuine reporters risking their lives to document the war. But it does demand that global media consumers, policymakers, and academics exercise critical scrutiny. When every camera lens may be guided by an armed faction, when every “source” may be speaking under duress, and when the battlefield doubles as a propaganda stage, journalism in Gaza must be read not only as reporting—but as part of the conflict itself.

References

  1. “More than half of the Palestinian journalists killed in the Gaza Strip during Operation Iron Swords were affiliated with terrorist organizations”. Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, February 27, 2024.
  2. “Palestinian Cameramen Exposed in New Footage Documenting Oct 7 Atrocities Side by Side with Terrorists.” HonestReporting, April 18, 2024.
  3. “EXPOSED: Gaza photojournalists shared call to infiltrate Israel on Oct 7”. HonestReporting, January 8, 2024.
  4. CAMERA. British Outlets Bury Terror Affiliation of Anas al-Sharif. August 11, 2025. 
  5. HonestReporting. Israel Targets Terrorists, Not Journalists—but Media Ignore the Facts. August 27, 2025. 
  6. Wall Street Journal. Who Is a Journalist in Gaza? August 21, 2025.
  7. Cooper, Stephen. “Embedded Journalists and the War in Iraq: Coverage and Control.” American Communication Journal, Vol. 6, No. 4, 2003. 
  8. Ramirez, Reynald. “Military Restrictions Limit Media Coverage on Marawi Siege.” Media Times, July 6, 2017.
  9. Askerov, Ali. “The Chechen Wars, media, and democracy in Russia”. Innovative Issues and Approaches in Social Sciences, Vol. 8, No. 2, 2015.
  10. Axe, David. “The World Tour of Military Embeds”. Columbia Journalism Review, February 19, 2008.
  11. Margolin, Alex. “Study: Self-Censorship Rife Among Palestinian Reporters”. HonestReporting, October 19, 2014.
  12. Margolin, Alex. “Foreign Press Association: Hamas threatening reporters”. HonestReporting, August 14, 2014.
  13. “Press Vest ‘Doesn’t Turn a Terrorist into a Journalist’: IDF Strikes Islamic Jihad Terrorists in Gaza Posing as Journalists”. Foundation for Defense of Democracies. December 26, 2024.
  14. “How Hamas and Islamic Jihad Use Journalism as a Cover for Terrorism”. Israel Defense Forces. November 29, 2012.
  15. The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Centre. “Terrorist Organizations Use Foreign Media Facilities for Camouflage and Protection”. Operation Pillar of Defense – Update No. 4. November 20, 2012.