More Journalists Killed in Gaza Since 2023 Than in World Wars, Vietnam, and Afghanistan Combined
Nearly two years into the Gaza war, press watchdogs agree on one thing: no battlefield has claimed as many reporters.
Figures collected by multiple groups place the death toll of journalists and media workers between 145 and 270. The highest counts come from regional monitoring, which recorded close to 270 deaths by August 2025. Other organizations, such as the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, confirm lower but still extraordinary losses. All figures exceed casualties seen in Vietnam, the two World Wars, Korea, or Afghanistan.
Most of those killed were Palestinians. With foreign reporters blocked from entering Gaza, local journalists have shouldered the work of covering the war. Rights organizations say the deaths have left large gaps in documentation, raising fears that many violations will go unrecorded.
Israeli officials reject claims of deliberate targeting. They argue that military operations concentrate on Hamas fighters operating from civilian districts, which exposes anyone nearby, including reporters.
The conflict traces back to the early years of Israel’s formation and the displacement of Palestinians. The latest phase escalated after the October 7 attacks in Israel, when more than a thousand people were killed and hostages seized. Since then, Israeli strikes have killed tens of thousands in Gaza, according to local authorities and international monitors. Human rights groups describe the scale as unprecedented and accuse Israel of committing acts of genocide against Palestinians, a charge Israel strongly denies.
Advocacy groups say the combination of deaths, detentions, and blocked access has created what they describe as a news vacuum. They warn that international commitments to protect journalists in conflict appear hollow when tested in Gaza.
Al Jazeera has released a public record naming every journalist and media worker killed since the fighting began.