Armed groups in Gaza, such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, began releasing the names of their fighters killed in the war, revealing that several people initially presented as civilian journalists were, in fact, active members of their military wings
This change, which occurred after years of silence about the identities of those killed, brought new information about the conflict and questions some accusations that Israel had deliberately attacked press professionals.
A clear example is the case of Ahmed Abu Eisha.
In July 2025, he was killed by an Israeli drone in a refugee camp in Nuseirat.
At the time, he was described as a journalist for Palestine Today, a channel linked to Islamic Jihad.
Press advocacy organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) portrayed him as a dedicated, polite and conflict-avoidant professional, including him on lists of journalists killed by Israel since October 2023. However, Islamic Jihad itself later revealed that Abu Eisha was the commander of a central intelligence unit, involved in collecting and analyzing military intelligence.
This disclosure is part of a series of daily announcements published by the groups on official channels.
A Times of Israel analysis identified several similar cases.
Mohammed Nasser Abu Huwaidi, who died in December 2023, was initially presented as a journalist for the outlet Al-Istiqlal.
His death even drew condemnation from UNESCO, which called for protection for media professionals in conflict zones.
Months later, Islamic Jihad added him to its list of operatives, describing him as a member of a military media unit.
CPJ removed his name from the journalist count after confirming participation in fighting.
Another case is that of Yaqoub Anan al-Bursh, who worked at Namaa radio and was killed in an airstrike in November 2023. Hamas identified him as a member of a battalion and a military media commentator.
Similarly, Maysara Salah, linked to the Quds News network, was removed from the CPJ list after Hamas recognized him as a fighter in a military media unit.
These corrections show that, in some cases, journalistic credentials may have been used as cover for activities linked to armed groups.
CPJ adjusted its database, removing at least eight names after verifying that individuals had participated in combat.
The organization explains that it reviews information whenever new data emerges and reinforces that the misuse of press identification undermines credibility and puts real journalists at greater risk.
However, other entities, such as the International Federation of Journalists and the Stop Murdering Journalists project, keep some of these names on their lists without mentioning military involvement.
A previous study by the Meir Amit Intelligence Center already indicated that around 60% of people identified as dead journalists had links to terrorist groups.
Israel says it does not target journalists or unarmed civilians and takes measures to avoid casualties among the uninvolved population.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) alleges that many targets were active operatives involved in planning attacks or intelligence activities.
Critics, however, question these actions due to the high number of deaths reported in Gaza.
These revelations from Palestinian groups themselves shed light on the complexity of the conflict.
Not all journalists killed were combatants, but the confirmed cases show that the distinction between the press and militancy was not always clear.
The release of lists of those killed by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, although late, helps clarify facts and reduces the possibility that some attacks have been misinterpreted as targeting exclusively civilians.
The debate over the protection of journalists in war zones continues to rage.
International organizations emphasize that media professionals should be treated as civilians, as long as they do not take part in hostilities.
At the same time, the use of news coverage by combatants can put the entire class at risk.
This reality highlights the importance of careful verification of information in the midst of conflict, so that the truth prevails over simplified narratives.
Published in 06/22/2026 20h32
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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