Israel attacks press as ‘silencing’ policy, says Palestinian Journalists Union
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The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate has accused Israel of pursuing a systematic policy of targeting journalists, saying attacks on the press have intensified sharply since October 2023 and peaked in 2025.
In a statement released on Friday, the syndicate’s Freedoms Committee said Israeli forces were carrying out a policy of silencing the press through killing, injury, and permanent disability. It said the aim was to suppress documentation of events and undermine the Palestinian narrative.
According to the committee, at least 76 Palestinian journalists had been killed or wounded by the end of November 2025. It described this as a dangerous escalation, adding that journalists are no longer incidental victims but confirmed and repeated targets.
The statement said Israel had shifted from restricting media activity to what it described as a strategy of neutralising journalists through lethal force.
It added that several journalists had been killed in targeted attacks in Gaza, including Al Jazeera journalist Anas al Sharif, with Israeli authorities claiming they were linked to Hamas. Press freedom groups have rejected these claims and noted that Israel has not held any personnel accountable for the killings.
The committee said journalists have also been killed over the past two decades, including Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank in 2022.
Muhammad al Lahham, head of the committee, said the pattern of attacks amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity. He said the actions reflect a deliberate policy aimed at eliminating witnesses and silencing coverage.
A December report by Reporters Without Borders said Israel killed more journalists in 2025 than any other country. The report described widespread attacks on media workers, including strikes on tents, hospitals, and press gathering areas.
The syndicate also documented severe injuries, including amputations, paralysis, and blindness, noting that many journalists were clearly identified and working in known media locations when attacked.