Record number of journalists killed in Gaza fuels international outcry

Wael Al‑Dahdouh, editor‑in‑chief of Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau, told the Il Libro Possibile festival in Italy that 263 journalists have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza over the past three years – a toll that surpasses losses in World War II and the Vietnam War. He recounted losing his wife, two children and his own son in a 2023 bombing, urged stronger international support for Gaza, and highlighted the lack of any safe zone for reporters in the strip.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has documented more than 100 journalist deaths in the Israel‑Hamas conflict since October 7 2023, distinguishing between confirmed cases and those under investigation. CPJ’s strict verification standards have drawn criticism from both pro‑Israeli and pro‑Palestinian groups, which accuse the organization of inflating or downplaying the figures. The agency stresses that transparent, rigorous counting is essential to protect press freedom and hold perpetrators accountable.