The Guardian view on Gaza’s journalists: their lives, and press freedom, must be protected | Editorial

Scores of media professionals have been killed in the last three months. The truth itself is under threat

No war has killed so many journalists so quickly. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says that at least83 media workers have died since 7October. Seventy-six of them were Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza, while three Lebanese citizens were also killed, and four Israelis were killed by Hamas in the 7October attacks.

Even given the total number of deaths in Gaza - at least 24,600, the Palestinian authorities say - the media toll is shocking and disproportionate. On one estimate, it amounts to a tenth of all journalists there compared with a reported one in 100 of the overall population. Reporters Without Borders has warned that journalism is being eradicated in the Gaza Strip". Chillingly, the CPJ describes an apparent pattern of targeting of journalists and their families" - including at least two cases where journalists reported threats from Israeli officials and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officers before family members were killed.

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