An Al Jazeera journalist from Gaza condemns Western media
for treating Palestinian journalists like "robots," ignoring their
risks and deaths. The recent Israeli strike on al-Nasser Medical Centre killed
five Palestinian journalists, sparking international outrage and highlighting
the precarious conditions for local reporters amid the ongoing conflict.
Palestinian Journalists Ignored Amid Deadly Strikes
As reported by Hind Khoudary of Al Jazeera from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, Palestinian journalists have been treated with disregard by Western news agencies during the war in Gaza. Khoudary said,
“You see how Palestinian journalists are treated. There’s no protection when they are alive, and after they are killed, no one even mentions them.”
This sorrow
came after a “very, very angry morning” on 24 August 2025 when five journalists
were killed in an Israeli "double tap" airstrike on al-Nasser Medical
Centre, which also killed at least 21 others including medical workers.
The slain reporters include Hossam al-Masri, a freelance
photographer for Reuters; Mariam Abu Daqqa, freelance journalist for The
Independent and the Associated Press; Moaz Abu Taha, correspondent for NBC;
Mohamad Salama, press photographer for Al Jazeera; and Ahmed Abu Aziz, a
freelancer for Middle East Eye and Tunisia's Diwan FM, who succumbed to
injuries later.
Khourdary pointed out the dismissive treatment by these international organisations posthumously.
“Many news outlets did not even mention their contributors,"
she explained, noting Reuters referred to al-Masri as merely a "contractor" instead of their cameraman. As for Moaz Abu Taha, none of the news organisations he worked for publicly acknowledged his death. She added,
“Palestinian journalists have been risking their lives for 23 months now, and after they are killed, they are not even mentioned in headlines.”
She criticised the tendency to refer to these journalists only as contractors or freelancers despite their full-time dedication producing coverage on the conflict.
Patterns of Silencing Palestinian Media
The Paris-based media freedom group, Reporters Without
Borders (RSF), condemned the killings, describing them as part of a broader
pattern of violence against journalists in Gaza. RSF referenced the recent
murder of Khaled al-Madhoun, a journalist killed earlier that week. Since
October 2023, over 246 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Israeli
attacks, with more media workers fallen than in numerous historical conflicts
combined, according to multiple sources.
An article in The Conversation highlights how Israel’s
prohibition of international media agencies operating in Gaza leaves
Palestinian journalists as the primary bearers of witness, facing grave risks
including repeated “double-tap” strikes that target rescue efforts and media
personnel. These journalists also endure Israeli disinformation campaigns and
threats to their families, compounding their psychological and physical burdens
while reporting on the conflict.
Western Media’s Failure and Criticism
In-depth criticism has been directed at Western media's
handling of Gaza coverage. A piece by journalist Sara Flounders for Truthout
explains how Western newsrooms have shied away from using terms like
"genocide" or "apartheid," instead often echoing Israeli
military talking points. This has led to accusations of cowardice and moral
failure by Western journalists, as well as lack of support for Palestinian
reporters on the ground, who face constant danger.
Al Jazeera journalists such as Anas al-Sharif, who was killed in August 2025, and Ismail al-Ghoul, killed the previous year, have been targets of both Israeli forces and smear campaigns designed to silence their reporting. Sara Qudah, Regional Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), stated:
“Israel is murdering the messengers,”
underscoring a
pattern of deliberate targeting of those who document the realities on the
ground.
Calls for Greater Recognition and Protection
Media activists and Palestinian journalists have condemned
the Western media’s ethnocentric tendency to demand foreign correspondents’
presence in Gaza, often overlooking the contributions and sacrifices of local
journalists who have been the frontline witnesses for nearly two years. An
article by Al Jazeera’s Institute for War & Peace Reporting criticised this
stance as racist, stating the coverage should prominently feature Palestinian
journalists’ work and not subject their deaths to silence and neglect.
Former Reuters photojournalist Valerie Zink resigned in
protest over what she described as Reuters’ betrayal of Gaza journalists. She
criticised major Western outlets for essentially serving as a “conveyor belt
for Israeli propaganda,” sanitising war crimes and abandoning ethical reporting
standards, which has put Palestinian journalists at even greater risk.
Global Outrage Over Hospital Strike
The attack on al-Nasser Medical Centre, killing medical workers
and journalists alike, drew widespread international condemnation. Al Jazeera
and other outlets reported on the global outrage following the incident on 24
August 2025, with calls for accountability for the targeting of journalists and
civilians. The strike was seen as part of an ongoing campaign that endangers
those trying to report truthfully from Gaza.
Impact on Journalism and Press Freedom
The cumulative effect of these events has been devastating
for journalism in Gaza. Palestinian journalists operate in a landscape marked
by violence, censorship, and disregard from international media institutions.
The failure to publicly recognise them both in life and death reflects broader
challenges within the global media ecosystem concerning representation,
protection, and ethical responsibility in war reporting.