RSF denounces war crimes against journalists in Gaza

Israel’s military forces are accused by reporters without borders of direct attacks that reach professionals and even their families

The Organization of Press Freedom Reporters Without Borders filed its fifth complaint against Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC), with evidence of war crimes that would have been committed by Israel’s military forces against Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip.

The new complaint brings together cases of 25 killed and five journalists between May 2024 and August 2025. According to RSF, in the vast majority of cases, journalists were targeted by their journalistic work or hit during work.

The first complaint against Israel was made to the Court of Hague in October 2023. The following were in December 2023, May and September 2024.

In January 2024, RSF also obtained the inclusion of Israeli military crimes against journalists in the Palestine investigation led by the TPI prosecutor.

But none of the investigations had a breakdown and the situation has only been getting worse, according to Antoine Bernard, RSF’s director of assistance:

“Defamatory accusations from Israeli authorities against Palestinian journalists are now routinely used to legitimize targeted attacks. (…)

We appeal to the ICT, in particular, to stay firm despite threats, pressures and sanctions, and to do their duty, nothing but their duty, and all their duty. Crimes against journalists must be punished. ”

Relatives of Palestinian journalists also saw victims of attacks in Gaza

Reporters Without Borders stresses that some of the attacks included in the new complaint to the International Criminal Court aimed at the houses of journalists, adding their families to the list of victims.

Ola Al-Dahdouh’s 18-month-old son-a 28-year-old journalist killed by an Israeli attack on May 31, 2024-were injured and his uncle was killed.

Several members of the family of Mohammed Issa Abu Saada – a 31 -year -old journalist by an Israeli missile and killed instantly on August 6, 2024 – and Fatima Hassouna – a 25 -year -old journalist killed by an attack on her home on April 16, 2025 – also lost their lives, including her pregnant sister.

Mohammed’s wife and three children Jaber Al-Qarinawi, a 30-year-old journalist, also lost their lives in Israel’s attacks.

Hassan Hamad’s brother – a 19 -year -old journalist killed by an attack on his home on October 6, 2024 – was injured in bombing.

Missiles have also been fired at journalists frequented places, such as restaurants and cafes that offer rare internet access at the besieged enclave, tents that houses press professionals and, more recently, Al-Nasser Hospital, the organization says.

Journalists Yahya Sobeih, Moamen Abu Alouf and cameraman Ahmad Al-Louh were killed in a “double bombing”, in which a first bomb is followed by a second with the apparent goal of reaching not only rescue workers, but also journalists who have been covering the loss of lives caused by the first attack.

Terrorism allegations used to justify journalists as targets

Israel’s defense forces (IDF) accused journalists Anas Al-Sharif, Moamen Abu Alouf and Hossam Shabbat of terrorism without producing any reliable evidence in the RSF assessment.

The organization maintains that IDF undertake a defamation campaign against Palestinian press professionals, referring to a joint statement of four United Nations special rapporteurs issued in August.

The document states that these accusations constitute “a well -known and shameful tactic of IDF to silence the truth about heinous crimes committed in Gaza.”

According to RSF’s count, at least 210 journalists have been killed since Israel launched their offensive against Gaza.

The organization says it has solid evidence to believe that the Israeli military aimed at 56 of them because of their work or in the course of their journalistic work.