LONDON: Journalists in Gaza say fears are mounting that they could be the next targets of Israeli strikes following a smear campaign that links media workers to Hamas.
Several journalists, primarily from Al Jazeera, have reported threats against them on Israeli media and say some have been identified as targets in military statements, prompting some to request anonymity for their safety.
Media watchdogs, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, warn that this Israeli tactic of labeling journalists as Hamas affiliates is designed to “manufacture consent” and justify deadly attacks on the press.
“By labelling journalists and media workers as Hamas operatives, it aimed to legitimize their murder. This is not only dangerous, it is a war crime unleashed through information warfare,” said Sara Qudah, CPJ’s Middle East and north Africa regional director.
Such accusations, often linked to critical reporting on Israeli military operations, reflect a broader pattern to reportedly justify strikes on the press.
