Hamas accuses Israel of war crimes against Palestinian journalists

Hamas on Friday accused Israel of killing, detaining and forcibly displacing Palestinian journalists, describing the violations as war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In a statement, it said such crimes were not subject to a statute of limitations.

In the statement, to mark the  International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian Journalists, Hamas said Israel continued to target journalists and media organisations in the region, Daily Sabah reports. 

It claimed that more than 262 journalists and media workers had been killed and more than 400 wounded since Oct. 7, 2023, while foreign journalists remained barred from entering the Gaza Strip.

It also alleged that Israel was actively seeking to prevent independent reporting from Gaza to hide its many violations there.

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate has said that about 265 journalists, including 27 women, have been killed since the beginning of the Gaza war, with more than 500 injured. 

It also reported that dozens of Palestinian journalists were being held by Israel.

Hamas called on the International Federation of Journalists, the Arab Journalists Union and media organisations around the world to condemn violations against Palestinian journalists and push for measures to protect them.

International bodies have also raised concerns over press freedom in the conflict. A 2026 resolution by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe condemned the killing of local journalists in Gaza and Israel's restrictions on international journalists and media outlets seeking access to the enclave, while also criticizing restrictions on journalists by Hamas.