Geneva, October 3, 2025 (PEC). Two years after the start of the war launched by Hamas on October 7, 2023, the toll of violence suffered by the media is extremely heavy. At least 217 Palestinian journalists were killed by Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, deplored on Friday the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC).
“This massacre among media representatives in an armed conflict is unprecedented since the end of World War II 80 years ago. An aggravating factor has been the total impunity with which these war crimes have been committed by the Israeli army,” said PEC President Blaise Lempen.
According to PEC figures, based on local sources, 81 journalists were killed in Gaza in 2023, 80 in 2024, and 56 so far in 2025. In the absence of an independent investigation on the ground, it is impossible to determine with certainty which victims were deliberately targeted because of their work and which died because they were in a bombing zone.
The PEC pays tribute to the courage of the Palestinians who, risking their lives, continued to document the suffering of the people of Gaza for two years. As the only witnesses for the media on the ground, they have enabled the outside world to understand the intensity of the humanitarian catastrophe experienced by the civilian population. When one journalist was killed, another took his place, thwarting the Jerusalem government’s strategy of imposing its own view of the war and of closing the territory to foreign media.
“That journalists belong to the opposing side does not justify eliminating them, provided they do not take any action that undermines their status as civilians. The Israeli government will have to be held accountable for this sooner or later,” added the PEC President.
The PEC supports the proposal to create an independent international commission to investigate crimes committed against media representatives in order to better combat impunity.
The NGO, founded in Geneva in 2004, recalls that exactly ten years ago, in 2015, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2222, which “Condemns all violations and abuses committed against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situations of armed conflict, and calls upon all parties to armed conflict to bring an end to such practices.”
The Resolution “Recalls in this regard that journalists (…) engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict shall be considered as civilians and shall be respected and protected as such;”
It “Emphasizes the responsibility of States to comply with the relevant obligations under international law to end impunity and to prosecute those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law;” and “Urges Member States to take appropriate steps to ensure accountability for crimes committed against journalists (…) in situations of armed conflict and through the conduct of impartial, independent and effective investigations within their jurisdiction and to bring perpetrators of such crimes to justice.”
From January to the end of September, 138 journalists were killed worldwide (including 56 in Gaza), making 2025 the deadliest year for the media so far.
More info on: www.pressemblem.ch
List of victims at: https://www.pressemblem.ch/casualties