The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate reported that Israel committed a total of 99 violations against Palestinian journalists in December 2025. These violations included killings, physical assaults, arrests, and restrictions on media coverage, highlighting a persistent policy of systematic targeting of Palestinian journalism.
In its monthly report released on January 7, 2026, the syndicate detailed the severe climate for journalists in the Palestinian territories. Among the documented violations, one journalist was killed while on duty, and two others were seriously injured due to shelling and direct targeting in Gaza. The report also noted that two relatives of journalists lost their lives in the same region.
High Levels of Repression Documented
The syndicate’s committee on media freedoms recorded 48 instances of detention and restrictions on media coverage in the occupied West Bank. Additionally, there were 15 assaults involving tear gas and stun grenades while journalists were conducting their work. The report described two deliberate car-ramming attempts against journalists, as well as nine incidents where journalists faced threats involving brandished weapons. Six cases of direct verbal threats against reporters were also noted.
The report emphasized that these restrictions on coverage indicate a systematic Israeli policy aimed at obstructing the transmission of information and images, particularly in Gaza and key West Bank cities including Jerusalem, Al Khalil, Jenin, and Ramallah. The syndicate further documented two instances of physical abuse against journalists and the destruction of equipment while in use, alongside the demolition of two journalists’ homes due to Israeli strikes.
Implications of Ongoing Violence
The report characterized the situation as one of “total impunity,” underscoring the lack of accountability for these actions. It also highlighted two arrests, two summonses for security interrogation, and two cases of organized incitement by Israeli media outlets that falsely linked journalists to armed groups.
Notably, one attack was carried out by illegal Israeli settlers against a Palestinian journalist, occurring under the protection of the Israeli army. This incident indicates a troubling integration of roles between military forces and settlers in targeting journalists.
In light of these findings, the Gaza government’s media office reported that since the initiation of conflict in October 2023, approximately 257 Palestinian journalists have been killed. The ceasefire agreement achieved in October 2025 has not halted the violence, as Israeli forces reportedly committed hundreds of violations post-ceasefire, resulting in the deaths of 420 Palestinians and injuries to 1,184 others, according to the Health Ministry.
The violence has had devastating effects, with estimates indicating that nearly 71,400 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have lost their lives in Gaza since October 2023, and over 171,200 individuals have sustained injuries. The ongoing conflict has left much of the already blockaded enclave in ruins and displaced its entire population.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate’s report serves as an urgent call for attention to the plight of journalists in the region, emphasizing the critical need for protection and accountability amidst escalating violence.
