Journalists' Syndicate Reveals Serious Motives for the Assassination of 31 Female Journalists, Most of Whom Were with Their Families

SadaNews - The Israeli occupation army continues to commit systematic crimes against the Palestinian press in general, and against Palestinian female journalists and media activists in particular, as part of a policy aimed at silencing the Palestinian voice and obscuring the truth. According to monitoring by the Freedoms Committee of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, since the outbreak of aggression on October 7, 2023, until early September 2025, 31 female Palestinian journalists and dozens of activists on social media platforms have been martyred.

The majority of them were killed while targeting their homes along with their family members, in crimes that rise to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In this report, the Freedoms Committee of the Syndicate sheds light on the crimes of the occupation represented by the killing of female journalists and reveals the main motives, indicators, and repercussions of the Israeli occupation system’s methodology in this criminal act.

Firstly: The Martyr Female Journalists

Year 2023 (10 Journalists)

10/10/2023, Salam Maima: A journalist at Jerusalem Voice and head of the female journalists committee at the media union. She was martyred by shelling in Jabalia with her husband and her three children.

25/10/2023, Salma Makhamer (31 years old): A freelance journalist and a graduate of Islamic University. She was martyred in Rafah with her infant child, her parents, and her siblings.

26/10/2023, Duha Sharaf: A presenter at Al-Aqsa Radio, martyred with her child Ubaida (one-and-a-half years old) in the bombing of her home in Gaza.

20/11/2023, Ayat Khodoura: An independent journalist and podcast content creator, martyred in Beit Lahia with her grandmother and three of her siblings.

23/11/2023, Amal Zahid: A freelance photographer, martyred with her family in the bombing of her home in Gaza.

9/12/2023, Ola Attallah: A correspondent for Anadolu Agency, martyred in the bombing of her uncle's house in Gaza, along with her brother, his wife, and her uncle's children.

11/12/2023, Nermeen Qawas: An intern at Russia Today, martyred with her husband and children.

13/12/2023, Hanan Ayad: A freelance journalist, martyred with her husband and children.

17/12/2023, Haneen Al-Qashtan: A former presenter at Voice of the Homeland and Al-Kofiya, martyred in shelling in Al-Nasira, with some family members.

30/12/2023, Nermeen Nasir Habosh: A media coordinator at Beialara Foundation, martyred in Gaza with her mother and daughter.

Year 2024 (12 Journalists)

9/1/2024, Hiba Al-Abadlah: A presenter at Al-Azhar Radio, martyred with her daughter in Khan Younis.

12/2/2024, Alaa Al-Hams: A journalist and program presenter, who worked with several platforms including Al Jazeera Mubasher, Sanad, and Nawa. She was martyred from wounds she sustained due to the bombing of her home in Rafah, where she lost about ten relatives and her fetus.

1/6/2024, Ola Al-Dahdouh: An editor and presenter at Voice of the Homeland Radio, martyred in Gaza with family members.

9/6/2024, Dina Al-Batniji: A journalist at Al-Thuraya Media Foundation, martyred in bombing in Al-Nasira.

9/6/2024, Ahlam Al-Ajlah: A correspondent for "Family Happiness" magazine, martyred in bombing in Al-Nasira.

6/7/2024, Wafa Abu Dabaaan: A presenter at Islamic University Radio, martyred with her journalist husband Amjad Jahjouh.

12/8/2024, Dua Al-Jabour: A journalist at Eye News Network, martyred with her husband and children.

2/9/2024, Angham Adwan: A journalist who worked with Libya's February TV channel, martyred in the bombing of her family's home.

27/10/2024, Haneen Baroud: A media figure at Al-Quds Foundation, martyred in the bombing of "Asma" school on the beach.

27/10/2024, Nadia Al-Sayed: A program presenter at Amwaj channel, martyred in the same bombing on "Asma" school.

11/11/2024, Zahra Abu Sakhel: A correspondent for "News Media Network", martyred with her journalist brother Ahmad Abu Sakhel in the bombing of Fahd Al-Sabah school in Gaza.

11/12/2024, Iman Al-Shanti: A program presenter at Al-Aqsa Radio, martyred with her husband and children in the bombing of her home in Sheikh Radwan neighborhood.

Year 2025 (9 Journalists)

14/3/2025, Alaa Qassem: A journalist at Al-Risala newspaper, martyred in bombing in Gaza.

16/4/2025, Fatima Hassouna: A freelance photojournalist, who worked with humanitarian platforms like Untold Palestine. She was martyred in the bombing of her home in Al-Tuffah neighborhood.

18/5/2025, Nour Qandil: A journalist at Al-Thuraya Foundation, martyred with her journalist husband Khaled Abu Saif and their children.

4/6/2025, Islam Muqaddad: martyred with her child in the bombing of her home in Khan Younis.

25/6/2025, Hanan Aqilan: A journalist at the Prosthetic Limbs Center - Gaza Municipality, martyred in the bombing on the beach.

23/7/2025, Walaa Al-Jabari: A journalist at the Ministry of Labor, martyred with her husband and four children in the bombing in Tal Al-Hawa.

1/8/2025, Marwa Muslem: A presenter at Youth Voice Radio, martyred with her sister in Al-Shuja'iyya.

25/8/2025, Maryam Abu Daqa: A photographer for the Associated Press and "The Independent Arabic", martyred in the bombing of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.

31/8/2025, Islam Abed: A correspondent for Al-Quds Today Channel, martyred with her husband and children in the bombing of their home in Gaza.

Secondly: Dozens of volunteer female media activists on social media and university students, among whom were documented by the Freedoms Committee:

24/10/2023, Iman Al-Aqeeli: An activist and content creator through "Iman Tube", martyred in the bombing in Gaza.

4/12/2023, Shaimaa Al-Jazar: A journalistic activist at "Majdat Rafah" website, martyred with her family in Rafah.

30/9/2024, Wafa Al-Adaini: An activist at Day of Palestine Foundation, martyred with her husband and children in Deir al-Balah.

1/1/2025, Arij Shaheen: A journalistic activist, martyred with her mother in Al-Nasira.

13/3/2025, Ahlam Al-Tllouli: A media activist, martyred in the bombing of her home in Gaza City.

1/9/2025, Iman Al-Zammi: A media activist, martyred by the fire of a drone while searching for water near Hamad Towers.

28/8/2025, Somayya Abdul Fattah Abdul Rabah*: A media student and activist, martyred in the bombing in Gaza.

Notes:

The majority of the martyrs were killed inside their homes with their families; 6 journalists were martyred while covering or practicing journalistic work.

The occupation repeatedly targeted female journalists working with international institutions such as (Anadolu, Associated Press, Al Jazeera Mubasher).

This systematic targeting of female journalists reveals a deliberate policy to silence the Palestinian female voice and create a vacuum in the local and international media scene.

Firstly: Quantitative Indicators

1. Temporal Distribution: 2023: 10 journalists martyred, 2024: 12 journalists martyred, 2025: up to early September 9 journalists martyred.

The indicator: Targeting continues at a steady pace over three years and is not a passing or incidental event.

2. Family Targeting:

More than 85% of the martyrs were martyred with their families (spouses, children, parents).

The indicator: The occupation deliberately turns female journalists into double family targets, which constitutes a crime of genocide.

3. Nature of Targeted Media Institutions:

Local: (Jerusalem Voice, Al-Aqsa Radio, Voice of the Homeland, Al-Azhar Radio...)

International: (Anadolu, Russia Today, Al Jazeera Mubasher, Associated Press, The Independent Arabic).

The indicator: Targeting is not limited to local media, but includes journalists affiliated with regional and international institutions, proving that the goal is to obscure international media coverage as well.

4. Age Group:

Most of the martyrs are in their 20s and 30s (20–35 years old).

The indicator: The occupation targets the generation of young female journalists representing the professional future of Palestinian media.

Secondly: Qualitative Implications

1. Silencing Palestinian Feminine Professionalism: Female journalists have played a distinguished role in covering issues of women, children, the wounded, and the displaced, and targeting them aims to obscure the humanitarian dimension of Israeli crimes.

2. Attempting to Intimidate the Media Community: The assassination of female journalists working with prominent international media institutions carries a message of deterrence to other journalists: "Continuing to convey the truth equals death".

3. Destruction of Female Media Cadres: Most of the martyrs hold specialized academic education (Media, Journalism, Arabic Language, Digital Media).

The indicator: The occupation strikes the female human capital in Palestinian media, leaving a vacuum that is difficult to compensate for.

4. Targeting the Family and Community Dimension: Most cases have seen the martyrdom of the journalist with her children, husband, and parents.

The implication: The occupation transforms the journalist from a "witness to the crime" to a "victim inside the crime" with her family.

5. Obscuring Digital Documentation: Many of the martyrs were active on social media and blogs (such as: Ayat Khodoura, Iman Al-Aqeeli, Fatima Hassouna).

The indicator: The occupation recognizes the danger of alternative digital media in exposing its crimes; hence, it targets influential content creators.

Recommendations and Practical Measures by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate to Protect Female Journalists from Israeli Occupation Crimes:

At the Local and Professional Level

1. It is necessary to provide professional safety equipment (helmets, protective vests, clear press jackets) specifically for female journalists covering field events, which is required from the employing institution, and the syndicate is working and has worked to seek assistance from the International Federation and donor organizations.

2. The syndicate is working to create opportunities for training female journalists on field safety, first aid, and how to act in emergencies and targeted situations.

3. Activating an early warning network to report risks and military movements in hot areas and relay them to female journalists quickly.

4. Establishing a syndicate emergency unit to monitor the situation of female journalists moment by moment and intervene in case of injury or arrest.

5. Providing psychological and social support for female journalists who have survived targeting or arrest, considering their privacy.

At the Legal and Human Rights Level

6. Professionally documenting all crimes and violations with evidence (photos, videos, testimonies) dedicated to cases of female journalists.

7. Filing official complaints with international institutions (United Nations, International Criminal Court, Human Rights Council) in the name of the victim female journalists.

8. Appointing volunteer lawyers to follow up on cases of arrest or prosecution faced by female journalists.

9. Preparing periodic reports on violations against female journalists to be submitted to international women's and press organizations.

At the International and Media Level

10. Launching international media campaigns focusing on targeting female journalists as a dual crime that affects press freedom and women's rights.

11. Building local civil and official partnerships and with international journalists' unions to pressure the occupation and hold it accountable.

12. Enhancing communication with parliaments and diplomatic missions to highlight violations directed specifically against female journalists.

13. Allocating an annual international award in the name of the Palestinian female journalism martyrs to enhance awareness and global solidarity.

At the Community Level

14. Promoting a culture of community protection to provide a safe environment for female journalists during their field work by families and the community.

15. Developing support and solidarity programs for the families of the martyrs, injured, or detained female journalists.

Mohammad Al-Liham, head of the Freedoms Committee in the syndicate, commented on the data, details, and implications, stating that targeting Palestinian female journalists is a systematic policy and not incidental losses, and that the occupation deliberately assassinates the feminine voice in Palestinian media due to its local and international influence. He added that the data (31 journalists + 7 activists) reveals a level of unprecedented escalation not only in the history of violations against Palestinian female journalists but also in the history of wars, conflicts, and disputes on Earth since the beginning of creation.

Al-Liham concluded that these crimes represent a clear violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions that protect journalists and civilians during conflicts.