Even in such a scenario, we would still need to, on a case by case basis, push back on some reports about the death of a Palestinian reporting from Gaza. However, at least such disputes would be based on the common understanding about the proven overlap between professional journalists and those using their putative profession as a cover for their association with violent extremism.
For instance, independent researcher David Collier published a report in 2024 concluding that, at the time, 50% of the Palestinians killed in Gaza who were identified by Committee to Protect Journalists as “journalists” were associated with proscribed terror groups.
However, as most media outlets continue to copy and paste their definition of a journalist from the statements of politicized NGOs, Qatari government mouthpieces and sometimes even Hamas-run ministries, we are a far way off from such a world.
Yesterday, in Gaza City, the IDF killed Anas Al-Sharif, who, while employed by the Al Jazeera network as a “journalist,” was, according to evidence provided by the army, the head of a Hamas terrorist cell responsible for coordinating rocket attacks against Israel. The evidence provided includes personnel rosters, lists of terrorist training courses, phone directories, and salary documents for the terrorist.