The Editorial Board encourages media outlets to not sacrifice journalistic integrity as many continue to speak out
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD
As of September 2025, 248 journalists have been killed in the Gaza Strip — unprecedented numbers spanning any modern conflict. In fact, more journalists have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023 than in the Iraq War, Afghanistan War and in Ukraine, according to Newsweek. A new statement from the United Nations (U.N.) on Sept. 3, 2025 reads: “States must stop Israel before all journalists in Gaza are silenced.”
A team of four Al Jazeera journalists including Anas al-Sharif, Mohammed Qraiqea, Ibrahim Al Thaher and Mohamed Nofal were targeted and killed in a drone attack on a journalists’ tent outside the main gate of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Aug. 10, 2025. After Israeli officials had claimed the bombing was an accident, later reporting clarified the attack was, in fact, intentional.
These are just a few names of the many who have been silenced for their reporting. It has become increasingly clear that these are deliberate attacks on the truth; recent reporting has shown that Israel feels a decreasing need to hide these deliberate attacks as time passes. In recognizing the work of these journalists, we barely scratch the surface of this problem and cannot even begin to imagine their reality.
In addition to the journalists who have been killed for documenting the truth, over 64,400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, with the actual death toll estimate being significantly higher.
Censorship and retaliation
Today, accurate reporting from Gaza is simultaneously more important and more limited than ever, as the brave individuals risking their lives to show the reality of the situation are being targeted for doing so. When examining Western media outlets, it is clear that many fear retaliation from both the Israeli and United States governments, as the Trump administration remains fiercely loyal to Israel’s plans to cleanse the Gaza Strip completely.
Despite concerns, Western news organizations still have a responsibility to provide accurate and truthful information about global affairs to the public. Many established media outlets have yet to address the situation head on, and articles covering the Israel-Palestine conflict use selective phrasing and passive language to protect themselves at the cost of ethical, transparent journalism.
In contrast to the mainstream media, students in the U.S. continue to speak out against the actions of the Israeli government. Students on visas from countries all over the world have faced consequences for protesting the actions of the Israeli government, and student journalists, as well as activist movements, are largely being treated as problems worse than the issues they are fighting for.
The Editorial Board condemns the Trump administration’s efforts to censor the press and discourage media outlets from justly and accurately providing news coverage. While Western journalists fear retaliation for speaking out against this genocide, their struggles cannot begin to compare to those of Palestinian journalists — we are not losing our lives, loved ones and livelihoods simply for showing the truth.
Journalistic integrity and ethical reporting
Over 250 media outlets from over 70 countries have staged a front-page protest to honor the bravery of these journalists. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) also recently condemned these killings, as have over 250 of the most highly regarded human rights organizations across the globe. Leading human rights organizations in Israel, B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights, have also stated that they believe Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
These are the very organizations that we should rely on to call out human rights violations; yet, even with their proclamations that it is in fact a genocide, no real progress has been made in terms of accountability.
“United Nations experts, all major international human rights organisations, thousands of legal and other scholars, and even former Israeli officials have said that this war has crossed every red line of international law,” Nour Elassy, a poet and writer based in Gaza, wrote in Al Jazeera.
Far too late are states and international organizations admitting that what is happening in Gaza is a genocide. Calling the conflict a genocide would force accountability from international organizations and many countries across the world; thus, many have avoided taking legitimate action or responsibility against these continued injustices. The lack of accountability in both international media and law is beyond disappointing, as many avoid using the word to deny the reality of what it means and what must therefore be done to confront it.
U.N. experts continue to assert that “it is important to call a genocide a genocide,” as it should enforce member states to no longer be complicit in continuing to provide mass amounts of weaponry to Israel — and yet nothing has truly been done. If international accountability has any merit in today’s world, things will change as more scholars, human rights groups and civilians speak up on behalf of Palestine.
Beyond this, the reclaiming of terms like “takeover” or “conquest” to reoccupy and empty the territory through “voluntary displacement” efforts is particularly disturbing, as people are forced from their homes in mass numbers and expected to relocate to neighboring countries without the space or resources to take them.
These killings speak volumes about the level of censorship within Gaza. These brave journalists have risked and lost their lives defending the truth — one of the central principles upon which journalistic integrity is supposed to stand — and the entire world has watched them martyred on the global stage.
Advocacy and taking action
It is beyond important that reporting on such significant events is accurate, consistent and reliable. Journalists have been subjected to more targeted killings during this conflict than any other; ask yourself why you think that might be, and, rather than hear their stories and continue to scroll, think critically about why the truthseekers are one of the largest targets of the ongoing genocide.
Remember their names and share their stories as this tragedy continues. You may feel helpless watching so much tragedy unfold, but giving your undivided attention and sharing these individuals’ continued reporting can make a difference in our community and beyond. Pay attention, ask questions, read (about both the present and the past) and think critically — it is vital that we continue to keep our eyes on Gaza and Palestine as the genocide continues.
As student journalists in the U.S., we appreciate a level of safety that Palestinian journalists do not have. It is our responsibility to continue to advocate for them, share their reporting with our community and see the truth through their eyes. We must let their message be heard, let their truths be understood and allow journalists to continue publishing honest, comprehensive coverage of this genocide.
Written by: The Editorial Board
