Israel kills eight Palestinian journalists, commits 467 media violations in first half of 2026

Israel killed eight Palestinian journalists and committed 467 violations against media workers in the occupied West Bank and Gaza in the first half of 2026, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said Monday.

The findings were presented by Mohammed al-Lahham, head of the syndicate’s Freedoms Committee, during a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah on media freedoms in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Lahham said the report documented “467 crimes and violations” committed by the Israeli army and occupiers against journalists and other media workers between January and June.

More than 41% of the violations involved preventing media coverage or detaining press crews, with 192 cases recorded, he said, describing the incidents as reflecting “a systematic policy aimed at obscuring the media landscape in the occupied Palestinian territories.”

The report documented the killing of eight journalists during the six-month period, bringing the number of Palestinian journalists killed by Israel since Oct. 8, 2023, to 264.

It also recorded 27 arrests, 29 incidents of live fire targeting journalists, 78 cases involving tear gas or stun grenades, 14 physical assaults, two gunshot injuries and 16 threats involving weapons.

Six attacks were carried out by Israeli occupiers, according to the report.

Israeli forces also barred 19 journalists from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem and seized or damaged media equipment in 22 cases.

The report further documented Israeli raids on seven homes and media organisations, the closure of three media institutions and the blocking of five websites.

February saw the highest number of violations, with 122 cases, followed by January with 109 and June with 89. The syndicate recorded 53 violations in March, 39 in April and 55 in May.