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Journalism in the context of the Israel-Gaza conflict

Doc. 16401: compendium of written amendments | Doc. 16401 | 21/05/2026 | Final version

Compendium index

Amendment 1 Amendment 2 Amendment 3

Caption: AdoptedRejectedWithdrawnNo electronic votes

ADraft Resolution

1The Parliamentary Assembly strongly condemns the deliberate targeting and killing of local journalists in Gaza by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Israel’s prohibition on international journalists and media outlets accessing the Gaza Strip.
2The Assembly's condemnation also extends to the flagrant violations of press freedom and the harassment of journalists by Hamas, as well as the absence in Gaza of a legal and practical framework guaranteeing freedom of expression and information in accordance with international law.

21 May 2026

Tabled by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 2, insert the following paragraph:

"Attacks against journalists, restrictions on media access and the spread of disinformation in the context of the Gaza conflict reflect a broader and deeply worrying deterioration of conditions for freedom of expression and press freedom in situations of conflict. Impunity for violations committed against journalists risks normalising attacks on independent media, undermining access to reliable information, and weakening democratic safeguards far beyond the region. In the case of Gaza and the broader region, attacks on the free press cannot be separated from human rights violations and war crimes that are committed against both Palestinian people and Israeli civilians."

3Since the launch of Israel’s military campaign in response to the appalling terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas and other militias on 7 October 2023, more than 220 journalists have been killed by the IDF in Gaza. At least 68 of these journalists have apparently been targeted or killed in the course of carrying out their work. This includes at least three journalists killed in January 2026, after the October 2025 ceasefire.
4Moreover, the Assembly expresses its grave concern that, since 7 October 2023, Israeli airstrikes have destroyed most telecommunications and media infrastructure, and the humanitarian and economic situation has greatly deteriorated, which impacts directly on the work of local journalists.
5The Assembly is disturbed by the IDF’s denial of allegations that they deliberately target and kill journalists, and their claim that they direct their strikes only towards military targets and military operatives, avoiding targeting civilian objects and civilians, including media organisations and journalists as such.
6In that regard, the IDF has released documents that purport to reveal the involvement of Al Jazeera journalists as terrorist operatives and that indicate close co-operation between Hamas and the media network. Al Jazeera refutes these claims, and international press associations do not consider them to be substantiated.
7The Assembly also emphasises that violations of press freedom by Hamas have also been widespread and under-reported, primarily due to the fear of reprisals, given that Hamas is known for violently targeting, persecuting and killing its critics.
8The Assembly deeply deplores and condemns Israel’s policy and practice of refusing international journalists access to Gaza for reporting purposes. This prohibition has not changed even after a ceasefire was agreed between Israel and Hamas as part of Donald Trump’s peace plan. The Israeli High Court of Justice has postponed on several occasions a ruling on a petition filed by the Foreign Press Association calling for free, independent press access to Gaza.
9The Assembly adds its voice once more to all those calling for the full respect by Israel of its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.
10The Assembly firmly reiterates that freedom of information is linked to the safety and protection of journalists, and stresses that journalists are society’s eyes and ears, bearing witness to the situation on the ground during political and military operations, most importantly in the face of humanitarian catastrophes and crises.

21 May 2026

Tabled by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 10, insert the following paragraph:

"The Assembly reaffirms its long-standing commitment to the protection and safety of journalists, including through its initiatives aimed at promoting media freedom and combating impunity for crimes committed against journalists in conflict situations. In this respect, it recalls the Assembly commemoration “Victory for Viktoria”, honouring journalists killed or disappeared in conflict and reaffirming the essential role of independent journalism in democratic societies."

11The Assembly underlines that journalists working in areas of armed conflict are civilians and are protected as such under international humanitarian law, provided that they do nothing to adversely affect their legal status. Targeting and killing journalists and their families is a war crime, which cannot meet with impunity.
12The deliberate exposure of local journalists to life-threatening circumstances, or even death, and the lack of access for international journalists to the Gaza Strip, has allowed the perpetration of violations of human rights and humanitarian international law by Israel, without facing any accountability.
13As regards the IDF's claims about the alleged close co-operation between the deceased journalists and Hamas, as well as other terrorist organisations, the Assembly points out that these cannot be verified by independent journalists without unrestricted access to the Gaza Strip.
14The Assembly recalls its Resolution 2623 (2025) in which it urgently called for the protection of journalists working in Gaza, deploring “the exceptionally high number of journalists killed or injured in Gaza”, calling on all parties “to ensure their protection and the safe unhindered access of all journalists to conflict areas”.
15For all these reasons, the Assembly urges Israel to halt the targeting of journalists and to fully adhere to all relevant international human rights and humanitarian obligations in this respect.
16The Assembly urges Israel to immediately:
16.1refrain from targeting journalists and their families, as well as any other civilians;
16.2carry out full and independent investigations into all killings of journalists in Gaza, make public the conclusions, and take any steps necessary to punish those responsible and provide redress;
16.3allow access to the Gaza Strip to local and foreign journalists, as well as international organisations responsible for providing information or carrying out investigations, and facilitate their work in safe conditions.
17The Assembly calls on the International Criminal Court to investigate the alleged war crimes committed by the Israeli army against journalists in Gaza and the crimes committed by Hamas against Israeli journalists during the attacks of 7 October 2023.
18The Assembly calls on Council of Europe member States to:
18.1support the request by international press associations for the immediate granting of free and safe access of international media to Gaza so that the situation on the ground can be observed and reported;
18.2maintain pressure on Israel to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into all violations against journalists during the Israel-Gaza conflict;
18.3plead for and facilitate the evacuation of Palestinian journalists and their families from Gaza where it is needed for their immediate protection and provide them with psychological and material support.

21 May 2026

Tabled by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy

At the end of the draft resolution, insert the following paragraph:

"With regard to the conditions for sustainable peace, the Assembly: - stresses that independent journalism and unhindered access to reliable information are essential safeguards against disinformation, radicalisation and impunity; - emphasises that transparency and accountability are indispensable for rebuilding trust between communities and creating the conditions for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East; - reiterates its commitment to a peaceful, just and sustainable future for Israelis and Palestinians based on the two-State solution and in full respect for international law."