The death toll of war journalists and media workers in Gaza has risen to 239, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. After months of intense fighting, many journalists find themselves
living in tents with limited access to food and water.

Bob Harrington, a social sciences teacher, highlighted that these deaths signify a “crisis in freedom of the press.”

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, when the Islamic militant group Hamas launched an attack that killed over 1,200 Israeli citizens and took 251 hostage.

Israel retaliated by cutting off food, water, and power to Gaza, leading to a war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and devastated the region over two years.

Amid this, war journalists have become both witnesses and victims. Notably, Al Jazeera correspondent Hossam Shabat was among the media workers killed in the conflict, dying on March 24.

Modern conflicts like this have become some of the deadliest in recent history, with war journalists risking their lives to inform the public. Shabat and others help shape the understanding of world conflicts, often facing extreme danger in a journalism landscape filled with censorship and violence.

Martin Novoa ’26, who researched Ernie Pyle for a journalism project, shared insights on how Pyle’s work influenced public perception in the past. Pyle was a pioneering war journalist who brought the brutal realities of World War II into American homes through personal accounts.

As Pyle reflected on the German bombing of London in 1940, he wrote, “For on that night this old, old city… was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. It was a night when London was ringed and stabbed with fire.”

Novoa expressed, “Journalism today, especially in terms of war reporting, is most definitely more dangerous than before… higher-ups with bad intentions possess better ways to cover up information, making it easier to take out opponents.”

A ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel was signed on Oct. 7, with the United State brokering the deal as regional leaders supported it. Hamas began releasing Israeli hostages while Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Although humanitarian aid is pouring into Gaza, violations and air strikes raise doubts about the ceasefire’s sustainability, leaving lives at risk, including journalists.

This leads many to question if being a war journalist is becoming as perilous as being a soldier on the battlefield.