Posted in Ynet today:
A new study has found that about 60 percent of the people described as journalists or media workers who were killed during the war in the Gaza Strip were Hamas operatives or members of other terror groups.
The research, published Thursday morning by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, examined the identities of 266 Palestinians who were labeled as journalists or media workers and died in the fighting. At least 157 of them were operatives or individuals affiliated with terror organizations.
The study follows an earlier report released by the center in February last year that reviewed the identities of 131 Palestinians described in Gaza as journalists or media workers. The new research looked at an additional 135 Palestinians who have been killed since then and found that about 60 percent of all the casualties in this category were members of terror groups.
According to the findings, 104 of those described as journalists or media workers were Hamas members, including at least 47 who were part of the terror group or served as military operatives. Another 45 were operatives or affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including at least 18 identified as members or military operatives. Two were identified as operatives of Fatah’s military wing, two belonged to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, one to the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and one to the Popular Resistance Committees.
The study also noted two media workers who were described after their deaths as military operatives, although their organizational affiliation was not identified. Among 109 additional fatalities examined, eight were identified with Fatah and seven with the Palestinian Authority. No affiliation was found for the remaining 94.
Researchers said the study was based on a list of media workers published by Hamas’ government information office in Gaza. The center cross referenced the list with reports from Palestinian media outlets and with a Hamas document uncovered by Israel Defense Forces troops during ground operations in Gaza. The document included names and roles of operatives in the Gaza Brigade of Hamas’ military wing.
Hamas considers journalists a critical part of its propaganda apparatus and its efforts to shape public perception and incite violence, the center emphasized. Terror groups in Gaza, led by Hamas, operate numerous media outlets aligned with them. Hamas leaders have repeatedly said that the media front is as important as the military one.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyjqezozze