Gaza: Israeli Occupation Kills 665 Relatives of Palestinian Journalists
DaysofPal—As Israeli genocide on the Gaza Strip enters its nineteenth month, a chilling pattern of systematic violence against the Palestinian press continues to emerge. Beyond targeting journalists themselves, the Israeli genocide has expanded its attacks to include the families of media workers, claiming the lives of 665 relatives of Palestinian journalists since October 7, 2023.
According to a report by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, 152 homes belonging to journalists or housing their families have been bombed since the outbreak of what many are calling a genocidal war. The campaign, observers say, is aimed not only at silencing the voices of resistance but at breaking the spirit of truth-tellers by wiping out their loved ones.
'The occupation is not only fighting the voice, the image, and the pen—it is waging war on the very existence of those who strive to convey the story of Gaza: its love, its war, and its life,' said the Freedoms Committee of the Syndicate in its latest statement.
Journalists Killed on the Frontline—and at Home
Just two days ago, journalists Nour al-Din Abdo and Yahya Subaih were killed in two separate Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City. One missile hit the al-Karama School in the al-Tuffah neighborhood, while another struck a popular market and restaurant in the al-Rimal area. Their deaths brought the total number of journalists killed since the war began to 214.
Yahya Subaih was reportedly martyred on the same day his daughter was born, leaving behind a memory that is both devastating and emblematic of the personal tragedies endured by Gaza's media professionals.
Families Erased Alongside the Truth
The targeting of journalists' families is not incidental—it is systematic. Between January and April 2025, the Freedoms Committee documented the killing of 26 relatives of journalists in bombings that destroyed 18 journalist-owned homes.
In January alone, Israeli airstrikes hit nine homes, killing the families of journalists such as Rami Abu Taima, Omar Al-Diraoui, and Ahlam Al-Taluli. In March, four houses belonging to journalists Hussam al-Titi, Adly Abu Taha, Mohammed Mansour, and Moaz Muqdad were hit, killing 10 civilians, including multiple family members. In April, five more homes were bombed, killing relatives of Rasha Ahmed, Salma Qaddoumi, photographer Fatima Hassouna, and journalists Ahmed and Sami Harara.
A Deadly Timeline
2023: 63 homes bombed, killing 436 relatives of journalists
2024: 71 homes bombed, killing 203 family members
2025 (First third): 18 homes bombed, 26 relatives killed
In addition, the report notes that 12 journalists' homes have been completely destroyed, and 11 journalists have suffered fatal injuries this year alone.
A Call to the World
Human rights organizations and press freedom advocates are sounding the alarm about what they describe as a deliberate effort to eliminate Gaza's storytellers, both professionally and personally.
'This is not just about silencing voices,' said a spokesperson from Sanad News Agency, which contributed to the monitoring effort. 'It is about erasing memory, heritage, and truth from the fabric of Palestinian life.'
As the death toll climbs and the targeting of media families intensifies, the international community faces growing pressure to investigate the Israeli crimes and uphold protections for journalists and civilians under international law.
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