World Press Freedom Day 2025: Gaza’s journalists are being silenced by bombs and algorithms

Today, on 3 May 2025, as the world marks World Press Freedom Day, we must confront a grim reality: Gaza has become the deadliest place on Earth for journalists.

Between October 2023 and December 2024 – 15 months – at least 217 Palestinian journalists have been killed, many in targeted Israeli airstrikes. These deaths are not collateral damage – they are part of a systematic campaign to suppress the truth.

In April, an Israeli airstrike on a tent camp within the Nasser Hospital complex in Khan Younis killed journalist Helmi al-Faqawi and injured several others. The camp was a known shelter for displaced journalists and civilians. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the strike as an extrajudicial killing aimed at silencing media coverage.

Despite these dangers, Palestinian journalists continue to document the horrors unfolding around them. Figures like Motaz Azaiza, Bisan Owda, and Plestia Alaqad have utilised social media platforms to share real-time updates from the ground, offering the world unfiltered glimpses into the daily realities of life under siege.

However, their voices are increasingly being stifled by social media platforms. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been accused of systematically censoring pro-Palestinian content. Posts are being removed, accounts are being suspended, and content is being labelled as “terrorist” material, often without clear justification.

This digital censorship compounds the challenges faced by Palestinian journalists, who are already operating under life-threatening conditions. The suppression of their voices not only violates their right to free expression but also deprives the global community of critical insights into the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

As highlighted in our earlier blog, Media Freedom and Journalist Safety in Occupied Palestine, the international community must take concrete steps to protect journalists and uphold press freedom.

Take Action

• Contact your MP: Demand that the UK government hold Israel accountable for the targeting of journalists and calls for an end to the suppression of Palestinian voices.

• Support independent journalism: Follow and share content from Palestinian journalists and media outlets to amplify their stories and support organisations that advocate for press freedom, such as Reporters Without Borders.

• Share this special feature by Al Jazeera, documenting the killing of Palestinian journalists in Gaza by Israeli forces.

On this World Press Freedom Day, let us stand in solidarity with Palestinian journalists who risk their lives to report the truth. Their courage and resilience are a testament to the enduring power of journalism in the face of oppression.