Journalism organization reports at least 12 journalists killed in Israel-Hamas war

A journalism organization Saturday reported the deaths of at least 12 journalists due to the fighting between the militant group Hamas and Israel.

“As of October 14, in the first eight days of fighting, at least 12 journalists were killed, two were missing and eight injured,” the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on its website.

The conflict has already resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 people on both sides, according to The Associated Press. This already high death toll could rise even higher with a ground offensive by Israel into Gaza expected to come soon.

“Journalists in Gaza face particularly high risks as they try to cover the conflict in the face of a ground assault by Israeli troops, devastating Israeli airstrikes, disrupted communications, and extensive power outages,” the CPJ said.

“In the first eight days of the conflict, 10 Palestinian journalists have been confirmed dead; one Israeli journalist has been confirmed killed, and one reported missing,” the CPJ continued. “On October 13, a Beirut-based journalist was killed during a shelling attack in southern Lebanon that wounded six others.”

Israel ordered an evacuation of some 1 million people in the north of Gaza to the southern part of the territory Friday. The United Nations warned that the movement of a large number of people with a 24 hour deadline could be disastrous.

“CPJ emphasizes that journalists are civilians doing important work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties,” Sherif Mansour, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator, said on their website. “Journalists are making great sacrifices across the region covering this important conflict. Measures to ensure their safety must be taken by all parties to stop this deadly and heavy toll.”