JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Israel Defense Forces on Thursday named the first 10 Gaza residents presented abroad as journalists killed in the war who, the military said, were operatives in the armed wings of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
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The IDF said the release is the opening installment of a larger disclosure. Additional names, roles, documents and photographs will be posted on a dedicated site, The Press Files. The military said some of those identified infiltrated Israel during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.
“A terrorist in a press vest is still a terrorist,” the IDF said in announcing the list. It said the 10 were killed in Israeli strikes and were later described internationally as media personnel, while holding positions in Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
According to IDF records published Thursday:
Mohammed Sami Abdullah Jarghoun, reported as a journalist for Smart Media, was an operative in the support platoon of Hamas’ Rafah Brigade and infiltrated Israel on Oct. 7, the IDF said.
Tariq Al-Sayed Ismail Abu Sukheil, reported as a journalist for Sawt Al-Quds Radio, was a trainer and squad commander in the Gaza Brigade of Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s military wing, the IDF said. He was presented as a journalist killed at Shifa Hospital.
Mohammed Manhal Ahmed Abu Armana, reported as a journalist for the Palestine Now news agency, commanded the military propaganda department of Hamas’ Rafah Brigade, the IDF said. The United Nations condemned his death as that of a journalist.
Yaqoub Anan Mohammed Al-Barsh, reported as a journalist for Namaa Radio and described as director-general of a Gaza radio station, was a squad commander in the military propaganda department of Hamas’ Northern Gaza Brigade, the IDF said.
Mohammed Mahmoud Abdel Aziz Abu Sharia, reported as a journalist for the Shams News agency, was a sniper in the Gaza Brigade of Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s military wing, the IDF said. His name was engraved at a Reporters Without Borders memorial in France.
Amro Nahid Abdel Rahman Abu Odeh, reported as a photographer for Reuters, was a squad commander in the photography unit of Hamas’ military wing, the IDF said.
Mohammed Jamal Sobhi Al-Thalathini, reported as a journalist for Al-Quds Al-Youm TV, was an information operative in the combat information unit of Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s military wing, the IDF said.
Abdel Aziz Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Hajjar, reported as a freelance journalist, was an information operative and deputy branch commander in the Northern Gaza Brigade of Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s military wing, the IDF said.
Hassan Majdi Ibrahim Abu Warda, reported as founder and director of the Barq Gaza news agency, was a sniper in the Northern Gaza Brigade of Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s military wing, the IDF said.
Asem Adli Ahmed Al-Barsh, reported as a journalist for Palestinian Al-Rai Radio, was an operative in Hamas’ military wing, the IDF said. His death was included in a complaint against Israel filed with the International Criminal Court.
The IDF published military identification numbers for each man and said its site will be updated with evidence that can be disclosed. It said the cases show individuals who presented themselves as media professionals while serving in organizations that use propaganda and psychological warfare.
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are designated terrorist organizations by the United States, Israel and the European Union.
The disclosure comes amid a dispute over Gaza media casualty lists. The Committee to Protect Journalists recently removed 19 names from its database after concluding those individuals were militants or had taken part in combat, according to accounts of the revision.
The IDF said further names will be released in the coming hours.