Issue 38, Summer/Fall 2024

http://www.doi.org/10.70090/AMS.38.ROKA

Abstract

This paper examines the situation of women journalists during the current war in Gaza (2023-2025) after the events of October 7, 2023. The situation of women journalists is examined through the framework of gender as it pertains to conflict and war reporting, focusing on what women journalists face in Gaza during war time. This examination includes unveiling the challenges and risks women journalists encounter while covering conflict in the Gaza Strip. The authors adopt a qualitative approach by conducting a desk review of previous studies and media articles that address gendered reporting during war time. The main findings indicate that women journalists in the Gaza Strip face a very high-risk environment, which includes loss of personal safety, forced displacement, malnutrition, psychological pressure, among other risks.

Introduction 

Approximately one-third of all journalists in the Gaza Strip are women. Nevertheless, a substantial number of women journalists are not registered with the syndicate and do not appear on syndicate records for a variety of reasons. While female students majoring in media at universities in Gaza outnumber male students, only 200 Palestinian women journalists are included in the 600 the syndicate has on record. Despite the various obstacles they encounter daily, which include threats and risks to their lives and freedom, Palestinian women journalists continue to thrive in Gaza. Despite these risks, women journalists in Gaza convey important news and wield significant influence. However, the rights of Palestinian women journalists are consistently violated, abused, and threatened, particularly regarding their freedom of expression, ability to work, and capacity to cover the news (Abushmas 2020).

More recently, since October 7, 2023, all Palestinian journalists and media workers have been targeted while working in Gaza. Moreover, journalists who are mothers have paid a particularly high price to engage in their field of employment (IFG 2024). It is worth mentioning that the safety of women journalists is not merely about protecting individuals, but also about securing democratic values, human rights, and the diversity of media representation. As such, it is imperative that all journalists, regardless of their gender, can work freely, contribute to fostering an informed public discourse, and play a role in shaping societies (International Media Support 2024).

War in Gaza

On October 7, 2023, the armed conflict between Hamas militants and Israeli military forces erupted. As a result of this conflict, 1,195 people were killed in southern Israel at the hands of Hamas’s armed groups based in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, Hamas took 251 Israeli civilians and security forces members as hostages and brought them back to Gaza (Human Rights Watch 2024).

Consequently, Israel launched an aggressive military response that resulted in unprecedented civilian casualties and the near complete destruction of the Gaza Strip. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), 46,565 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza between October 7, 2023 and January 2025. These fatalities include 12,298 women, 17,841 children, and 2,421 elderly people. Furthermore, 109,660 individuals have sustained injuries and many have lost limbs or face lifelong disabilities (PCBS 2024). Worse yet, approximately 1.7 million people in Gaza–nearly 75 percent of the population–have been internally displaced, which further complicates conditions in one of the world’s most heavily populated regions. Most of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) are women and children, and many have already moved multiple times while searching for a safe place to temporarily host them. It is estimated that around one million IDPs are currently sheltering in United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) shelters and public schools. An estimated 1.3 million people live in tents or self-constructed shelters on makeshift sites that are poorly adapted to weather conditions, pose protection risks, and are devoid of any form of privacy or dignity. Additionally, 72 percent of all buildings have been destroyed in Gaza, which means many people will not be able to return to their homes, even in the event of a ceasefire (UN OCHA 2024).

The Impact of the War in Gaza on Women

The current war in Gaza has disrupted pre-existing social and cultural norms, including the traditional role of men as primary providers for their families. For example, the conflict eviscerated livelihood opportunities for men, which causes widespread frustration and hopelessness since the met are unable to provide for their families and protect them (UNRWA 2024). As a result, there is a dramatic increase in psychological and emotional pressure on men and women, which has instigated a partial shift in traditional gender norms and roles. Women are now increasingly forced to assist with providing for their families, which is quite novel within the Palestinian society. However, it is worth noting that roles of women and girls in the domestic space have remained similar within the displacement sites. Moreover, shelters often experience growing tensions due to overcrowding and the lack of adequate supplies for displaced people. This has resulted in an increase in domestic violence, particularly against women and children. When social systems and the rule of law fail, gender-based violence (GBV) often becomes significantly worse, particularly in shelters. Furthermore, larger households may likely resort to child marriage to cope with this situation (UNRWA 2024).

Methodology 

To assess the main challenges and risks facing women journalists during war reporting, the researchers adopt a qualitative approach by conducting a desk review of studies and media reports that address gendered reporting as it pertains to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This includes examining the situation women in Gaza face during the current war, as well as the main challenges and risks facing women journalists in the Gaza Strip.

Discussion

This section examines the gendered dimension of the conflict, gendered reporting, and the main challenges and risks women journalists have encountered during the war in Gaza.

Gendered Dimension of the conflict 

Without question, an individual’s gender shapes their experience of armed conflict in a variety of complex and nuanced ways. Nonetheless, trends can be predicted. Notably, women and girls are particularly affected by structural gender inequality during times of conflict, which is especially true in the case of Gaza. The resources available to women and girls are usually limited as access to essential services and severely impacted and they are not represented in decision-making bodies. As a result, the detrimental consequences of armed conflict severely affect women and girls. Therefore, adopting a gender perspective is vital for practitioners of international humanitarian law (Durham et al. 2022).

According to Christine Sylvester, “war is a politics of injury: everything about war aims to injure people and/or their social surroundings as a way of resolving disagreement or, in some cases, encouraging disagreement if it is possible to do so” (Parashar 2021). War as a ‘politics of injury’ is deeply gendered on multiple levels, which include the way it is imagined, strategized, executed, as well as its impact on representation, language, and storytelling. The feminine and masculine are invoked in specific ways, and men and women perform a variety of roles in war that enshrine gender hierarchy and uphold gender subordination, as well as substantially alter gender relations. In gendering war, the focus is shifted from war strategies to the way war privileges gender roles and hierarchies. It is assumed that men will bear the burden of war-related duties, while women are primarily perceived as individuals in need of protection. Through examining war via a gendered perspective, we disrupt these narratives, debunk war myths, and prevent war from being perpetuated as the natural outcome of conflict (Parashar 2021). Thus, regardless of their professions—whether they are housewives, professionals, or journalists—women experience armed conflict differently from men. All too often, women are victims of war, as well as survivors with active strategies for survival, and often community leaders and peacemakers (Thompson 2007). More specifically, women play an often overlooked yet crucial role during times of war, whether by supporting their families, contributing to the war effort, or raising voices of resistance through various organizations and forms of activism (Thompson 2007).

In addition, feminists and women’s peace groups have noted that “women are often the most powerful voices for moderation in times of conflict” (Hunt and Posa 2009). These types of groups advocate for the recognition of women’s contributions in the process of peacebuilding. It was only after years of lobbying by such organizations that the UN Security Council passed UN Resolution 1325 in 2000. The resolution calls for greater recognition of the impact war has on women, as well as a more equitable representation of women in peace negotiations and post-conflict peacebuilding. Women’s survival in post-conflict reconstruction is dependent upon the emergence of a peaceful process (Thompson 2007). As victims of armed conflicts, women and children account for three-quarters of all deaths and make up 80 percent of the 25.3 million displaced persons and refugees worldwide. Existing gender inequalities exacerbate the problems women endure as refugees, which often render them marginalized and poorer (Thompson 2007).

Gendered Reporting during Wartime 

Historically, war reporting has been dominated by male journalists and often relies on overrepresented voices such as politicians, high-ranking military officers, and state officials. There is clearly a need for women journalists to break this male hegemony and, correspondingly, provide a voice for the marginalized. In war reporting, the focus is on life and death, motivations for going to war, public opinion, and human emotions. In addition to television images, books, movies, and photographs, these stories reflect the culture of the warring countries. Thus, the role of journalism in eliminating discriminatory stereotypes and developing healthy perceptions of gender equality is particularly important when it comes to covering conflicts, wars, and peacebuilding processes. However, there is a lack of attention given to the perspective of women and girls within journalism that covers these topics. Women and girls are often depicted as victims, whereas their important role in conflict resolution and peacebuilding is not sufficiently highlighted. Moreover, the issue of gender is not adequately addressed. Journalists can also sometimes contribute to the strengthening of discriminatory gender stereotypes without intending to do so (UN Women 2023). Gender matters in reporting during war and conflict the same way it does in other aspects of daily life. Yet, gendering war reporting remains largely overlooked. As previously mentioned, violence against women tends to increase in times of war or conflict. Since peace settlements are primarily negotiated by men, the result of these negotiations often favors men to the detriment of women. As such, new forms of violence emerge in the aftermath of war, such as domestic violence and human trafficking. Gendered lenses are thus required for effective reporting on war and conflict. It is important to consider the construction of both masculine and feminine viewpoints. Ultimately, it is vitally important that all voices, including those of women and girls, are visible and heard (Der Lippe and Ottosen 2016).

To date, there is a profound gender gap in the coverage of armed conflicts, which is largely dominated by men. Many conflicts are often interpreted and explained by men, who occupy an inordinate number of roles during war, including combatants, warlords, experts, and politicians. On the other hand, the opinions of women are rarely sought or heard. The voices of women are often portrayed from the perspective of the victim. As a result of longstanding bias, it is a complex process to integrate gender considerations into conflict reporting. The objective is to adhere to the key standards of journalistic professionalism, which include the impartial presentation of verified information, giving a voice to marginalized actors, and avoiding gender stereotypes. In addition to these imbalances, conflict reporting often focuses on specific violent events without presenting background information, context, or analysis (UN Women 2023).

Main Challenges and Risks Women Journalists Face in the Gaza Strip 

War reporting is undoubtedly a risky occupation. To understand the experience of combat journalists, it is essential to understand the threats to their personal safety and wellbeing. Reporters who cover war emphasize these threats in their reports, often using words such as ‘danger’ in their headlines. Many journalists evaluate their performance on the battlefield based on their ability to cope with fear, suffering, danger, and death. It is an occupation that involves continually putting oneself into harm’s way. Recently, increased risks associated with war reporting have been evident. Several journalist unions and organizations have documented an increase in the number of reporters who have been killed while working (Harris and Kevin 2019). According to Reporters Without Borders, Israel’s attacks against Palestinian journalists in Gaza fall within the scope of war crimes that merit opening an investigation at the International Criminal Court (Al Talei 2023).

On the other hand, Palestinian women are resilient and are pioneers in shaping the Palestinian media landscape. Furthermore, women continually embody their unwavering commitment to this profession despite the inherent risks. During the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, women journalists have played an increasingly important role in Palestine. This is represented in their coverage of the Israeli attacks on the Jenin refugee camp, Nablus, and other cities in the West Bank, such as Al-Aqsa Mosque. Since October 7^th, they have actively covered the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip (Bashir 2024).

Despite knowing that journalism in Palestine lacks protection, the commitment of Palestinian women journalists persists. Both male and female Palestinian journalists are not guaranteed any immunity from the occupation’s crimes. A report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) labeled the ongoing conflict in Gaza as the deadliest ever for reporters; the conflict resulted in the highest number of deaths among media workers within a very short period during the last two months of 2023. It is clear from CPJ’s, as well as other organizations’, monitoring of the attacks on journalists that this trend continued in 2024 with shocking intensity (Bashir 2024).

Notably, women journalists covering war and conflict are subject to the same risks as their male counterparts, as well as additional risks that are unique. As a result, it is particularly important for women reporters to have reliable helpers or to travel with colleagues. Article 79 of the Geneva Conventions codifies a customary rule stating that journalists in war zones must be treated as civilians and protected as such if they are not involved in the hostilities. The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2222 on May 27, 2015, which extends and strengthens Resolution 1738 passed in 2006. The 2015 resolution reminds all parties involved in armed conflict of their obligation to protect those who work in the media from any form of violence (The Global Alliance on Media and Gender 2024).

As explained, many Palestinian women journalists face significant challenges and severe risks while covering the current war in Gaza. The main challenges and risks facing Palestinian women journalists in Gaza are as follows:

Risks to Personal Life 

For journalists covering the Israeli occupation and destruction of Gaza, murder, which poses a constant threat, is one of the most significant violations they face. Individual freedom and expression are also targeted. These threats are intended to terrorize journalists and force them to cease performing their duties and documenting these atrocities, as well as prevent them from communicating the reality in Gaza to the international community (MADA 2024).

The killings of journalists in the Gaza Strip continued at an unprecedented level during the first half of 2024, which culminated in the deaths of 47 journalists (MADA 2024). It is important to note that all journalists killed during the war in Gaza were performing their journalistic duties on the field, which international law dictates they should be safe to pursue without being targeted. However, it appears that these 47 journalists were directly targeted by Israel (MADA 2024). According to the International Federation of Journalists, 13 women journalists have already died in Gaza as of 8 March 2024, while others face daily threats to their safety and security (IFJ 2024).

Among those killed in the strike was Ayat Khadoura, a freelance journalist and podcast host, whose home in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza was targeted by an Israeli airstrike. In an effort to document the dire situation in Gaza, Khadoura shared videos on social media before her death. One of her most poignant posts was a video shared on November 6, 2023, which she titled ‘My Last Message to the World’. In this video, she says, “We had big dreams, but our dream now is to be killed in one piece, so they know who we are” (Committee to Protect Journalists 2024). She also stated:

We are human beings like everyone else in the world. We had many big dreams. But unfortunately, today our dreams are that if we were martyred, we would be martyred as one body, that people would recognize us, and not be dismembered and put in a bag. Our dreams have become that we would not hear the sound of bombing. We never imagined that we would reach this stage and live such a life without the most basic necessities of life. There are things we cannot talk about. Sometimes this war will end, and who will live will tell people what happened to us, what we lived through (Hussein and Duggal 2024).

Ayat’s testimony before her death highlights how the war in Gaza poses an extreme risk to the lives of women journalists and renders them hopeless in pursuit of protecting themselves and their families.

Risk of Forced Displacement

During Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza, journalists and media workers continued to cover the horrific scenes while risking their lives (IFJ 2024). Based on Filastiniyat’s needs assessment, over 82 percent of women journalists were displaced within the Gaza Strip by December 2023 and approximately 66 percent were forced to relocate multiple times (UNESCO 2024).

For example, Al Jazeera’s Gaza correspondent Youmna ElSayed stated that her husband received a call from the Israeli army telling their family to evacuate their home in Gaza City on October 30, 2023. According to the caller, who identified himself as an Israeli soldier and gave his full name, ElSayed and her family should leave Gaza city to the south because “it is going to get very dangerous there” (Al Jazeera Staff, 2023). ElSayed stated in the middle of a live report on Al Jazeera during Israeli bombardment that she was provided no instructions and thus had no idea how to safely evacuate her family (Al Jazeera Staff, 2023).

Another woman journalist who endured forced displacement is Nour Swirki, a Palestinian who believes that personal safety is the most significant challenge in this war, whether for journalists or their families. Swirki stated, “I was in a state of confusion: how can I keep myself well and ensure my safety in this state of war while at the same time ensuring that my family is well, especially my children” (European Union External Action 2024). According to Swirki, women journalists work hard not to be adversely affected by the shortage of food and water, as well as sanitary and medical supplies, in order to present the news with resilience and skill. Yet, these disastrous humanitarian situations cannot be separated from their journalistic work, since the journalist is also a human being (European Union External Action 2024).

Malnutrition

According to the OCHA report, 96 percent of the population in the Gaza Strip–approximately 2.15 million people–face a crisis or severe levels of food insecurity, including 745,000 people facing emergency levels of food insecurity. A total of 495,000 people face catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Approximately 60 to 70 percent of meat-producing livestock were killed or prematurely slaughtered, 68 percent of the farmland and 33 percent of the greenhouses were damaged, and 70 percent of the fisheries were destroyed (OCHA 2024). Meanwhile, 15 aid organizations working in Gaza estimated that 83 percent of food aid required in Gaza does not make it into Gaza because of the Israeli government’s obstruction, which is up from 34 percent in 2023. Because of this reduction, Gazans eat just one meal every other day, instead of two meals a day on average. By the end of the year, 50,000 children aged 6-59 months will need treatment for malnutrition (NRC 2024). At the same time, Palestinian journalists also experience malnutrition, adding another layer of fatigue as they struggle to meet their basic needs while carrying out their professional responsibilities (Fahmy, Salama, and Alsaba 2024).

Psychological Pressure 

In general, the war situation has negatively impacted the mental health of Palestinians. Most community groups, particularly those involved with children and women, have been affected by trauma and disorders caused by the ongoing war. As a result, they are more susceptible to social and psychological problems that may persist for generations. More specifically, repeated exposure to traumatic events has severely affected the psychological wellbeing of Gazans, leading to anger, frustration, and despair. Additionally, children and women have experienced an increase in anxiety symptoms (GCMHP 2024).

Notably, there are enormous emotional and psychological strains experienced by journalists when they observe inhumane and harrowing events, such as the death or injury of individuals, gruesome scenes, and animals feeding on dead bodies. The desperate need for therapy services for Gazans was recognized by some journalists. For some, coping with these memories might be essential for survival. Furthermore, Gazan journalists are reporting on the devastating impact of the crisis while also experiencing it on a personal level, which includes being displaced from their homes, losing loved ones, and struggling to access food and water (Fahmy, Salama, and Alsaba 2024).

Family Challenges 

The journalist’s position, both as a member of a specific community and as a reporter, demonstrates distinct aspects of role perception and personalization. Their own safety, as well as the safety of their families, adds an additional layer of complexity to their professional responsibilities that most combat journalists are not forced to endure. As such, these horrific events are deeply emotional for Gazan journalists. During the current conflict, many journalists in Gaza have lost family members, friends, peers, and coworkers, which illustrates the sever emotional turmoil they experience. Although women journalists face additional risks, they continue to report on the conflict out of a profound sense of duty to their country and people. Through their work, they play an increasingly pivotal role in safeguarding their community and homeland, which transcends their employment to become a national duty (Fahmy, Salama, and Alsaba 2024).

According to Madlin Shaqaleh, a journalist based in Gaza, the biggest challenge she faces as a journalist is losing her home and family. Since the beginning of the war, she lost her sister and niece. Despite these horrific experiences, she decided to continue her journalistic work and amplify the voices of both journalists and citizens enduring suffering, as well as document the inhumane circumstances they endure (ActionAid 2024).

Online violence and Internet challenges

Overall, women journalists are targeted by online violence, which can take the form of being belittled, humiliated, shamed, intimidated, silenced, and professionally discredited. This type of online abuse can undermine the credibility of journalism by stifling a journalist’s pursuit of documenting facts and active participation in public debate. This type of online behavior should never be accepted or normalized as an inevitable aspect of online discourse (Posetti et al. 2021). According to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, there should be no room for misogyny and violence in journalism. Social media platforms and governments must protect women journalists from online violence and intimidation (OECD 2022).

One of the examples of this online violence is the hacking of the Palestinian journalist’s Plestia Alaqad’s Instagram account. Alaqad, a Palestinian woman journalist, is known for her on-the-ground reporting from Gaza. Her Instagram account is vital to her reporting. As such, the compromise led “to misleading posts that have sowed confusion and concern among her followers” (The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom 2025).

On the other hand, there has been reporting from Gaza that the biggest problem facing women journalists is their heavy reliance on the internet, internet-connected devices, and electricity to convey their stories. Due to the Israeli bombing of Gaza, electricity and the internet cannot be depended upon. The constant search for alternative means of communication is exhausting, particularly as women endure the humanitarian crisis and being continual targets of Israeli bombing as part of the military operations carried out in the Gaza Strip (Parvaz 2024).

Lack of Appropriate Working Space

According to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, at least 73 media offices in Gaza, including those belonging to Reuters, AFP, and several Arab news channels, were bombed. A total of 11 media offices were invaded and partially demolished in the West Bank. As a result, journalists face a challenging and catastrophic work environment, and they encounter difficulty in covering and conveying news (Women in News 2024). Due to bombings, most journalists in Gaza are unable to work from their offices. On the street, journalists were often targeted by the Israeli military. When journalists returned to their homes, they were targeted. Even displaced reporters in Gaza are targeted while living in tents or attempting to travel in their vehicles. As a result, they are afraid to visit their children due to the possibility that their families may be targeted. Although they identify themselves as journalists, they are recurrently attacked. Despite wearing safety vests, they do not feel protected under international law (Women in News 2024).

Challenges to Social Norms

It is important for women journalists to be aware of cultural norms and practices because of the challenges they present, such as how contacts and sources perceive women as journalists, particularly during times of conflict. Reporters covering conflicts in a predominantly conservative culture discuss the need to develop a particular situational awareness as certain conversations may be considered inappropriate and eye contact may be incorrectly perceived as flirtatious. To protect themselves from harassment, some unmarried women journalists wore fake wedding rings and carried two business cards, one with their actual contact information and the other with fake contact details (Orgeret 2017). Additionally, conservative cultures, like in Gaza, often look down upon women who engage in combat journalism. For example, working as a fixer with international media generally involves gender prejudice. More specifically, working with foreigners is unwelcome. Those who performed such acts were considered to be serving the interests of Israel. Additionally, when women journalists work late at night, this is considered culturally unacceptable. Relatives may attempt to persuade the father of a woman journalist to force his daughter to resign from her position (Harouda 2021).

Conclusion

The results of the desk review reveal that women Journalists in the Gaza Strip encounter significant threats, including murder. The number of journalists who have been killed in Gaza significantly increased during the first half of 2024, with a total of 477 deaths. These targeted journalists were killed during the war in Gaza while performing their duties. As of March 8, 2024, 13 women journalists have been killed in Gaza, while others face daily threats to their safety and security.

More specifically, women journalists face daily challenges involving privacy, poor health and sanitary conditions, and lack of sanitary pads. They struggle to provide safety and protection for their children and face the everyday challenge of ensuring their safety, while maintaining their families’ wellbeing. Due to the lack of food security in Gaza, women journalists also suffer from malnutrition, which causes fatigue and affects their professional duties.

The results also indicate that the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip has significantly impacted Palestinians’ mental health, particularly children and women, which has led to social and psychological problems that may persist for generations. Journalists in Gaza are experiencing emotional and psychological strains due to witnessing harrowing events. As such, there is clearly a dire need for therapy. Thus, women journalists suffer from considerable psychological pressure, since they experience displacement and loss of loved ones, and struggle to access food and water. Family challenges are also a major concern for women journalists, as they must balance their professional responsibilities with their personal lives. Despite these risks, women journalists continue to report on the conflict while playing a vital role in safeguarding their community and homeland.

Women journalists in the Gaza Strip are additionally targeted by online violence, which includes hacking their phones or the social media accounts they use to cover the war in Gaza. Furthermore, their heavy reliance on internet-connected devices, the internet, and electricity has hindered their ability to report on the war. Due to the bombing of numerous media offices in Gaza, women journalists are unable to work from their offices, are targeted on the street, and are afraid to visit their families due to their being constantly targeted by the Israeli military.

Lastly, women journalists in the Gaza Strip face challenges in navigating cultural norms and practices, particularly in conservative cultures where they may face harassment or discrimination. Despite these obstacles, they strive to highlight strong and active women, rather than relying on the trope used by traditional media where women are painted as victims.