Since the onset of the genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, 706 relatives of journalists have lost their lives, according to the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate. The deaths reflect a disturbing pattern of targeting that goes beyond journalists themselves, reaching into their families and homes.

The Syndicate reported that the campaign against the press has evolved into a “more dangerous and brutal dimension,” with children, spouses, and parents of journalists increasingly caught in the violence. The killings, injuries, and destruction are not isolated incidents but part of a systematic strategy over the years 2023 to 2025. In total, 436 family members were killed in 2023, 203 in 2024, and 67 so far in 2025.

The attacks have included the direct bombing of journalists’ homes, targeting areas of displacement, and repeated strikes on neighbourhoods known to be occupied by media professionals and their relatives. According to the Syndicate, this approach has transformed journalism into a perilous occupation, leaving private lives under constant threat and undermining the wider media environment.

The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate has called for an independent international investigation and urgent protection measures for journalists and their families. The union also stressed that the crimes must be formally recorded for international legal proceedings.

Across Gaza, the genocidal war has taken a devastating toll. Some 256 journalists have been killed, 49 detained, 535 injured, and 150 media institutions destroyed. The broader human cost is immense: over 71,000 dead, more than 171,000 injured, and widespread destruction affecting 90% of civilian infrastructure. The United Nations estimates that reconstruction will cost approximately 70 billion dollars.