For over two years, Jonathan Dagher, a Lebanese journalist based in France and head of the Middle East bureau for Reporters Without Borders, has covered the devastating realities in Gaza, where more than 220 journalists have been killed since October 2023, at least 68 while performing their duties. The scale of this loss is unprecedented and underscores the extreme risks faced by those seeking to document life under ongoing military operations widely described as a genocidal war.

Dagher spoke in Rennes in April 2026 about the daily challenges of reporting from Gaza. International journalists are still denied entry, forcing correspondents like Ola Al Zaanoon, evacuated to Cairo in February 2024, to work remotely. They rely on a network of local contacts, other journalists, and painstaking verification processes, often in near-total darkness and without reliable internet. The work demands resilience and meticulous care, as every report is scrutinised and must withstand both logistical and political pressures.

He also highlighted the broader implications of attacks on journalists. Each death or detention is not just a personal tragedy, it represents a direct assault on the public’s right to information. While journalists have been harmed or killed in Lebanon, Iran, or elsewhere, the scale and international silence surrounding Gaza are deeply troubling. Dagher emphasised that muted condemnation by governments and major media outlets compounds the trauma, making the role of journalists both vital and emotionally taxing. Despite these obstacles, he continues reporting to ensure that the world sees the human cost of the ongoing genocide and the persistent struggle for truth in a city under siege.