Journalists killed
On 20 October, Israel confirmed the death of Ynet photographer Roee Idan, who was unaccounted for more than ten days. Since Hamas' attack, fears grew that Idan was taken hostage until his body was finally identified. The Israeli photographer was killed during Hamas' attack on 7 October in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where he was based, five kilometers east of Gaza. The news outlet he was working for, Ynet, confirmed that the photographer was documenting the early moments of the attack.
In the early hours of 7 October, Israeli photographer Yaniv Zohar, from daily newspaper Israel HaYom, was killed in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, in southern Israel, close to the border with the Gaza Strip. Previously, Zohar had worked for Associated Press as a video journalist between 2005 and 2020, reporting on major news in the country such as the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in 2005.
During Hamas' attack, news editor with the Israeli Broadcasting Corportation (KAN) Ayelet Arnin, 22, was killed at the Supernova music festival in southern Isael, the Times of Israel confirmed on 16 October.
Israeli media reported the killing of editor of TMI, the gossip and entertainment news section of the Ma’ariv newspaper Shai Regev, 25. Regev was killed at the Supernova music festival on 7 October.
Journalists unaccounted
Among the hostages confirmed by the Israeli military is retired journalist Oded Lifshitz, aged 83, who was taken from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, near the border with the GazaStrip, together with his wife. For decades, Lifshitz worked for peace and the recognition of Palestinian rights, and he wrote for the newspaper Al-Hamishmar, the Tel-Aviv based MAAN Workers Association told the IFJ.
The IFJ is verifying any information regarding killed, missing and injured journalists and media workers.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “We mourn the heinous killing of photographer Yaniv Zohar and call for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. The IFJ urges Hamas to verify whether photographer Roee Idan is among those kidnapped and, if suspicions are confirmed, to release him immediately.”
“The IFJ urges all involved in this conflict to safeguard journalists as they do their work. The world demands dependable reporting of this conflict and that requires reporters and photographers, on the ground, able to do their jobs in safety.”