The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported on Wednesday their preliminary investigations confirm 97 journalists and media workers are estimated to be among the victims since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas. The investigation also said 25 journalists were arrested and four are missing.

CPJ Program Director Carlos Martínez de la Serna commented, “Since the Israel-Gaza war began, journalists have been paying the highest price— their lives—to defend our right to the truth. Each time a journalist dies or is injured, we lose a fragment of that truth.” Despite international efforts, news coverage and the safety of journalists during this conflict have been an ongoing problem.

International humanitarian law offers protection to journalists in times of war. Article 79 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 serves as an instrument to prove the crucial role of international law during conflicts. Here, journalists are considered civilians and are therefore protected under the Conventions. However, Israel has reportedly demonstrated limited efforts in ensuring the safety of journalists in Gaza. Israel’s military told Reuters and the AFP that it cannot guarantee the safety of journalists during their strikes and operations.

The war in the Gaza Strip commenced after the attacks by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, on October 7. Since the declaration of war by Israel, the conflict has escalated, sparking international and humanitarian concerns. The casualties of journalists are among the more than 35,000 deaths reported since the start of the war, of which around 34,000 have been Palestinians.

The CPJ confirmed it will continue its investigations into the circumstances surrounding the casualties of journalists during this conflict. As the war unfolds, new reports on the situation are expected.