How journalists cope on the grounds in the Israel-Gaza conflict

Horrified, uncertain yet courageous and willing to tell the story on the deadliest conflict in modern history. Journalists are at frontlines of the war between Israel and Gaza and they face daily high risks as they go about their duties.

Several news reporters have added to the death figures since the conflict started in October 2023. The violence is described as the deadliest conflict for members of the press. There have been more journalists killed in a conflict in a shorter amount of time than in any other.

As the battle enters the 5th month, there have been nearly one hundred journalist casualties. In fact, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reporting on journalist casualties in the Israel-Gaza conflict as of February 8, 2024 officially verified as deceased 78 Palestinian, 4 Israeli, and 3 Lebanese journalists. This brings the total number of media workers who have died to 85.

In the interim, 16 journalists were reported injured, 4 journalists reported missing, and 25 journalists arrested. Along with the ground assault, there have also been reported issues of other attacks; multiple assaults, threats, cyberattacks, censorship and killings of family members.

Losing loved ones

Newsmen and women are unable to predict what next. They employ various strategies to cope like prioritizing safety measures, relying on support networks, as well as documenting their experiences to raise awareness.

“Nothing can describe what you feel. You get to the point where you feel it’s useless. But you have to show the world what’s happening,” says reporter Youmna ElSayed to Reuters.

Like many civilians, soldiers, and children, journalists have been at the losing end of the fight. They have not only lost their lives while on the job but survivors continue to deal with the horrific consequences of the war – losing loved ones, colleagues, and their homes.

Hindi Khoudary, a Palestinian journalist who has been documenting the war on Gaza since October 7, says she had to sacrifice everything she has worked so hard for including family.

“To be honest, my biggest fear is not to be killed myself, only like someone you love being killed. The last days have been very hard. Like close friends…I am in the denial state right now. Every time I see my friends, I’m like ‘kay now please don’t die. I can’t deal with anything’. Everyone doesn’t want to lose anyone anymore. That’s how we’re feeling.”

“The hardest thing I always face is my family’s fear. My family has always been begging me to leave because they’re very scared and I always told them I don’t want to leave,” said Hindi while giving an account of her experience.

Staying neutral is a challenge

The risk factor for Journalists is high because news correspondents go close to where the tension is but they understand the value of dissemination of information. Notwithstanding, the terrible conditions don’t make their work easy either. Sleeping on the floor for days, disrupted communications, supply shortages, extensive power outages are some of the challenges they face on the grounds.

An obstacle is the issue of balanced reporting. Affected journalists say they struggle to prioritise objectivity in their reporting at times. The war has taken a toll on their mental health to the point where they occasionally lose themselves and get emotional yet are also quick to put themselves in check. On the other hand, they called on media organisations covering the matter remotely to provide the public with factual information in a fair and unbiased way.

For the reporters, in contrast to what they do, which is to report on events around the globe, the reporters see themselves as participants in the tale.

“We just want to put ourselves on the side and be like the view point to express what’s happening to carry to the world what’s been happening,” reporter Nida Ibrahim told Aljazeera.

Glimmer of hope

For some journalists, this is their first time covering a conflict while others say it is their first time of covering a war of this magnitude. Despite the different experience with this type of reportage, these journalists find solace in one other.

“Every single day, we gather at night after eight when it gets dark. Sometimes we sing. Sometimes we dance, sometimes we play. Sometimes we act. Sometimes we play games. We cook, we gather and we have meals together,” Hind narrated.

They say can’t wait for when the nightmare will be over as they look forward to reuniting with their families and are eager to put the horror behind them.

Meanwhile, the CPJ says it is still investigating numerous unverified reports of other journalists being killed, missing, detained, injured, or being threatened. There are also looking into the damage made to media offices and journalists’ homes.