IDF says 10 named Gaza men, and 170 killed overall, were militants presented as journalists
The Israel Defense Forces posted a list of 10 people it says were militants posing as journalists, and said 170 people described as journalists killed in Gaza were tied to Hamas, PIJ or other groups. The claims come from the IDF and are relayed by two right-leaning outlets.
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The story, neutrally told
The Israel Defense Forces posted a list of 10 people in Gaza it alleges are terrorists posing as journalists. Just the NewsRC “The Israel Defense Forces posted a list of 10 individuals it alleges are terrorists in Gaza posing as journalists.” Read at Just the News ↗ In a thread on X, the IDF said it had "repeatedly been accused of targeting journalists, but a terrorist in a press vest is still a terrorist". Just the NewsRC “"The IDF has repeatedly been accused of targeting journalists, but a terrorist in a press vest is still a terrorist," the IDF said in a thread on X.” Read at Just the News ↗ The list includes Mohammed Sami Abdullah Jarghoun, who worked as a journalist for Smart Media but who the IDF alleges took part in the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel. Just the NewsRC “The list includes Mohammed Sami Abdullah Jarghoun, who worked as a journalist for Smart Media, but the IDF alleges he participated in the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel.” Read at Just the News ↗
Another man listed, Mohammed Manhal Ahmed Abu Armana, reportedly worked for the news agency Palestine Now; the IDF says he was a commander in the propaganda department of Hamas' Rafah Brigade. Just the NewsRC “Another individual the IDF listed is Mohammed Manhal Ahmed Abu Armana, who reportedly worked as a journalist for Palestine Now, a news agency.” Read at Just the News ↗ The Jerusalem Post reported that the IDF said on Thursday that 170 people presented as civilian journalists and killed in strikes on Gaza were in fact affiliated with Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and other groups. The Jerusalem PostRC “The IDF revealed on Thursday that 170 individuals who were misleadingly presented as civilian “journalists” killed in strikes on Gaza were actually affiliated with Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and other terrorist organizations.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ According to the IDF, some of them worked for outlets including Reuters, Anadolu Agency and Palestine Now, and served as snipers, commanders, trainers and propaganda agents; some allegedly infiltrated Israel and took part in the 7 October massacre. The Jerusalem PostRC “operated as snipers, commanders, trainers, and propaganda agents, among other roles.”“According to the IDF, a number of the alleged journalists infiltrated Israel and participated in Hamas's October 7 massacre.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Both reports relay the IDF's allegations without independent verification or any response from the named individuals, news outlets or press groups; the Jerusalem Post marks its report as a developing story. The Jerusalem PostRC “This is a developing story.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Just the NewsRC “who reportedly worked as a journalist for Palestine Now” Read at Just the News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets lead with the IDF's allegations, presenting them as a rebuttal to accusations that Israel targets reporters. Just the News frames it around the list of 10 and the IDF's rebuttal; the Jerusalem Post stresses the figure of 170 and the roles claimed.
- Emphasis
- Militant roles (snipers, commanders, propaganda agents) and alleged participation in 7 October.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No response from the named individuals, their outlets, press freedom groups or Palestinian sources; no independent verification of the IDF's evidence.
- Charged language
- “terrorists”“misrepresented as 'innocent journalists'”“massacre”
- For example
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“Israel claims 10 Gaza terrorists posed as journalists to dispute accusations it targets reporters” — Just the News
“IDF: 170 Hamas, PIJ terrorists killed in Gaza were misrepresented as 'innocent journalists'” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- The IDF made the allegations on Thursday 1 October 2026.
- Both outlets attribute the claims to the IDF.
- Both say some named people worked for news outlets including Palestine Now.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the people named were militants rather than journalists
- Left
- No left-leaning coverage in this story.
- Centre
- No centre coverage in this story.
- Right
- Both outlets relay the IDF's claim that they were militants; neither carries a rebuttal.
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Scale of the claim
- Right
- Just the News reports a list of 10 names; the Jerusalem Post reports the IDF claiming 170 killed 'journalists' were militants.
Israel Defense Forces organisation
The IDF says it is wrongly accused of targeting journalists and that those named were militants in press vests.
“a terrorist in a press vest is still a terrorist” — Just the News
North America1 outlet
Just the News presents the IDF list as a response to accusations against Israel.
“Israel claims 10 Gaza terrorists posed as journalists to dispute accusations it targets reporters” — Just the News
Just the News
Israel1 outlet
The Jerusalem Post reports the larger figure of 170 and the IDF's account of their roles.
“IDF: 170 Hamas, PIJ terrorists killed in Gaza were misrepresented as 'innocent journalists'” — The Jerusalem Post
The Jerusalem Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Israel claims 10 Gaza terrorists posed as journalists to dispute accusations it targets reporters
Neutral Relays the IDF list and quote as a rebuttal to accusations, using the IDF's terminology in its headline.
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IDF: 170 Hamas, PIJ terrorists killed in Gaza were misrepresented as 'innocent journalists'
Mixed Headline adopts the IDF's claim that the 170 were misrepresented as 'innocent journalists', attributing details to the IDF in the body.
- 1 Oct 15:04 First Just the NewsRC Israel claims 10 Gaza terrorists posed as journalists to dispute accusations it targets reporters
- 1 Oct 16:44 +1h 40m The Jerusalem PostRC IDF: 170 Hamas, PIJ terrorists killed in Gaza were misrepresented as 'innocent journalists'
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.