The Israel Defense Forces are preparing for the takeover of Gaza City as Hamas fighters block civilians from leaving. Israeli officials say Hamas has closed escape routes and threatened families who attempt to flee. “Hamas wants civilians trapped so their deaths can be broadcast to the world as propaganda,” one IDF spokesperson said. “This is not resistance. It is a war crime.”
The most recent escalation came after an IDF strike on a hospital rooftop. International media initially reported that three journalists were killed. Israel quickly rejected that claim, releasing evidence that the dead were Hamas terrorists who either participated in the October 7 massacre or supported Hamas propaganda operations. Soldiers had identified a Hamas surveillance camera on the hospital roof. Troops then spotted what looked like a rifle scope. Authorization was granted for tank fire. Four shells were used.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret for the deaths but placed responsibility on Hamas. “Israel never seeks to harm journalists or civilians,” Netanyahu said. “Our war is with Hamas, a terror group that hides behind innocents. We mourn every unintended death, but the world must recognize Hamas has turned hospitals into military bases. The blame lies with Hamas.”
Israel named the three killed as Mohammed Salama, Mariam Abu Daqqa, and Ahmed Abu Aziz. Salama, affiliated with Al Jazeera, crossed into Israel with Hamas on October 7, filmed atrocities, and chanted “Allahu Akbar” while Jews were murdered. Abu Daqqa, once connected to the Associated Press, taught propaganda courses for Hamas and on October 7 ferried terrorists into Israel to commit massacres. Abu Aziz, presented abroad as a photographer, publicly celebrated October 7 as “the greatest day of our generation,” praising the burning of babies and the rape of women. Israeli officials say none of them were independent reporters. They were Hamas terrorists.
The strike followed another incident last week in which four more individuals labeled as journalists were killed in IDF strikes. Israel later identified them as Hamas operatives in press vests. Yousef al Qassam filmed staged videos during attacks. Khaled al Naim used his role as a fixer to pass information on IDF troop movements. Rami Darwish praised the October 7 massacre and used social media to incite more violence. Samir Abu Khalil acted as a driver and courier, transporting Hamas fighters and weapons under the guise of journalism.
Israeli officials say the pattern is clear. Hamas embeds terrorists in press corps, uses hospitals as command posts, and positions cameras and weapons in schools and mosques. “When terrorists wear press vests or hide in hospitals, they do not become civilians,” an IDF officer said. “They remain terrorists, and those sites become military targets.”
This practice has deep roots. The PLO and Hamas have long used doctors and journalists to wage propaganda wars. In 1982, during the Lebanon War, PLO doctors in Beirut allowed international media into hospitals to film alleged civilian casualties, many of whom were fighters dressed in civilian clothes. In 2000, the footage of Mohammed al Dura, filmed by a Palestinian cameraman for French television, portrayed a boy allegedly killed by Israeli fire. The video became one of the most powerful propaganda tools of the Second Intifada, despite later investigations revealing serious inconsistencies and evidence it had been staged. In 2006, Hamas blamed Israel for an explosion that killed a family on Gaza Beach. Doctors and journalists supplied the narrative that dominated global headlines, but subsequent probes indicated the blast was caused by Hamas explosives buried in the sand. Shifa Hospital has long been used by Hamas as a command center, with reports dating back more than a decade describing its basement as a military bunker. In 2014, as Israeli troops advanced, international media were barred from parts of the hospital while Hamas-linked doctors provided inflated casualty figures impossible to independently verify.
For Israel, these examples illustrate that propaganda is as central to Hamas’s war effort as rockets or tunnels. By embedding fighters in hospitals, disguising terrorists as journalists, and blocking civilians from leaving Gaza City, Hamas ensures both military advantage and global headlines that paint Israel as the aggressor.
Netanyahu underscored this distinction in his remarks. “The difference between us and Hamas is clear,” he said. “We value life. They glorify death. We target terrorists. They use journalists, doctors, and children as shields. This is the truth that must be told.”
As the IDF advances deeper into Gaza City, Israeli officials warn the cycle will continue. Civilians will be trapped, hospitals will be militarized, terrorists will wear press vests, and the world’s media will be asked to look away from the truth.
Timeline: How Hamas and the PLO Used Propaganda Through Doctors and Journalists
-
1982, Lebanon War: PLO doctors in Beirut showed international media civilians allegedly wounded by Israeli strikes. Later evidence revealed many were fighters in civilian clothes.
-
2000, Mohammed al Dura video: A Palestinian cameraman filmed a boy allegedly killed by Israeli fire. The footage became iconic, but investigations later raised strong evidence it had been staged.
-
2006, Gaza Beach explosion: Hamas claimed Israeli shells killed a family on the beach. Doctors and journalists pushed the story. Israel later concluded Hamas explosives caused the blast.
-
2009 and 2014, Shifa Hospital: Intelligence reports confirmed Hamas used Shifa as a command center. Doctors provided unverifiable casualty figures while barring media from areas where fighters operated.
-
2018, Gaza border riots: Several men identified as journalists were later exposed by Israel as Hamas members using cameras to coordinate attacks and incite violence.
-
2023–2025, Gaza conflict: Multiple “journalists” killed in IDF strikes are later identified by Israel as Hamas terrorists, including those killed last week and the three identified this week.
