CPJ Reaffirms Journalist Definition After Gaza Review Backlash

The Committee to Protect Journalists board voted to reaffirm its existing definition of a journalist after backlash over its full review of Gaza and Lebanon casualty listings. CPJ's July 1 statement, reported in Israel on July 2, says it did not plan to exclude Palestinian or Lebanese press as a group, but keeps its rule that anyone found engaging in combat or inciting imminent violence is removed. The review began after Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad obituaries identified combatants who had been counted as journalists; CPJ says eight Hamas or PIJ combatants and 12 others have already been removed, with the remaining review due in July. Israel's point is essential: humanitarian and media protections must not become cover for terror operatives or Hamas propaganda.