Israeli Military Intelligence Unit Targets Palestinian Journalists
A recent investigation by Israeli media outlets +972 Magazine and Local Call has uncovered the existence of a covert military intelligence unit, referred to as the “Legitimization Cell.” This unit was established to undermine Palestinian journalists in Gaza by fabricating links to Hamas, thereby providing justification for their deaths while minimizing international condemnation, reports 24brussels.
The report, which relies on three intelligence sources, indicates that the unit was formed shortly after the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, 2023. Its focus has been on propaganda rather than security, with the primary objective of preserving Israel’s international legitimacy amidst its military actions in Gaza and ensuring continued military support from the United States, including the supply of weapons.
The “Legitimization Cell” has allegedly gathered intelligence in Gaza for selective declassification, aimed at countering mounting global outrage over the high number of journalist fatalities. A core strategy involved identifying individual reporters accused of having ties to Hamas and publicizing these accusations to deflect attention from broader media casualties. One intelligence source stated, “If the global media is talking about Israel killing innocent journalists, then immediately there’s a push to find one journalist who might not be so innocent.”
The investigation highlights specific cases such as Anas Al-Sharif, an Al Jazeera journalist recently killed in an airstrike. Israeli authorities claimed he had militant ties to Hamas between 2013 and 2017, yet no verifiable evidence has surfaced. Another noted case is Ismail Al-Ghoul, who was killed in July 2024; Israel accused him of holding a Hamas military rank in 2007, a year when he was only 10 years old.
Sources confirmed that the Legitimization Cell regularly relayed distorted intelligence to Washington through established channels, with the goal of sustaining support for Israel’s military operations and mitigating criticism from global media and human rights organizations.
The unit reportedly regarded media narratives as an extension of the battlefield, frequently acting under directives from political leadership on which stories to propagate. Intelligence officers were tasked with uncovering material, such as evidence of Hamas weapons in civilian areas or failed rocket launches, that could enhance Israel’s standing internationally.
Since the escalation of conflict in October 2023, over 238 journalists and media personnel have been reportedly killed in Gaza, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Alternative counts suggest that the toll could be closer to 270, marking this as the deadliest conflict for journalists since CPJ began its tracking in 1992. Additionally, many more have suffered injuries, arrests, or have gone missing.
Human rights advocates caution that the targeted attacks on journalists and the use of intelligence to justify these killings could amount to war crimes. These revelations have prompted calls for independent investigations and intensified scrutiny of Israel’s military practices in Gaza.
