The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has defended its approach to determining who qualifies as a journalist, telling The New Arab it has no plans to change its definition following criticism over the removal of Palestinian reporters from its database.
The New York-based press freedom organisation has come under fire from activists and commentators who accuse it of bowing to pro-Israel pressure after removing the names of Palestinian journalists from its database of media workers killed by Israel's wars. In a statement to The New Arab , CPJ Board Chair Jacob Weisberg rejected claims that the organisation was planning to formally redefine who counts as a journalist.
"In the absence of agreed international definitions, CPJ regularly considers who should be included in its definition of a journalist," Weisberg said. "Claims CPJ's board plans to formally change its definition to exclude particular groups are untrue and undermine the organization's rigorous documentation of attacks on the press worldwide."
He added that the CPJ was "a non-partisan organisation and has remained steadfast in that approach since its inception".
Last week, CPJ announced it would carry out a full review of its database of journalists killed during Israel's war on Gaza after the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) published obituaries reportedly identifying several of those listed as combatants.
"In all countries and conflicts, CPJ removes names from its database if subsequent evidence shows individuals were not journalists or media workers, were not active in those capacities at the time of their deaths, or were engaging in combat," the organisation said in a statement.
It added that eight names had been removed from its database after the individuals were reportedly later established to have been members of Hamas or PIJ who were engaged in combat.
A further 12 names were removed for other reasons. 'Double standards' The decision has sparked criticism from activists, journalists and commentators, who accuse CPJ of applying double standards and undermining its credibility as an organisation dedicated to defending press freedom.
Prominent Palestinian author and poet Mohamed El-Kurd accused CPJ of inconsistency in how it treats journalists in different conflicts.
"Israeli, American, and Ukrainian journalists who work for state-funded outlets or are embedded with the military will remain recognised as journalists, of course," he wrote on X.
"The move was catalysed to appease the right-wing Zionist rag The Free Beacon, which has repeatedly accused Palestinian and Lebanese journalists of being undercover militants or used their political opinions or affiliations as justification for their killing by the IOF," he continued.
Researcher and activist Sopo Japaridze also questioned how CPJ had reached its conclusions given the lack of independent access to Gaza.
"I read the statement by CPJ, they removed eight names and they also admit 'In-person verification by researchers from outside Gaza has been impossible since the start of the war because Israel has refused access to the territory, including to international correspondent," she said on X . "So how do they know those eight were 'actively engaged in combat?' What I do know is that Israeli genocide apologists are very excited about this, since it's their campaign that got those names removed.
"Awesome job, committee to 'protect journalists!' You just handed another victory to Israel during the genocide of Palestinians," she added.
Another X user wrote : "Change the name to the Committee to Protect Western Journalists."
The Israeli Foreign Ministry welcomed the decision in a post on X, writing: "It's official: Even the Committee to Protect Journalists admits it. Gaza 'journalists' = Hamas & Palestinian Islamic Jihad Terrorists."
The controversy has fuelled concerns among many that the removals could be used to justify further attacks on Palestinian journalists, who have long argued that Israel targets reporters using unsubstantiated allegations of militant affiliation.
Throughout the war on Gaza, which leading rights groups have described as a genocide, Israel has repeatedly accused journalists and other civilian professionals of alleged links to armed groups while providing little or no public evidence to support many of those claims.
CPJ’s CEO Ginsberg defended the organisation's methodology, saying it is guided by international humanitarian law.
"CPJ has always been clear that we do not include anyone in our data sets if there is evidence that they were engaging in combat or inciting imminent violence," she said.
Last year, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan described Israel's war on Gaza as the "deadliest ever conflict for journalists".
According to CPJ's former figures, Israel has killed at least 260 journalists in Gaza and Lebanon combined since October 2023.