![Relatives of Palestinian journalist Amal Muhammad Shamali, who lost his life following the Israeli attack on makeshift tents in the Nuseirat Refugee Camp, brought the body from the morgue of al-Awda Hospital for funeral process in Gaza City, Gaza on March 9, 2026. [Moiz Salhi - Anadolu Agency]](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/AA-20260309-40773177-40773176-FUNERAL_IN_GAZA_FOR_PALESTINIAN_JOURNALIST_KILLED_IN_ISRAELI_ATTACKS-1.jpg)
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has moved to contain a growing backlash over fears that Palestinian and Lebanese reporters killed by Israel could be erased from its casualty database, voting on Wednesday to affirm its existing definition of “who is a journalist.” The vote came after days of criticism over reports that CPJ was considering whether to revisit its criteria at a time when Israel has killed more journalists than any other recent war. Critics warned that any narrowing of the definition could serve Israeli efforts to smear Palestinian reporters after killing them. CPJ denied that it had planned to exclude slain Palestinian and Lebanese journalists, insisting that its existing definition remains in place. “It is not true that […]