The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) removed Palestinian journalists from its database due to alleged combat involvement, citing pressure from right-wing Zionist groups like The Free Beacon. The move has sparked intense debate over the organization's criteria for excluding journalists.

Critics like geneva_convenience accuse the CPJ of bias, arguing that Palestinian journalists affiliated with resistance groups are excluded while journalists from other countries working with military forces are included. Sopo Japaridze questioned the CPJ's ability to verify combat involvement without independent access to Gaza. Dr. Nika Soon-Shiong called the criteria vague and selectively applied, warning that the CPJ's actions could justify Israel's targeting of Palestinian journalists. Supporters, including the CPJ's CEO, defend the decision as adherence to international humanitarian law, which classifies journalists affiliated with non-state actors as civilians unless they engage in combat.

The community consensus leans toward accusing the CPJ of inconsistency and bias, with sharp divides over the organization's adherence to humanitarian law versus its perceived political influence. The CPJ's decision has raised concerns about the safety of Palestinian journalists and the credibility of its standards.