The vanishing terrorists: The New York Times' new Gaza reporting strategy - opinion

The New York Times' coverage of Gaza casualties over two years has disproportionately focused on Palestinian deaths, according to an analysis. Between October 2023 and October 2025, the newspaper published 653 headlines specifically about casualties in Gaza, out of 1,305 headlines dealing with death and killing in the conflict.

The analysis highlights a perceived imbalance in the Times' reporting, noting that while the paper extensively covered Palestinian casualties, it rarely distinguished between combatants and civilians. Furthermore, the report suggests the Times failed to delve into the responsibility for these casualties, including potential deaths from misfired rockets by militant groups or internal Palestinian conflicts.

“

How is a news outlet supposed to report on war casualties? This question is particularly worth asking when it comes to a news outlet that promises its readers journalistic professionalism “without fear or favor”, and even defines itself as "a newspaper of record", or a media outlet whose information archive is supposed to serve as a reliable historical reference.

This selective focus and lack of critical examination of sources regarding Gaza casualties are presented as a departure from the Times' self-proclaimed journalistic standards. The article implies that the newspaper's approach may contribute to a skewed public perception of the conflict, particularly among younger audiences who rely on social media narratives.

“

Doubts about IDF but not about Gazan sources