The Israel Defense Forces alleged on Thursday that 170 individuals who were said to be civilian journalists killed in strikes on Gaza had ties to Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other terrorist organizations. 

The journalists' identities and affiliation with the radical groups were verified using documentation by the terrorist organizations themselves and materials recovered by Israeli troops during operations in Gaza, according to the IDF, The Jerusalem Post reported. 

The IDF created a website to combat what it says is a misleading campaign accusing the Israeli military of deliberately targeting reporters in Gaza. 

The IDF claims that the individuals it alleges are affiliated with terrorist organizations have worked for news outlets such as Reuters, Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency, and Palestine Now News Agency. While presenting themselves as reporters, according to the IDF, these individuals operated as snipers, commanders, trainers, and propaganda agents, among other roles within the radical Islamic groups.