Post by : Rameen Ariff

A new report by Paris-based media freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has revealed that Israel was responsible for nearly half of all journalists killed worldwide in 2025. According to the RSF annual report released on Tuesday, 29 Palestinian journalists were killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, making Israel the deadliest force for journalists this year.

Globally, a total of 67 journalists lost their lives in 2025, a slight increase from 66 deaths recorded in 2024. Israeli forces accounted for 43 percent of the total, leading RSF to label them “the worst enemy of journalists.” The deadliest single incident occurred on August 25 in Gaza, when a “double-tap” airstrike hit a hospital in the south of the territory, killing five journalists, including two international news agency contributors from Reuters and the Associated Press.

Since the start of hostilities in Gaza in October 2023, nearly 220 journalists have died, making Israel the top country responsible for journalist deaths globally for the past three years. RSF highlighted that foreign reporters still face severe restrictions on travel to Gaza, only allowed to enter under tightly controlled tours organized by the Israeli military. Media freedom groups have repeatedly called for unhindered access to report from the region.

Elsewhere in the RSF report, 2025 was also marked as one of the deadliest years for journalists in Mexico, with nine reporters killed despite government pledges to protect media workers. Ukraine recorded three journalist deaths, and Sudan saw four reporters killed, making these countries highly dangerous for journalists.

While 67 deaths this year is lower than the peak of 142 journalists killed in 2012—largely due to the Syrian civil war—it remains slightly below the global average of around 80 deaths per year since 2003.

The RSF report also highlighted the ongoing threats to media freedom worldwide, with 503 journalists detained in 47 countries as of December 1, 2025. China led with 121 imprisoned journalists, followed by Russia with 48, and Myanmar with 47, underscoring a continuing global crisis for press freedom.

RSF’s findings emphasize the urgent need for stronger protections for journalists and the critical importance of international attention to ensure that reporters can work safely in conflict zones.

#Global News