RSF: Israeli Forces Linked To Nearly Half Of Journalists Killed Worldwide This Year

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Tuesday that Israeli forces were responsible for nearly half of the journalists killed worldwide over the past year, with heavy losses among Palestinian reporters in Gaza.

In its annual tally, the Paris-based press freedom organisation recorded 67 journalists killed globally during the 12-month period beginning in December 2024, a slight rise from 66 in 2024. RSF said Israeli forces accounted for 43% of those deaths and described them as “the worst enemy of journalists” in its report.

Deadliest Incidents and Gaza Toll

RSF identified a hospital "double-tap" strike in southern Gaza on August 25 as the single deadliest incident, which killed five journalists, including contributors to Reuters and the Associated Press. The report also states that 29 Palestinian reporters were among those killed in Gaza.

Counting from the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023, RSF says that nearly 220 journalists have died in the Gaza conflict. The organisation reported that foreign reporters remain effectively barred from traveling freely in Gaza except on tightly controlled tours organised by the Israeli military, despite repeated calls from media groups for independent access.

Other Countries And Imprisoned Journalists

Outside Gaza, RSF highlighted that 2025 was the deadliest year for journalists in Mexico in at least three years, with nine reporters killed despite government pledges to bolster protection. War-torn Ukraine and Sudan were also singled out as particularly dangerous, with three and four journalist fatalities respectively.

RSF’s annual report also tracks jailed journalists. As of December 1, 2025, the organisation recorded 503 journalists detained across 47 countries. The countries holding the largest numbers of imprisoned journalists were listed as China (121), Russia (48) and Myanmar (47).

"The scale and persistence of violence against journalists is a direct attack on the public's right to know," RSF said in its report.

While the overall number of journalists killed last year remains well below the 2012 peak of 142 — largely linked to the Syrian civil war — RSF warned that concentrated losses in specific conflicts and the high number of detained journalists continue to threaten press freedom worldwide.