RSF says Israel killed highest number of journalists again this year

AFP/APP

Paris, France: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Tuesday that Israel was responsible for nearly half of all journalists killed worldwide this year, with 29 Palestinian reporters slain by its forces in Gaza.

In its annual report, the Paris-based media freedom group said the total number of journalists killed reached 67 globally, up from 66 in 2024. Israeli forces accounted for 43 percent of the total, making them “the worst enemy of journalists”, RSF said in its report, which documented deaths over the 12 months from December 2024.

The most deadly single attack was a “double-tap” strike on a hospital in south Gaza on August 25, which killed five journalists, including two contributors to Reuters and the Associated Press.

In total, since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, nearly 220 journalists have died, making Israel the biggest killer of journalists worldwide for three consecutive years, according to RSF data.

In response to the accusation, the Israeli military told AFP that it “does not deliberately target journalists” and noted that “being in an active combat zone carries inherent risks.” It also said there have been “dozens of examples of journalists who are active in terrorist organisations in the Gaza Strip.”

‘Not stray bullets’

Foreign reporters are still barred from entering Gaza — except on tightly controlled military tours — despite repeated calls by media and press freedom groups for independent access.

RSF’s report said 2025 was the deadliest year in Mexico in at least three years, with nine journalists killed, despite pledges by President Claudia Sheinbaum to improve protection.

War-wracked Ukraine (three journalists killed) and Sudan (four journalists killed) also remain among the most dangerous countries for reporters.

The overall number of journalist deaths is below the peak of 142 in 2012, largely linked to the Syrian civil war, and also below the long-term average of around 80 per year since 2003.

RSF editorial director Anne Bocande noted a growing trend of smear campaigns aimed at “justifying” violence against journalists.

“These are not stray bullets. This is a deliberate targeting of journalists because they inform the world about what’s happening on the ground,” she told AFP.

The RSF annual report also documents the number of journalists imprisoned for their work. China (121), Russia (48), and Myanmar (47) remain the most repressive countries. As of December 1, 2025, 503 journalists were detained in 47 countries, the report said.

Other organisations use different criteria for counting journalist deaths. According to UNESCO, 91 journalists were killed in 2025.