A report released by the Paris-based organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) indicates that Israel was responsible for a staggering nearly half of the journalist fatalities worldwide in 2025. According to the annual RSF report published on Tuesday, 29 Palestinian journalists were killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, designating Israel as the most perilous entity for journalists this year.
The total number of journalist deaths globally reached 67 in 2025, a slight rise from the 66 recorded in 2024. Israeli actions accounted for 43% of these fatalities, with RSF branding them as “the worst enemy of journalists.” The most lethal incident happened on August 25 in Gaza, where a “double-tap” airstrike targeted a hospital, resulting in the deaths of five journalists, including contributions from Reuters and the Associated Press.
Since hostilities escalated in Gaza in October 2023, nearly 220 journalists have perished, marking Israel as the leading nation responsible for journalist deaths globally over the past three years. RSF pointed out that international journalists continue to face strict travel limitations to Gaza, permitted access only through tightly controlled tours arranged by the Israeli military. Advocacy groups for media freedom have consistently urged for unrestricted access to report from conflict zones.
The RSF report also noted that 2025 stood out as one of the deadliest years for journalists in Mexico, with nine reporters killed despite official promises for their protection. Ukraine and Sudan recorded three and four journalist deaths respectively, identifying these countries as perilous for media professionals.
While the 67 journalist fatalities this year are below the alarming peak of 142 deaths in 2012—largely attributed to the Syrian civil war—it remains marginally less than the average global toll of approximately 80 deaths each year since 2003.
Moreover, RSF’s report underscores the ongoing threats against media freedom around the globe, with 503 journalists imprisoned across 47 countries as of December 1, 2025. China topped the list with 121 jailed journalists, followed by Russia with 48 and Myanmar with 47, highlighting a persistent global crisis in press freedom.
The findings from RSF stress the pressing need for fortified protections for journalists and the vital role of international oversight to ensure that reporters can function safely in conflict areas.
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