Post by : Raina
Al-Fahim
According to the latest report from Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a media advocacy organization based in Paris, Israel is responsible for almost half of the global journalist fatalities recorded in 2025. The annual report, published on Tuesday, states that 29 journalists were killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, ranking Israel as the most hazardous force for journalists this year.
Globally, 67 journalists lost their lives in 2025, a slight rise from 66 deaths reported in 2024. Israeli actions accounted for 43% of these fatalities, prompting RSF to declare them as “the foremost adversary of journalists.” The deadliest incident took place on August 25 in Gaza, when a “double-tap” airstrike struck a southern hospital, resulting in the death of five journalists, including two from international news agencies Reuters and the Associated Press.
Since the onset of fighting in Gaza in October 2023, almost 220 journalists have been killed, solidifying Israel's position as the leading nation in journalist fatalities worldwide for three consecutive years. The report highlights severe limitations faced by foreign journalists trying to access Gaza, where entry is restricted to carefully managed tours arranged by the Israeli military. Media organizations have consistently advocated for unrestricted access to cover the region.
In other findings, the RSF report suggests that Mexico marked one of the deadliest years for journalists in 2025, with nine reporters killed despite governmental assurances for their protection. Ukraine saw three journalist deaths, while Sudan reported four losses, indicating the high-risk nature of these environments for media professionals.
While the count of 67 deaths this year is lower than the 142 journalist fatalities seen in 2012—largely attributed to the Syrian civil war—it still hovers just below the global yearly average of around 80 deaths since 2003.
The RSF document underscores the persisting threats to media freedom across the globe, with 503 journalists jailed in 47 countries as of December 1, 2025. China leads with 121 imprisoned journalists, followed by Russia with 48 and Myanmar with 47, illustrating an ongoing global crisis concerning press rights.
RSF’s revelations stress the urgent requirement for robust protections for journalists and highlight the essential need for international scrutiny to ensure the safety of reporters operating in conflict-stricken areas.
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