What's happened
In 2025, a record 129 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide, with Israel responsible for over two-thirds of these deaths. Most victims were Palestinians in Gaza, with additional fatalities in Yemen, Sudan, and Mexico. The CPJ reports a concerning rise in targeted killings and impunity.
What's behind the headline?
The CPJ's report underscores a disturbing trend: Israel's military has committed more targeted killings of journalists than any other government in over three decades. The high number of deaths, especially Palestinians in Gaza, highlights the dangerous environment for press freedom in conflict zones. Israel's denial of intentional harm and claims of targeting militants are challenged by the CPJ, which labels many of these killings as 'murder.' The international community's response remains muted, and the persistent culture of impunity allows these attacks to continue. The targeting of journalists not only silences critical voices but also hampers the global understanding of conflicts, raising questions about accountability and the protection of press freedom in war zones.
What the papers say
The articles from The Japan Times, SBS, Al Jazeera, Reuters, and The New Arab collectively highlight the severity of journalist killings in 2025, emphasizing Israel's responsibility for over two-thirds of these deaths. While all sources agree on the alarming rise, some, like the Israeli military, deny intentional targeting, describing their actions as aimed at militants. The CPJ's detailed report provides a comprehensive overview, noting the difficulty in verifying all incidents due to access restrictions. The coverage from Al Jazeera and The New Arab contextualizes the violence within broader regional conflicts, especially in Gaza and Yemen, and points to a troubling pattern of impunity and restrictions on press access. The Reuters article echoes these concerns, emphasizing the record number of journalist deaths and the dangerous environment for media workers in conflict zones.
How we got here
The increase in journalist deaths in 2025 follows a decade of escalating violence and conflict zones, notably in Gaza, Yemen, and other regions. Israel's military actions, especially in Gaza and Yemen, have significantly contributed to this rise, with the CPJ documenting a record number of targeted killings since 1992. Restrictions on access and verification complicate the full accounting of casualties.
Go deeper
Common question
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Why Are Journalist Deaths at a Record High in 2025?
2025 has seen the deadliest year for journalists in over three decades, with over 129 media workers killed worldwide. A significant portion of these deaths are linked to conflicts in Gaza, Yemen, Sudan, and Mexico, with Israel responsible for more than two-thirds of the fatalities. This alarming trend raises questions about the dangers journalists face today and the factors driving this surge in violence. Below, we explore the key reasons behind this tragic increase and what it means for press freedom and safety.
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Are journalist killings increasing worldwide?
Recent reports show a troubling rise in violence against journalists, with 2025 marking the deadliest year in over three decades. Understanding the scope of this issue, which regions are most dangerous, and what can be done to protect media workers is crucial. Below, we explore key questions about press freedom, journalist safety, and the impact of violence on news reporting today.
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How Do Conflicts in Gaza, Yemen, Sudan, and Mexico Threaten Journalists?
Conflicts in regions like Gaza, Yemen, Sudan, and Mexico have led to a disturbing rise in violence against media workers. In 2025 alone, over 129 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide, marking the deadliest year in over three decades. Most of these deaths are linked to targeted violence and military actions, especially involving Israel's operations in Gaza and Yemen. This raises urgent questions about the safety of journalists in conflict zones and how governments respond to such threats. Below, we explore the recent examples of violence, government reactions, and the global efforts to protect press freedom.
More on these topics
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The Committee to Protect Journalists is an American independent non-profit, non-governmental organization, based in New York City, New York with correspondents around the world. CPJ promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Hossam Shabat (Arabic: حسام شبات; 10 October 2001 – 24 March 2025) was a Palestinian journalist who reported on the Gaza war as a correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher and also contributed to Drop Site News.
Shabat was killed by an Israeli airs
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Reuters is an international news organization owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs some 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide.
The agency was established in London in 1851 by the German-born Paul Reuter.
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Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is the second-largest Arab sovereign state in the peninsula, occupying 527,970 square kilometres.