Over Half of 2024 Journalist Deaths Occurred in Palestine, Reports Guardian

December 23, 2024 – General –

The Guardian revealed that 55 of the 104 journalists and media workers killed worldwide in 2024 died in Palestine, making it the most dangerous region for journalists that year. These figures, drawn from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), indicate that over half of global journalist fatalities occurred in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. The report emphasizes that these numbers do not include arrests, injuries, or missing persons and likely underestimate the full scope of the crisis facing media workers in the region.

Since the outbreak of war in October 2023, at least 75 journalists have been arrested in Palestine, with only 30 released. Approximately 49 have been injured, and two remain missing. According to a survey conducted by the Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ), the majority of Palestinian journalists have faced severe personal and professional losses. Most lost all of their reporting equipment, were forcibly displaced, and saw their homes destroyed. More than 20 percent of those surveyed reported the death of a family member due to Israeli airstrikes or blocked humanitarian aid.

The report also highlighted that foreign journalists are largely barred from entering Gaza, making it nearly impossible to verify conditions independently or investigate deaths and attacks. These access restrictions contribute to the lack of accountability and transparency in documenting violations against the press.

Additional data from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) indicates that 124 journalists were killed globally in 2024, with about two-thirds being Palestinian. By mid-2025, CPJ recorded 179 journalist and media worker deaths linked to the Israel–Gaza conflict, making it the deadliest conflict for journalists in the 21st century. The IFJ’s tally stands at 174.

The Guardian’s findings underscore a catastrophic collapse of press freedom in Palestine. Journalists are not only being killed but systematically silenced through arrests, destruction of infrastructure, and denial of access. The report calls attention to the urgent need for international protections and accountability to ensure journalists can safely carry out their essential role in conflict zones.

Reference –

https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2024/dec/23/palestine-journalists-killed