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January 29, 2026 – Palestine –
A recent annual prison census by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has found that Israel is the third-worst jailer of journalists in the world, with authorities detaining a significant number of media professionals in connection with their reporting, particularly amid the Israel-Gaza war that began in October 2023. The CPJ census, reflecting conditions as of December 1, 2025, places Israel behind only China and Myanmar in terms of the number of journalists incarcerated for their work.
According to the report, 29 journalists were jailed in Israel or the occupied Palestinian territories, accounting for roughly 9 percent of the world’s imprisoned journalists as documented in the CPJ’s 2025 prison census. Many of those detained are Palestinian journalists, and human rights advocates say their detention often occurs without clear charges or due process, in what critics describe as arbitrary detention practices that violate international legal standards protecting freedom of expression and press freedom.
The broader global context shows high levels of journalist imprisonment worldwide: for the fifth consecutive year, more than 300 journalists were held in connection with their work as of late 2025, according to CPJ, a figure that reflects increasing authoritarian pressures and conflicts that endanger independent reporting. The census highlights how states utilise legal and punitive measures to constrain media professionals, including protracted detentions without trial and harsh prison conditions.
Israel’s ranking as a leading jailer is particularly notable given its classification as a democracy in international indices. The report emphasises that the number of detained journalists surged after the war in Gaza intensified, a conflict that has also seen numerous journalists killed and significant barriers to independent reporting. Rights groups argue that the disparity in legal protections between Israeli citizens and Palestinian journalists, combined with security policies under wartime conditions, contributes to this punitive environment.
Press freedom organisations have repeatedly called on Israeli authorities to ensure transparent legal processes, respect international norms on media freedom, and safeguard the rights of journalists — including their right to report without fear of arbitrary arrest or detention. The CPJ’s findings add to growing concerns about the global pattern of journalist imprisonment and the challenges facing media workers in conflict zones and under restrictive governments
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