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February 26, 2026 – General –
A new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has revealed that 2025 was the deadliest year on record for journalists and media workers globally, with 129 fatalities documented — surpassing any previous year since CPJ began systematic data collection in 1992. The figure marks a second consecutive annual increase in press deaths, raising alarm among press-freedom advocates about escalating dangers faced by reporters worldwide.
According to CPJ’s annual findings, about two-thirds of the journalists killed in 2025 were killed by Israeli forces, a proportion that replicates 2024’s trends. The organisation states that the Israeli military is now responsible for more targeted killings of journalists than any other government force on record, based on decades of documented data. Most of those killed by Israeli fire were Palestinian journalists reporting from the Gaza Strip, where intense hostilities have persisted since the conflict began in late 2023.
CPJ chief executive Jodie Ginsberg emphasised that the spike in deaths occurs “at a time when access to information is more important than ever,” noting that attacks on journalists serve as a critical threat to broader civil liberties. The report highlights that over three-quarters of press fatalities were linked to combat zones and that the use of drones in deadly attacks has risen significantly, including dozens linked to Israeli operations in Gaza.
Beyond the figures tied to Israel and Gaza, the CPJ documented journalist deaths in multiple other conflict and non-conflict settings in 2025. Fatalities occurred in Ukraine and Sudan amid armed confrontations, while journalists were also killed in Mexico and the Philippines in incidents connected to crime or other forms of violence. A common thread in many cases, the report asserts, has been a culture of impunity, with few transparent investigations and little accountability for perpetrators.
Israeli officials have denied allegations of intentionally targeting journalists, framing their operations as necessary military actions where risks to non-combatants are inherent. However, press advocacy groups and international media rights organisations have criticised the lack of access for independent observers in Gaza and urged governments to adopt stronger mechanisms for protecting journalists and prosecuting attackers.
Reference –
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/feb/25/record-number-journalists-killed-2025-israel-gaza-war
