In 2024, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported a record 124 journalist deaths across 18 countries, marking the deadliest year since the organization began tracking such data over three decades ago. Notably, Israel was responsible for nearly 70% of these fatalities, with 85 journalists killed by the Israeli military during the conflict in Gaza.
The majority of those killed were Palestinians, including freelancers and local reporters who continued to document the war despite facing extreme risks. The CPJ highlighted that freelance journalists accounted for over a third of the global journalist deaths in 2024, with 31 Palestinian freelancers among them.
The CPJ accused Israel of attempting to suppress investigations into these killings, shifting blame onto the journalists themselves, and failing to hold military personnel accountable. The Israeli military, in response, stated that it takes all feasible measures to avoid harming journalists and civilians, asserting that it does not deliberately target journalists.
The conflict in Gaza has been particularly lethal for journalists due to the Israeli-imposed blockade, which has severely restricted access for international media. This has left local journalists as the primary sources of information, operating under dire conditions with limited resources. The CPJ has repeatedly called for Israel and Egypt to allow greater media access to the region.
Beyond Gaza, the CPJ reported that Sudan and Pakistan each accounted for six journalist deaths in 2024, making them the second most dangerous countries for media workers that year. The organization also noted an alarming rise in targeted killings, with at least 24 journalists worldwide deliberately killed because of their work.
The unprecedented toll on journalists in 2024 underscores the increasing dangers faced by media professionals in conflict zones and the urgent need for stronger protections to ensure their safety and uphold press freedom globally.
