A record 129 media workers lost their lives last year, most of them in Gaza, the Committee to Protect Journalists has found
FILE PHOTO. © Getty Images / Doaa Albaz; Anadolu
[RT] A
record 129 media workers were killed worldwide in 2025, marking the
second consecutive annual high for such deaths, the Committee to Protect
Journalists (CPJ) has reported. The New York-based organization found
that Israel was responsible for two-thirds of these killings, making the
conflict in Gaza the deadliest for members of the press since CPJ began
data collection in 1992.
According to a report released on
Wednesday, Israeli fire killed 86 members of the press in 2025, more
than 60% of them Palestinians reporting from Gaza. However, the
deadliest single incident occurred in Yemen, where IDF airstrikes on two
newspaper offices claimed the lives of 31 journalists and media
workers.
Of the 47 killings CPJ classified as targeted murders –
the highest number in a decade – Israel was allegedly responsible for
81%. The organization also noted that very few transparent
investigations have been conducted and no one has been held accountable
in any of these cases.
The IDF has “strongly” rejected the CPJ’s allegations, stating that it “does not intentionally harm journalists or their family members.”
In a statement, the Israeli military said the report is “based on general allegations, data of unknown origin, and predetermined conclusions, without considering the complexity of combat or the IDF’s efforts to mitigate harm to non-combatants.”
The findings come as Israeli actions in Gaza have been met with
international condemnation, with West Jerusalem regularly facing
accusations of war crimes and committing genocide against the
Palestinian people.
A UN Human Rights Office report released last week also raised concerns over “ethnic cleansing,” stating that intensified attacks and destruction of civilian infrastructure “appear aimed at a permanent displacement of Palestinians.” The report also detailed a “pervasive climate of impunity” for violations of international law.
Israel
has denied the allegations, insisting it does not deliberately target
civilians and that its operations have been aimed at eliminating Hamas
militants.
The IDF began its Gaza campaign in October 2023 after
Hamas attacked Israel, killing at least 1,200 people and taking 250
hostages. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, more than 72,000
people have been killed since the war began.