Israel tops list of journalist killings for third consecutive year

Israel has remained at the top of the global list of journalist killings for three consecutive years, according to the annual report published on Tuesday, December 9, by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a global organisation advocating for press freedom, reports Al Jazeera.

The Paris-based organisation stated that 67 journalists were killed worldwide in 2025 while performing professional duties, slightly higher than 66 deaths recorded in 2024. Of the total casualties, 43 percent were killed in attacks carried out by Israeli forces. RSF labelled Israel as “the biggest enemy of journalists”.

According to the report, the deadliest single attack occurred on August 25, when five journalists, including two from Reuters and AP, were killed after Israeli forces bombed a hospital in southern Gaza. Since the launch of widespread attacks on Gaza in October 2023, a total of 220 journalists have been killed.

The report also highlighted that strict security restrictions imposed by Israel have continued to limit access for foreign journalists into Gaza.

Mexico is listed as the second-deadliest country for journalists, where nine journalists were killed this year. In Ukraine and Sudan, three and four journalists were killed respectively.

It is notable that in 2012 alone, 142 journalists were killed, primarily due to the civil war in Syria.