CPJ: 2025 Was the Deadliest Year for Media, Israel Responsible for Majority of Casualties

The past year was brutally recorded in the history of global journalism. According to a report published in New York by the Committee to Protect Journalists, the deaths of 129 information sector workers constitute the highest toll since the organization began systematic measurements in 1991. Data analysis indicates that the main perpetrator of media representative deaths is the Israeli forces, who are attributed with responsibility for the deaths of 86 individuals. Most victims are Palestinian journalists operating in the Gaza Strip, but the report also includes the tragically consequential attack on a Houthi media center in Yemen, where 31 workers lost their lives simultaneously. The organization is particularly concerned by the increase in targeted killings, which CPJ classifies as murders. In 2025, 47 such cases were recorded, with a staggering 81 percent attributed to Israeli actions. The report also highlights the technological evolution of threats – as many as 39 journalists were killed as a result of drone attacks, representing a drastic increase compared to previous years. Alongside the conflict in the Middle East, the most dangerous places for the press remain Sudan (9 victims) and Ukraine (4 victims). The organization emphasizes that the actual number of victims may be underreported due to limited access to combat zones, which prevents full verification of each incident. For decades, journalists' work in conflict zones has been protected under international humanitarian law, which mandates treating reporters as civilians, provided they do not take direct part in hostilities. In response to the accusations contained in the report, the Israeli side firmly rejects allegations of deliberately targeting media representatives. Army representatives argue that their operations are aimed solely at combatants, and the risk to journalists stems from their presence in active war zones. Nevertheless, CPJ's Chief Executive Officer, Jodie Ginsberg, warned that killing reporters at a record rate undermines the public's right to information at times when it is most needed. The organization demands transparent investigations into attacks on the press, pointing to an ongoing "culture of impunity" that encourages further violations of journalistic rights. „Journalists are being killed in record numbers at a time when access to information is more important than ever. We are all at risk when journalists are killed for reporting the news.” — Chief Executive Officer of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)