Israel Responsible for Two Thirds of Journalists’ Deaths in 2025
‘Punish the perpetrators.’
by Sophia Sheera
24 February 2026
Record numbers of journalists were killed in 2025, with Israel responsible for two thirds of total deaths.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) counted 129 members of the press killed last year, making 2025 the deadliest year for media workers since the non-profit started collecting data in 1992.
The organisation attributed the record high to “Israel’s continued and unprecedented targeting of journalists and media workers”. The majority of journalists killed by Israel were Palestinians.
The CPJ noted that drone killings are also on the rise globally, surging from two in 2023 to 39 in 2025.
“Journalists are being killed in record numbers at a time when access to information is more important than ever,” said CEO Jodie Ginsberg.
“Attacks on the media are a leading indicator of attacks on other freedoms, and much more needs to be done to prevent these killings and punish the perpetrators. We are all at risk when journalists are killed for reporting the news.”
In total, 86 members of the press were killed by Israel, followed by nine in Sudan, six in Mexico and four in Russia.
Sophia Sheera is a journalist in Novara Media’s social media team.