• In 2025, 43% of journalists killed globally were reported to be killed by the Israeli military in Gaza.
• A total of 67 journalists lost their lives worldwide, with 29 being Palestinian reporters.
• Reporters Without Borders named Israel the "worst enemy of journalists" for the third consecutive year.
• Controversial military tactics, such as "double-tap" strikes, led to multiple journalist fatalities in Gaza.
• Beyond deaths, Israel is among the top countries for journalist detentions, with at least 20 currently imprisoned.

According to a report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Israeli army was responsible for nearly half of the journalists killed globally in 2025, marking a significant increase in violence against media professionals. This year, Israel accounted for **43%** of the total 67 reporter deaths tracked worldwide, with **29 Palestinian journalists** slain, underscoring Gaza’s perilous environment for the press, according to aa, scmp, and aljazeera.

The violence reached a peak with the “double-tap” airstrike on a hospital in Gaza, where five journalists were killed in a single attack. “This is where the hatred of journalists leads!” said Thibaut Bruttin, RSF’s director general, emphasizing the targeted nature of these killings. In total, the cumulative reports suggest that around **220 journalists** have died in Gaza since hostilities escalated in October 2023, making Israel the leading killer of journalists globally for the third consecutive year, according to middleeasteye and aljazeera.

RSF's report depicts a grim picture of press freedom in Gaza, stating that Israel has transformed it into one of the most dangerous locales for journalists. The organization has criticized Israel, noting that the military has routinely targeted journalists under the guise that they are complicit with militant activities, opting for a narrative that has drawn international condemnation. “Under Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, the Israeli army has carried out a massacre of the Palestinian press,” RSF stated, reflecting sentiments from various reporters aa, middleeasteye, and scmp.

Moreover, the situation for journalists remains dire, with **at least 20 Palestinian journalists currently detained** by Israeli forces, often without formal charges being presented. Many accusations of “incitement” are rooted in social media posts, suggesting a broader repression of dissent in the media realm. This trend has drawn parallels with the atmospheres in countries notorious for journalist oppression, such as China and Russia, according to middleeasteye and aljazeera.