The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) released a staggering annual report revealing that 129 media workers were killed in 2025. This marks the second consecutive year of record-breaking fatalities for the press. The report specifically implicates Israeli forces in the deaths of 86 journalists, roughly two-thirds of the global total. Furthermore, the CPJ found that Israel was responsible for 81% of cases classified as “intentionally targeted” murders, the highest number of targeted killings by any military on record.
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The majority of those killed were Palestinian journalists reporting from Gaza, where foreign media access remains restricted. Notable fatalities included Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri and Al Jazeera’s Anas al-Sharif, both killed in August strikes. While the Israeli military often cites “unintentional mishaps” or alleged links to militant groups, the CPJ described these claims as “deadly smears” lacking verifiable evidence. The report also highlighted a single strike on a Houthi media center in Yemen that killed 31 workers, the second deadliest individual attack in the organization’s history.
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A record 129 journalists and media workers were killed in the course of their work last year, two-thirds of them killed by Israel, the Committee to Protect Journalists said https://t.co/bMYJ59bIfl pic.twitter.com/zjCwQGplIC— Reuters (@Reuters) February 26, 2026
Beyond the Middle East, the report detailed a global crisis for press freedom. Nine journalists were killed in Sudan, six in Mexico, and four in Ukraine by Russian forces. High-profile victims included Ukrinform editor Tetyana Kulyk, who died in a drone attack. This surge in violence has prompted international calls for accountability, with media watchdogs warning that the systematic silencing of journalists is creating dangerous voids in global information and human rights reporting.
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