Israel responsible for nearly 50 pc killings of journalists in 2025: RSF

Surge in violence against journalists worldwide in 2025

Journalists continue to face rising threats worldwide, with killings, arrests and disappearances reaching critical levels. Since December 2024, 67 journalists have been killed because of their work, half of them by Israeli Armed Forces, says global press freedom organisation, Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

The safety of media professionals worldwide has reached a critical low, with 67 killed since December 2024, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Conflict zones, armed groups, and criminal networks account for the majority of these cases.

In a press statement, RSF says that over 37 deaths were linked to armed forces or paramilitary groups, and 16 to criminal networks.

It adds that nearly half or 43 pc of these killings occurred in Gaza, carried out by Israeli Armed Forces. Ukraine remains a high-risk zone due to Russian military operations targetting both foreign and local reporters.

It further adds that Sudan reported four journalist deaths, at least two following abduction by the Rapid Support Forces while Mexico recorded nine journalist deaths in 2025, making it  the second most dangerous country for journalists, with violence driven by organised crime.

RSF says that only two of the killed journalists were foreign nationals, French photojournalist Antoni Lallican in Ukraine and Salvadorian journalist Javier Hércules in Honduras. All others were reporting within their own countries.

It adds that detentions remain high globally. As of December, 503 journalists were imprisoned in 47 countries. China holds the largest number of 121, followed by Russia (48, including 26 Ukrainians) and Myanmar (47). Israel has detained 20 foreign journalists, primarily Palestinians. Countries including Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus show continued threats in the former Soviet bloc. Georgia arrested Mzia Amaghlobeli in January 2025, while Azerbaijan currently holds 25 journalists. In Russia, foreign journalists, particularly Ukrainians, face significant incarceration.

RSF further says that disappearances and hostage situations remain a significant concern. As many as 135 journalists are currently missing in 37 countries, with Syria accounting for 37, and Mexico for 28. RSF says that 72 pc of missing journalists are concentrated in the Middle East and Latin America, mainly in Syria, Iraq, and Mexico, while 20 journalists are currently held hostage globally. Yemen saw seven journalists abducted by Houthi rebels in 2025.

It adds that in Syria, journalists captured before the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024 remain unaccounted for, while Hayat Tahrir al-Sham continues to hold others. In Mali, journalists Saleck Ag Jiddou and Moustapha Koné, abducted in November 2023, remain in captivity.

The statement adds that these figures demonstrate that journalists are increasingly killed, detained, or disappeared while performing their work, with conflict zones and areas controlled by armed groups representing the highest risks.

It adds that international protections remain limited and impunity persists. Governments and organisations responsible for safeguarding journalists continue to struggle to implement effective measures, leaving reporters exposed to systematic threats worldwide.

“This is where the hatred of journalists leads. It led to the death of 67 journalists this year  not by accident, and they weren’t collateral victims. They were killed, targeted for their work. It is perfectly legitimate to criticise the media criticism should serve as a catalyst for change that ensures the survival of the free press, a public good. But it must never descend into hatred of journalists, which is largely born out of or deliberately stoked by the tactics of armed forces and criminal organisations. This is where impunity for these crimes leads us: the failure of international organisations that are no longer able to ensure journalists’ right to protection in armed conflicts is the consequence of a global decline in the courage of governments, which should be implementing protective public policies. Key witnesses to history, journalists have gradually become collateral victims, inconvenient eyewitnesses, bargaining chips, pawns in diplomatic games, men and women to be ‘eliminated.’ We must be wary of false notions about reporters: no one gives their lives for journalism it is taken from them; journalists do not just die they are killed,” says Thibaut Bruttin, Director General, RSF.