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CPJ Report: 2025 Was Deadliest Year for Journalists With 129 Killed

The group says Israeli forces were responsible for most fatalities in Gaza.

Overview

  • Two-thirds of the deaths — 86 — occurred in the Israel–Gaza war, with most victims Palestinian journalists, according to CPJ.
  • The organization logged 47 deliberate, work-related murders, 81% attributed to Israel, while warning the true total may be higher due to access limits in Gaza.
  • Drone strikes accounted for 39 journalist deaths in 2025, a sharp rise from two in 2023, with incidents documented in Gaza, Sudan, Iraq and Ukraine.
  • Outside war zones, Mexico remained one of the most dangerous countries for the press, with six unresolved killings despite a federal protection mechanism CPJ deems insufficient.
  • CPJ urges deep investigative reforms, an international investigative group, and sanctions to combat pervasive impunity and protect journalists.