CPJ Report Finds Record 129 Journalists Killed in 2025, Two-Thirds Attributed to Israeli Forces

Overview

• CPJ attributes 86 of the 129 deaths to Israeli actions in Gaza and nearby theaters and says Israel carried out more targeted killings of journalists than any government on record, a claim the IDF vehemently rejects.
• At least 104 killings occurred in conflict zones, with 84% concentrated in five countries: Israel (86), Sudan (9), Mexico (6), Russia (4) and the Philippines (3).
• Drone-related journalist deaths jumped to 39 in 2025, including 28 linked to Israel in Gaza, five to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces and four to Russian strikes in Ukraine.
• Documented cases include Reuters journalist Hussam al‑Masri killed at Nasser Hospital and multiple Al Jazeera reporters, as well as 31 media workers killed in an Israeli strike on a Houthi media center in Yemen.
• CPJ warns that access restrictions likely undercount the toll and that a lack of accountability fuels repeated attacks, calling for independent, transparent inquiries.