Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders says Israeli forces killed the highest number of journalists in the world for the third year in a row, mainly in the Gaza Strip. In its annual report, RSF found that 29 Palestinian journalists were killed by Israeli forces in Gaza over the past 12 months, accounting for about 43 percent of the 67 journalists killed globally.
RSF described Israel as “the worst enemy of journalists,” saying the deaths were linked to military operations and not to stray bullets or accidental fire. The group stressed that many of the journalists were clearly identified as media workers and were killed while covering bombardments, displacement and humanitarian crises in Gaza.
The report highlighted an August 25 “double tap” airstrike on a hospital in southern Gaza as the deadliest single incident. That attack killed five journalists, including two contributors to major international news agencies Reuters and the Associated Press.
Since the Gaza war began in October 2023, nearly 220 journalists and media workers have been killed, most of them in Israeli strikes, according to RSF data. The organisation says this makes Israel the biggest killer of journalists worldwide for three consecutive years.
Globally, RSF recorded 67 journalists killed in the past year, a slight rise from 66 the previous year. The group also reported more than 500 journalists currently detained in nearly 50 countries, warning that hostility and impunity are driving violence against the media.
The Israeli military has repeatedly said its operations target Hamas and other armed groups, not journalists. However, RSF and other rights groups have urged independent investigations, arguing that patterns of strikes suggest reporters are being deliberately or recklessly targeted.
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