New York, Feb. 26 (SANA) The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said 2025 was the deadliest year for media workers since it began documenting violations more than three decades ago, with Israeli authorities topping the list of those responsible for journalist deaths worldwide.
In a report released Wednesday titled “Record Number of Journalists Killed in 2025… Israel Responsible for Two-Thirds of Deaths,” the New York-based organization said 129 journalists were killed globally last year, the highest annual figure on record. More than three-quarters died in conflict zones.
According to the report, Israeli attacks resulted in the deaths of 86 journalists. CPJ described Israel as a “notable outlier” in terms of the scale of the killings, adding that the Israeli military has killed more journalists than any other army since 1992.
More than 60 percent of those killed by Israeli forces were Palestinian journalists covering the war in the Gaza Strip. Casualty figures in other countries were significantly lower.
CPJ also warned of a sharp rise in the use of drones to target media workers, calling it a “clear warning sign.” Journalist deaths from drone strikes rose from two in 2023 to 39 in 2025. The organization attributed roughly 75 percent of drone-related killings over the past three years to Israeli authorities.
Elsewhere, CPJ recorded nine journalist deaths in Sudan, six in Mexico, four in Ukraine, three in the Philippines and 21 in other countries.
CPJ is an independent organization founded in New York that advocates for press freedom and the rights of journalists worldwide.
R.H
