A record number of journalists were killed globally in 2024, with Israel responsible for nearly 70% of the deaths, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Wednesday.
At least 124 journalists across 18 countries lost their lives last year, making it the deadliest year for media workers since CPJ began tracking such data over three decades ago. The ongoing Israel-Gaza war accounted for 85 journalist deaths, allegedly caused by Israeli forces. CPJ accused Israel of obstructing investigations, shifting blame onto reporters, and failing to hold perpetrators accountable.
The Israeli military denied targeting journalists, stating it takes precautions to prevent harm but lacked sufficient details to investigate the claims.
The number of journalist fatalities in 2024 surpassed previous years, with 102 deaths in 2023 and 69 in 2022. The prior record was in 2007, when 113 journalists were killed, nearly half during the Iraq War.
Sudan and Pakistan recorded the second-highest journalist deaths in 2024, according to CPJ.
CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg called the current period the most dangerous for journalists in the organisation’s history, citing Gaza as a particularly hazardous zone but emphasising broader global threats.
The committee highlighted a rise in targeted killings, with at least 24 journalists assassinated for their work in Haiti, Mexico, Myanmar, Sudan, and other nations. It also reported at least 10 instances of Israel allegedly targeting journalists and is investigating 20 additional cases.
The conflict stems from Hamas’ October 2023 attack, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. In retaliation, Israel’s offensive has killed over 48,000 people, mostly civilians, as per Palestinian health officials. So far, at least six journalists have been killed in 2025, CPJ noted.
