Brussels, (Unib Rashid) __ The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has reported that 2025 marked the second consecutive year of record-breaking killings of journalists and media workers worldwide, with two-thirds of the deaths attributed to Israeli forces.

According to CPJ’s latest annual report on the state of journalists globally, a total of 129 journalists and media workers were killed in 2025. Of these, 86 were killed by Israeli forces while reporting from Gaza. The report states that 60 percent of those killed were Palestinian.

CPJ held Israeli forces responsible for two-thirds of the total fatalities, noting that in its 30-year history of documenting journalist deaths, this was the second consecutive year with such a high toll — and in both years, Israel accounted for the largest share of killings.

The report further highlighted that most of the deaths occurred in conflict zones, including Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan. It noted that 39 journalists were killed in military drone strikes, including 28 attributed to Israel, five to Sudanese forces, and four in Ukraine.

CPJ also raised concerns over the lack of proper investigations into journalist killings in countries such as Mexico, Bangladesh, and India. Additionally, the report revealed that 329 journalists are currently imprisoned worldwide, while 84 remain missing.

Speaking at the release of the report, CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg stated, “Journalists are being killed in record numbers at a time when access to information has never been more critical.” She warned that when journalists are targeted for reporting the news, society as a whole is put at risk.