Paris: The year 2024 marked a grim chapter for press freedom as 54 journalists lost their lives globally while performing their duties, with a third of these fatalities attributed to Israeli armed forces, according to a report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released on Thursday.
The RSF report highlighted that 18 journalists were killed by Israeli forces this year, including 16 in Gaza and two in Lebanon. Gaza emerged as the most perilous region for journalists, with RSF labelling the killings as “an unprecedented bloodbath.” Over 145 journalists have reportedly been killed in Gaza since the conflict’s escalation in October 2023, with 35 dying while actively working.
RSF has filed four complaints with the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing the Israeli military of “war crimes committed against journalists.” Israel, however, denies targeting journalists, claiming some deaths occurred during airstrikes aimed at military targets. “We don’t accept these figures. We don’t believe they are correct,” stated Israeli government spokesperson David Mercer.
A separate report by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) cited a higher global toll of 104 journalist deaths in 2024, attributing over half to the Gaza conflict. The disparity between RSF and IFJ figures stems from differing methodologies.
The RSF report also revealed an alarming rise in imprisoned journalists, with 550 detained worldwide as of December 1, compared to 513 last year.
