2024 Sees Alarming Surge in Journalists' Deaths, with Gaza Marked as the Deadliest Region

A troubling new report from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reveals that 54 journalists worldwide lost their lives in 2024 while carrying out their duties or due to their profession. Among these deaths, nearly a third were attributed to the actions of Israeli forces, with 18 journalists killed—16 in Gaza and two in Lebanon.

 

RSF's annual report, which includes data up to December 1, underscores the dire situation in Gaza, which it claims remains the most hazardous region for journalists. "Palestine has emerged as the deadliest location for reporters, with more journalist fatalities than any other nation over the last five years," the organisation stated. The figures reflect a broader pattern of violence against media workers in conflict zones, with Gaza bearing the brunt of the toll in 2024.

 

Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, RSF has documented more than 145 journalist fatalities linked to Israeli military operations in Gaza, including 35 journalists killed while on assignment. The organisation described the scale of the deaths as an “unprecedented bloodbath.”

 

RSF has submitted multiple complaints to the International Criminal Court (ICC) accusing the Israeli army of committing war crimes against journalists. These complaints emphasize the targeting of media professionals in the region, something that Israel has denied, maintaining that the deaths of journalists were incidental to military operations. A spokesperson for the Israeli government, David Mercer, rejected RSF’s figures during a press briefing, asserting that they were inaccurate and unsubstantiated.

 

In addition to the fatalities in Gaza, the report highlights other dangerous regions for journalists. Pakistan saw seven journalist deaths, while Bangladesh and Mexico each recorded five. Compared to 2023, the number of journalist fatalities worldwide has risen from 45 to 54, marking a sharp increase in the risks faced by the press.

 

The report also provided troubling figures on the imprisonment of journalists, with 550 currently detained globally, up from 513 last year. China, Myanmar, and Israel are identified as the top three countries for imprisoning journalists, with 124, 61, and 41 detentions, respectively.

 

Additionally, the report revealed that 55 journalists are currently held hostage, including two abductions in 2024. The terror group Daesh (ISIS) is responsible for nearly half of these hostage cases. Furthermore, 95 journalists remain missing, with four new disappearances reported this year.