Israel responsible for one third of journalist killings in 2024
Israel killed a third of the 54 journalists killed worldwide while carrying out their work or because of their profession in 2024, according to a report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) published on December 12th and reported by The Guardian.
The group says Israeli armed forces were responsible for the deaths of 18 journalists this year – 16 in Gaza and two in Lebanon.
“Palestine is the most dangerous country for journalists, recording a higher death toll than any other country over the past five years,” RSF wrote in its annual report, which covers data up to December 1st.
The organisation has filed four complaints with the international criminal court (ICC) for “war crimes committed against journalists by the Israeli army”.
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It said that in total “more than 145” journalists had been killed by Israel in Gaza since the start of the war there last October, with 35 of them working at the time of their deaths, describing the number of killings as “an unprecedented bloodbath”.
The difference in figures between the IFJ and RSF is due to methodological differences. RSF includes only journalists whose deaths have been “proven to be directly related to their professional activity”.
Israel denies it intentionally targets journalists but admits it has killed some. “We don’t accept these figures. We don’t believe they are correct,” Israeli government spokesperson David Mercer told a press conference on December 11th.
The deadliest places for journalists in 2024 after Gaza were Pakistan, with seven deaths, followed by Bangladesh and Mexico, both with five. The number of journalists killed worldwide in 2023 stood at 45 in the same January to December period.
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As of December 1st, 550 journalists were imprisoned worldwide, compared with 513 last year, according to RSF. They say the three countries with the most detained journalists are China with 124, including 11 in Hong Kong, Myanmar with 61, and Israel with 41.
It also said 55 journalists are currently being held hostage, including two abducted this year. 25 of them are in the hands of the Islamic State group.
In addition, 95 journalists are reported missing, including four new cases reported this year.
The Guardian
