Gaza has been named the deadliest place in the world to work as a journalist by French-based press freedom advocates Reporters Without Borders (RSF), in its annual report on the dangers facing the media globally.
In the 12 months since December 1, 2024, RSF documented the killing of 67 journalists around the world.
Of them, 29 were killed in Gaza, while Mexico was ranked the second deadliest location with nine killings.
The report accused the Israeli military of having "carried out a massacre — unprecedented in recent history — of the Palestinian press" and labelled it a "security predator".
"To justify its crimes, the Israeli military has mounted a global propaganda campaign to spread baseless accusations that portray Palestinian journalists as terrorists," RSF said.
[PDF embed]The Israeli government and military continue to deny international journalists free and unfettered access to Gaza to report on the war, while regularly seeking to discredit any information coming from the strip as "Hamas propaganda".
The Foreign Press Association, which represents international media in Israel and Palestine, has been waging a legal challenge in Israel's Supreme Court to have those restrictions overruled.
On Tuesday, the court agreed to yet another request for an extension of time by the government to make submissions on its position.
"This is the ninth such delay since we filed our petition in September 2024," the FPA board said in a statement.
"This situation is beyond absurd. We are dismayed that the government keeps stalling, and deeply disappointed that the court continues to allow this.
"These repeated delays have robbed the world of a fuller glimpse of conditions in Gaza and made a mockery of the entire legal process."
'Digging the grave' of reliable information
RSF's director general, Thibaut Bruttin, said "journalists do not just die — they are killed".
He lamented a lack of action from governments around the world as a factor in the number of deaths and detentions.
"This is the consequence of a global decline in the courage of governments, which now do little more than issue statements when they ought to be implementing protective public policies," he said.
"This is what gives rise to the fatalism and pessimism that ripple through society."
Mr Bruttin also cited smear campaigns against journalists as fuelling the situation.
"Today, journalists are even accused of colluding with terrorists so that their targeted assassinations can be justified," he said.
"Criticism of the media is legitimate and should act as a catalyst for change to ensure the survival of the free press, a pillar of democracy.
"But it must never descend into a hatred for journalists, which is largely born out of — or deliberately stoked by — the tactics of armed forces and criminal groups."
The report also singled out leaders and institutions as "press freedom predators", including Russia's president Vladimir Putin and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), saying "impunity is not inevitable".
"Some kill journalists or lock them up. Others bankrupt, muzzle or discredit news outlets," it wrote.
"All are digging the grave for the right to reliable information."
Double tap strike, deadliest incident
RSF cited the August strikes on the Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza as the deadliest incident in the strip for the year.
Israeli forces opened fire on a camera position at the hospital, killing a journalist from the Reuters news agency.
Less than 10 minutes later, and while emergency crews and journalists scoured the site, it was hit again by Israeli forces.
In total, 22 people, including five members of the Palestinian press, were killed at the hospital.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country regretted "the tragic mishap" after US President Donald Trump said he was "not happy" about it.
An initial inquiry by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said troops believed the camera had been placed there to observe Israeli forces. It made no mention of the "double-tap" attack.
The IDF said a further inquiry was required, but it has not presented those findings.
The ABC asked the military for comment on the progress of that inquiry, and a response to RSF's characterisation of its actions.
The IDF said the review was still ongoing, and insisted it "takes all operationally feasible measures to mitigate harm to civilians, including journalists".
"The IDF has never, and will never, deliberately target journalists as such," it said.
"Given the ongoing exchanges of fire, remaining in an active combat zone has inherent risks."
High numbers of detained journalists
China was named as the country responsible for the highest number of journalists in detention, with 121 members of the media languishing behind bars, ahead of Russia with 48, 26 of whom were Ukrainian, and Myanmar with 47 journalists in jail.
In Azerbaijan, there are 25 journalists in jail, seven targeted for reporting on the alleged corruption crimes of the president and sentenced to nine years "after an unfair and politically motivated trial based on trumped-up charges".
The report also highlighted the deteriorating situation in Georgia, where "relentless authoritarian tactics" saw journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli arrested while others have been fined for documenting daily protests against the ruling party, Georgian Dream, which have continued for over a year.
Israel, according to RSF, detained 20 Palestinian journalists.
RSF said there were 20 journalists known to be held hostage in four countries — nine were captives of Yemen's Houthi rebels, while eight were in the hands of groups in Syria.
They included Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was led by current Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa as he led rebel forces across Syria to topple the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad last year.
There are 37 journalists RSF considers are missing in Syria as well, out of a total of 135 worldwide.
