The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate has reported that Israel committed 99 violations against Palestinian journalists in December 2025. These violations included killings, physical assaults, arrests, and restrictions on media coverage, reflecting a broader trend of repression against journalism in the region. The syndicate’s findings highlight ongoing concerns regarding press freedom in the Palestinian territories.
In its monthly report released on December 31, 2025, the syndicate stated that Israeli forces continued a policy of systematic targeting of Palestinian journalism. The report detailed various incidents, including the killing of one journalist while on duty in Gaza and serious injuries to two others due to shelling. Additionally, the report noted that two relatives of journalists were also killed during the same period.
The situation in the occupied West Bank was similarly alarming. The syndicate documented 48 cases of detention and prevention of journalists from performing their duties. Incidents included 15 assaults involving tear gas and stun grenades, two attempted car ramming attacks against journalists, and numerous threats aimed at media workers. The report emphasized that these actions indicate a systematic effort to silence journalistic voices, particularly in key areas such as Gaza, Jerusalem, Al Khalil, Jenin, and Ramallah.
Documented Violations and Implications
The syndicate’s report also recorded instances of physical abuse, including two beatings of journalists and the destruction of equipment. The destruction of homes belonging to two journalists, attributed to Israeli strikes, further illustrates the dangerous environment for media professionals. The report highlighted that the ongoing violence against journalists occurs within a context of “total impunity,” particularly regarding attacks by illegal Israeli settlers.
In December 2025, the government media office in Gaza reported that 257 Palestinian journalists had been killed since the onset of hostilities in October 2023, which spanned two years until a ceasefire took effect. Since that ceasefire agreement, the Israeli army has reportedly committed numerous violations, resulting in the deaths of 420 Palestinians and wounding 1,184 others, according to the Health Ministry.
The report underscores a pressing concern regarding the safety of journalists in conflict zones, as well as the implications for the dissemination of information. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate’s findings suggest a deliberate strategy to obstruct the documentation and reporting of events on the ground, thereby limiting public access to information.
The syndicate’s report serves as a call to action for international bodies and human rights organizations to address the ongoing violations against journalists in the Palestinian territories. With the media under siege, the necessity for independent reporting and transparency becomes ever more critical in the face of escalating violence.