03/05/2026
On this World Press Freedom Day, the Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRCPakistan) expresses its profound concern regarding the unprecedented and systemic violence targeted at journalists in Gaza. This year, the occasion is marked by a somber reality: independent journalism is facing its most lethal threat in decades.
The statistics provided by leading global monitors paint a devastating picture of the risks faced by those dedicated to uncovering the truth:
According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), 56 journalists were killed in Palestine in 2025 alone. Across the Middle East, 74 media professionals lost their lives accounting for a staggering 58% of all journalist fatalities worldwide.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) confirms that more journalists have been killed in this conflict than by any other government since record-keeping began in 1992. Since October 2023, at least 264 media workers have been killed.
In December 2025, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) designated the current environment as the worst enemy of journalism, noting that nearly half of all journalists killed globally that year fell victim to this conflict.
A report by the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs reveals a chilling comparison: the number of journalists killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, exceeds the total combined fatalities of journalists from the American Civil War, WWI, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Yugoslav Wars, and the War in Afghanistan.
The Human Rights Council of Pakistan urgently calls upon the United Nations, sovereign governments, and international human rights organizations to:
Immediate and transparent inquiries into the targeted killings of journalists.
Uphold International Humanitarian Law to safeguard media professionals in conflict zones.
Demand immediate, unobstructed access for international journalists into Gaza.
Ensure that all those responsible for these crimes are held accountable under international law.
Free press is the cornerstone of democracy, justice, and human rights. We pay solemn tribute to the martyrs of the press and stand in unwavering solidarity with their families. The voice of truth can be suppressed, but the truth itself remains immutable.
Day
