Press freedom in Israel hit an all-time low according to watchdog organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which ranked Israel 112th out of 180 nations in its 2025 World Press Freedom Index released Friday.
Many critics question such rankings during wartime, when national security concerns naturally require certain media restrictions. Nevertheless, Israel’s current position marks a significant 26-place drop from its 86th ranking in 2022, before Prime Minister Netanyahu formed his current coalition government.
“Press freedom, media plurality and editorial independence have been increasingly restricted in Israel since the start of the war in Gaza, launched by Israel on 7 October 2023 following the deadly Hamas attack,” states the RSF report.
IDF operations in Gaza have proven dangerous for media personnel, with RSF alleging “close to 200 journalists were killed in 18 months in Gaza by the IDF and pressure on journalists in Israel has increased.” The war-torn enclave is described as “the most dangerous country in the world for journalists.” For security reasons, journalists can only enter Gaza when “embedded with the IDF,” the report alleges.
Major shifts have also occurred in Israeli media consumption patterns during the conflict. Conservative-leaning Channel 14 now ranks as Israel’s second most-watched news channel, gaining substantial viewership since 2023. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi has called for government agencies to boycott left-wing newspaper Haaretz due to its criticism of IDF operations.
Northern European countries continue dominating top positions in press freedom rankings, with Norway, Estonia, Netherlands, Sweden, and Finland claiming the highest spots. United Kingdom ranked 20th while United States placed 57th. Several oppressive African nations now rank higher than Israel in press freedom metrics, including Chad (108th), Guinea (103rd), and South Sudan (109th).
Israeli government officials maintain that wartime press restrictions serve vital national security interests and protect operational security during active combat operations against Hamas terrorists.
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