Jerusalem: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported on Thursday that Israel has experienced a deterioration in press freedom and increasing restrictions on media pluralism since the outbreak of the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, amid rising pressure on journalists and expanding restrictive legislation.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, RSF's annual ranking released on Thursday indicated that global press freedom has reached its lowest level in 25 years, with more than half of countries classified as having a 'difficult' or 'very serious' situation. Israel's ranking has specifically fallen from 112th to 116th out of 180 countries, highlighting intensified pressure on media independence and pluralism since the start of the war. The report further disclosed that more than 220 journalists have been killed in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, with at least 70 dying in connection with their work.
The report also noted the growing influence of media outlets such as the far-right Channel 14, which became the second most-watched television channel in Israel in 2023, according to the Israel Democracy Institute. Meanwhile, the Ynet news site remains the most widely read. Additionally, the report highlighted the role of military censorship, which demands prior approval before publishing security-related information.
Furthermore, a 2023 amendment passed by the Knesset to counterterrorism legislation was referenced in the report, which criminalizes the systematic consumption of 'terrorist publications' or incitement to terrorism.