DaysofPal – International journalists remain barred from entering Gaza, as Israel continues to restrict independent reporting from the devastated enclave.
A hearing before Israel’s Supreme Court in Jerusalem took place earlier today regarding a petition by the Foreign Press Association (FPA), which has long demanded permission for international reporters to access Gaza freely. Instead of ruling on the matter, the court granted the government another 30 days to present its position, a move that journalists denounced as yet another delay aimed at keeping the war in darkness.
In a statement released Thursday, the FPA expressed “deep disappointment,” accusing Israeli authorities of employing “delaying tactics to prevent journalists from entering Gaza.”
“For two years, the Israeli government has repeatedly sought delays, with the clear aim of preventing journalists from performing their journalistic duties and obstructing the public’s right to information,” the FPA said. “The government’s position remains unacceptable. We renew our call for immediate access to Gaza.”
The petition, filed by the FPA, an independent body representing foreign journalists working in Israel, comes amid ongoing international criticism of Israel’s tight media restrictions since the start of its genocidal war on Gaza on October 8, 2023.
Since then, Israel has barred all independent media from entering Gaza. Only a handful of foreign journalists have been allowed in, and always under Israeli military escort, with access limited to pre-approved areas.
The Palestinian Journalists Forum (PJF) condemned the Supreme Court’s decision as “a continuation of the media blackout policy pursued by the occupation since the beginning of its aggression on Gaza.”
The forum said that preventing international coverage represents “a flagrant violation of the freedom of journalism and the world’s right to know the truth.”
It urged the international community and free media institutions to exert urgent pressure on Israel to allow journalists into Gaza, arguing that the government’s fear of “truthful words and images” drives its ongoing restrictions.
“The occupation fears exposure,” the PJF said. “It fears the truth being told.”
Access to Gaza is fully controlled by Israel, leaving Palestinian journalists as the only independent voices reporting from the ground. Despite facing extreme danger, they continue to document the war’s human toll, often working without protection, resources, or international presence.
According to media watchdogs, more than 200 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli attacks since October 2023, making it the deadliest conflict for journalists ever recorded.
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