LONDON: Press freedom advocates and international news organizations have condemned Israel’s ban on international journalists entering Gaza despite a nearly two-month-long ceasefire with Hamas.
On Thursday, Israel’s Supreme Court granted yet another extension for the government to respond to the case, the ninth delay since a petition was filed by the Foreign Press Association in Israel in September 2024, demanding open access for foreign correspondents to report from the war-torn enclave.
The delay drew condemnations, with The New York Times, one of the media organizations supporting the legal challenge, saying the restrictions are “limiting reporting on the ground that is vital to understanding the conflict and assuring the free and credible flow of information.”
In a statement quoted by the newspaper, a spokesperson urged Israel to “lift restrictions without delay, allowing all journalists to work securely and without fear or hesitation.”
Sara Qudah, Middle East and North Africa director at the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the ban echoed press crackdowns seen in authoritarian regimes, calling it “a deliberate barrier to accountability.”
