Press freedom groups demand journalists have open access to Gaza

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called for immediate, independent and unrestricted access for international journalists to the Gaza Strip.

At a time when there are renewed Israeli attacks on the Palestinian coastal strip and the delivery of humanitarian aid is resuming, it is crucial that Israel opens the borders to international journalists, an open letter states.

The letter also demands that Israel ensure the protection of local reporters in the region. RSF published the letter jointly with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

According to the organizations, more than 100 international media outlets have signed the appeal.

Since the start of the Gaza war, only a few international journalists have been able to enter the Gaza Strip, and only when accompanied by the Israeli military.

The war was triggered by the Hamas-led terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the abduction of more than 250 hostages to Gaza.

According to CPJ, at least 181 journalists have been killed in Gaza and Lebanon since conflict flared again.

Israel has repeatedly accused Palestinian reporters in Gaza of working for Hamas.

Several media outlets in the blockaded strip are known to be close to the Islamist organization. However, some critics view the accusations against local reporters as a tactic by Israel to suppress critical reporting from the war zone.