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Tom Bateman reports from the US State Department that the UK, along with 26 other countries, is calling for Israel to allow immediate independent foreign media access to Gaza. France, Germany, Australia, and Japan have all signed a statement released by the Media Freedom Coalition, a group dedicated to advocating for the rights and protection of journalists globally. The joint statement also condemns attacks on journalists in Gaza, emphasizing the need for their protection.
Since the start of the war nearly two years ago, Israel has prohibited international journalists from entering Gaza independently. Some journalists have been granted access by the IDF under controlled conditions. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that at least 192 journalists and media workers, most of whom are Palestinian, have been killed during this conflict, making it the deadliest for journalists in history. The statement released by the 27 countries underscores the importance of press freedom and opposes any attempts to restrict media access.
The recent targeted attack on four Al Jazeera journalists, resulting in their deaths, has further highlighted the risks journalists face in Gaza. The journalists were inside a tent at Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital when it was struck, killing them along with two freelance journalists. Israel’s Defense Forces claim they targeted a Hamas-affiliated reporter, but the CPJ and Al Jazeera have disputed these allegations. With no international journalists allowed in Gaza, local reporters have been providing coverage through social media and local media organizations.
Despite ongoing efforts from the Foreign Press Association to lift the ban on international journalists in Gaza, Israel’s High Court of Justice maintains that restrictions are necessary due to security concerns. Journalists in Gaza are facing dire circumstances, with the threat of starvation looming over them. International news agencies have expressed deep concern for the well-being of journalists in the region, as they struggle to feed themselves and their families. As tensions escalate with Israel’s planned ground offensive in Gaza City, the situation for journalists and civilians remains precarious
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