World media calls on Israel to allow journalists into Gaza

“We, the undersigned, demand that the Israeli authorities immediately end restrictions on foreign media entering Gaza and grant independent access to international news organizations wishing to access the territory,” the letter reads.

“Nine months into the war, international journalists are still denied access to Gaza, except for rare escorted trips arranged by the Israeli military.”

“The ban on foreign journalists… places an impossible and unreasonable burden on local reporters to document the war they are living through,” the letter added.

International media and press organizations are unable to travel to Gaza due to an Israeli ban. Photo: AFP

The letter, coordinated by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), said more than 100 journalists have been killed since Israel's war in Gaza began and those who remain are working in extremely poor conditions.

“As a result, information from Gaza is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain and reports that are issued are frequently questioned as to their veracity,” the letter added.

Palestinian journalists including Al Jazeera's Motaz Azaiza and Wael Al-Dahdouh have become internationally renowned for their courage in reporting on Israel's war in Gaza, despite great personal risk.

“International, Israeli and Palestinian journalists from outside Gaza should be allowed independent access to Gaza so they can assess for themselves what is happening in this war – rather than just being informed by the Israeli military through a series of organized tours,” CPJ Executive Director Jodie Ginsberg said in a press release.

The signatories to the letter said they fully understand the dangers of reporting from a war zone and that many of their organizations have taken these risks for decades to document the events as they unfold.

The letter added: "We demand that Israel fulfill its commitments to press freedom by allowing foreign media immediate and independent access to Gaza, and that Israel comply with its international obligations to protect journalists and civilians."

According to the Palestinian enclave's health agency, Israel's war in Gaza has killed 38,345 people, with hundreds of thousands more injured or missing, as well as displaced much of the territory's population and left it suffering a severe humanitarian crisis, including famine.

Hoang Hai (according to CPJ, Newarab, AJ)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/truyen-thong-the-gioi-keu-goi-israel-cho-phep-cac-nha-bao-vao-gaza-post303574.html