FPA demands Israeli court to allow int'l journalists access to Gaza
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The Foreign Press Association is petitioning "Israel's" Supreme Court to lift its Gaza media ban, demanding press freedom and independent journalist access to the enclave.
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Activists from the Foreign Press Association during a panel calling for press freedom in Gaza, April 11, 2025, in London, England (X/@FPALondon)
An organization representing international media in "Israel" and the Palestinian territories said on Wednesday it hoped "Israel's" Supreme Court would approve its petition for the immediate access of journalists to Gaza.
"Israel's" Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a petition from the Foreign Press Association on Thursday, a petition that seeks to secure access to Gaza for journalists. Since "Israel" launched its war on Gaza in 2023, it has banned international media from entering the enclave, allowing only very few international journalists in controlled visits alongside Israeli troops.
"For over two years, Israel has blocked foreign reporters from going into the territory, greatly hindering the media's ability to cover this devastating conflict," the FPA said in a statement published prior to the hearing scheduled for 9:00 am (6:00 GMT).
FPA chairperson Tania Kraemer stated in the announcement, "We are pleased to finally have our day in court and hope the justices will swiftly approve our request to enter Gaza," adding, "It is high time for Israel to lift the closure and let us do our work alongside our Palestinian colleagues."
Soon after the war broke out in October 2023, the Foreign Press Association began its petition for independent access to Gaza; however, these pleas fell on deaf ears.
'Israel' tries to bury the truth in Gaza
Antoine Bernard, the director for advocacy and assistance at Reporters without Borders, said on Tuesday that while "Israel" has prevented foreign reporters from entering Gaza, its forces have killed more than 210 Palestinian journalists in the territory.
"The result is an unprecedented violation of press freedom and the public's right to reliable, independent, and pluralistic media reporting," Bernard said.
"The result is an unprecedented violation of press freedom and the public's right to reliable, independent, and pluralistic media reporting," the RSF director stated, emphasizing that "the Supreme Court has the opportunity to finally uphold basic democratic principles in the face of widespread propaganda, disinformation, and censorship, and to end two years of meticulous and unrestrained destruction of journalism in and about Gaza."
"No excuse, no restriction can justify not opening Gaza to international, Israeli and Palestinian media," Bernard further added.
