Global journalists demand access to Gaza after ceasefire
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More than 250 journalists have been killed in Gaza since 2023, as media groups demand safe, independent reporting conditions in Gaza.
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A demonstrator places electric candles among props ahead of a vigil honoring journalists killed by recent Israeli strikes in Gaza at Columbus Plaza near Union Station, Wednesday, August 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
International journalists based in occupied Palestine are urging Israeli authorities to allow immediate press access to Gaza following the latest ceasefire agreement, joining a growing number of media organizations calling for independent coverage from the besieged territory.
In a statement issued Friday, the Foreign Press Association (FPA) called on "Israel" to “immediately open the borders and allow international media free and independent access to the Gaza Strip,” noting that the Israeli Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on October 23.
The case comes after more than a year during which, the FPA said, the state “has been allowed to delay its response.”
Since October 7, 2023, "Israel" has effectively barred international journalists from entering Gaza.
The few who have been granted access did so under strict supervision during guided tours organized by the Israeli occupation forces. As a result, international outlets have relied almost exclusively on Palestinian journalists, aid organizations, and civilians for on-the-ground reporting.
'Israel' killed at least 250 Palestinian journalists
The risks faced by Palestinian journalists remain extreme. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 197 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed in Israeli attacks over the past two years, though other sources place the number above 250.
Among the most recent casualties were Mariam Dagga, a reporter for the Associated Press and Independent Arabia, and Hussam al-Masri of Reuters, both killed during an Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis on 25 August 2025.
Read more: AP: 'Israel' may have deliberately targeted journalists in hospital
Repeated Israeli Strikes Kill Journalists in South Lebanon
The CPJ has also documented 25 targeted killings of journalists, describing them as deliberate murders. While "Israel" denies intentionally targeting journalists, it has admitted responsibility in several killings, including the killing of prominent Palestinian journalist Anas al-Sharif.
In a related development, a UN special rapporteur has deemed an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on October 13, 2023, which killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah and injured six others, including two AFP reporters, a war crime. Morris Tidball-Binz described the attack as “premeditated, targeted, and double-tapped,” stating it violated international humanitarian law.
Since October 2023, multiple Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have killed at least six journalists, including Al Mayadeen’s Farah Omar and Rabih Me’mari, who were targeted moments after completing a live broadcast in Tayr Harfa. In another tragedy, Al Mayadeen’s Ghassan Najjar, Mohammad Reda, and Al Manar’s Wissam Qassem were killed in October 2024 when an Israeli missile directly struck a clearly marked press residence in Hasbayya.
Investigations conducted by AFP, Airwars, and the United Nations found that the munitions used were exclusive to the Israeli military, with no exchange of fire occurring at the time of the attacks. These findings have led multiple human rights organizations to characterize the strikes as deliberate attacks on journalists.
'Independent reporting in Gaza is essential for transparency'
The FPA’s statement reflects a broader, ongoing campaign for press freedom in Gaza. In July 2025, major outlets including AFP, AP, BBC, and Reuters issued a joint appeal demanding international media access to the Strip. Earlier, in February 2024, more than 30 media organizations, including The Guardian, signed a letter calling for greater protection for journalists operating in Gaza.
This week, the Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association (AMEJA) also demanded the release of American reporter Emily Wilder, who was detained while participating in Conscience, a media flotilla attempting to reach Gaza.
“Independent reporting in Gaza is essential for transparency, accountability, and global understanding of the humanitarian crisis,” the FPA stated.
With the Israeli attacks now paused, international media continue to pressure "Israel" to lift its restrictions and allow journalists to operate freely in Gaza, citing both safety concerns and the public’s right to information.
Read more: 'Generation of journalists in Gaza being wiped out': The Guardian
