Israeli police block foreign media from Iranian missile impact sites
2 Min Read
Foreign media outlets face increased censorship as Israeli police disrupt broadcasts from missile-hit locations amid Operation True Promise.
-
A firefighter walks past a damaged area at the Soroka hospital complex impacted by a nearby Iranian missile hit targeting an intelligence HQs, in Beer al-Sabe', occupied Palestine, Thursday, June 19, 2025 (AP)
Israeli police are cracking down on foreign media reporting from locations in "Israel" impacted by Iranian missiles, as Tehran continues to barrage the occupied territories as part of Operation True Promise 3.
On Thursday morning, Israeli police cut off broadcasts by multiple foreign news agencies reporting from locations hit by Iranian missiles, while footage published by The Times of Israel showed an Israeli police officer demanding that a cameraman surrender his recording equipment.
Earlier this week, Israeli police stormed the offices of foreign TV news teams following their coverage of missile strikes in the Haifa region, which reportedly hit sensitive military sites.
Ben-Gvir promises strict measures
In the same context, an Israeli police spokesperson said the move was made "in line with Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's directives and under Police Commissioner Dani Levy's oversight." Ben-Gvir had vowed to crack down on foreign media outlets reporting from missile impact sites.
Speaking from a missile impact site in Petah Tikva on Tuesday, the police minister stated, "Accurate broadcasts showing missile strike locations in Israel pose a national security risk... I expect anyone doing this to be treated as someone compromising state security."
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities have been working to restrict details about strike locations, fearing Iran could use such information to improve its missile accuracy, The Times of Israel reported.
Iran launched a large-scale missile barrage targeting the occupied Palestinian territories on June 19 morning, targeting Tel Aviv and surrounding areas, in addition to Haifa and al-Naqab, with direct hits reported on central Tel Aviv and the northern district of Ramat Gan.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported that missiles had landed near Soroka Hospital in Beer al-Sabe', a facility treating Israeli soldiers wounded in Gaza, while Israeli media alleged a direct strike on the hospital itself, with damage assessments still ongoing.
The IRNA news agency reported that the primary target of the attack was the Israeli occupation forces’ Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) headquarters, a key military nerve center.
