Over 130 international media organizations and press freedom groups, led by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), issued an urgent open letter demanding Israel grant "immediate, independent, and unrestricted access" to Gaza for foreign journalists.
The coalition also called for full protection for Palestinian journalists reporting under siege amid Israel’s 20-month media blockade.
Since October 2023, Israeli authorities have barred nearly all international journalists from independently entering Gaza—a restriction described as "without precedent in modern warfare." Foreign reporters have only been permitted brief, military-escorted visits, severely limiting independent coverage of the conflict and humanitarian crisis. This blockade has forced Palestinian journalists to bear the sole responsibility of documenting the war’s impact while facing extreme personal risk.
Local journalists in Gaza operate under relentless threats: displacement, starvation, and targeted violence. According to the letter, nearly 200 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed by Israeli military forces since the war began—the highest journalist death toll recorded in any conflict since CPJ began tracking in 1992. Survivors face injuries, trauma, and constant danger while reporting on ground conditions. CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg emphasized, "When journalists are killed in such numbers and international media is barred, the world loses its ability to see clearly and respond effectively".
Signatories include major global outlets like the BBC, Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Haaretz (Israel). The letter stresses that at a "pivotal moment" of renewed military operations and humanitarian efforts, independent journalism is essential for transparency and accountability. It urges world leaders and international institutions to pressure Israel to uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law, which designates journalists as protected civilians.