In all wars and conflicts across the world, the most fundamental task for a journalist is to bear witness firsthand, even when that work is dangerous. By documenting facts and giving a voice to civilians affected by war, journalists help hold governments and armed groups accountable for their actions.
But since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, Israel has barred the international media from entering Gaza independently. This policy has remained in place even though a ceasefire took effect three months ago. It is time for Israel to halt this practice immediately.
Independent, firsthand reporting is the best way to give the public the most complete picture of war and its consequences.
Appeals ignored
In the immediate aftermath of Hamas’s attack, the foreign media reported from the devastated Israeli communities along the Gaza border under rocket fire, and the plight of the hostages and their families has been a constant part of reporting over the past two years.
But when it comes to reporting on the devastating human impact the war has taken on Gaza’s more than two million people, Israel has placed one obstacle after another in front of journalists.
Throughout the war, the Israeli government rejected repeated requests by the Foreign Press Association (FPA) – which represents more than 350 journalists working for international news organizations in Israel, the occupied West Bank, and Gaza – for access to the territory.
Appeals and open letters from senior news executives around the world have been ignored.
This is why in the early days of the war, the FPA turned to Israel’s Supreme Court, filing a petition in December 2023 seeking access for journalists to Gaza. The court rejected this first petition mainly on security grounds but invited us to refile when conditions changed.
The FPA filed a second petition in September 2024. Since then, however, the court has repeatedly granted government requests for delays.
The court now appears to be running out of patience. Last month, it gave the government until January 4 to present its position on opening Gaza to journalists in light of the ceasefire.
In its response, the government reiterated its position that journalists should not be allowed to enter Gaza independently, arguing that fighting persists in some parts of the territory and that journalists entering on their own could endanger Israeli forces and the journalists themselves. However, following an additional request by the FPA, the Supreme Court said it would “soon” hold another hearing on the matter.
In a recent letter to Knesset member Ayman Odeh, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz also said that allowing journalists into Gaza could endanger both journalists and Israeli soldiers but did not elaborate exactly what that meant, saying the matter was “classified.”
Greater scrutiny
To be clear, this demand for access should not detract from the tremendous work done by Palestinian journalists inside Gaza.
They have covered the war while coping with repeated displacement, hunger, and the constant threat of Israeli airstrikes.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 206 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli fire since the start of the war, making it the deadliest period for journalists since the organization started documenting the situation in Gaza. What’s more, Palestinian journalists have faced constant accusations from the Israeli government and its supporters of bias, complicity with Hamas, and inaccurate reporting.
Quite simply, they should not have to bear the burden of covering this conflict on their own. While the presence of international journalists cannot guarantee more safety to local journalists, it can bring greater scrutiny and accountability of both Israel’s and Hamas’s actions.
Throughout the war, the IDF has offered some international reporters the opportunity to enter Gaza accompanied by the military on tightly controlled “embeds.” But these military embeds are sporadic and tell only one side of the story, covering only what the military wants to show.
This practice has continued during the ceasefire, with occasional brief embeds for selected outlets to the Israeli-controlled part of Gaza. From there, reporters can see the devastation on the other side, but they cannot talk to the Palestinians there.
The FPA has repeatedly said that these selective glimpses into Gaza are no substitute for independent and unfettered access.
Press freedom
Critics have said that Israel’s real concern is to avoid scrutiny and accountability. Lack of access also makes it harder to investigate reports of abuses by Hamas.
The international media is well aware of the risks of working in a war zone. It is something journalists have done for decades and it should be up to the individual news organizations, not the government, to decide where staff can operate.
Israel claims to support the freedom of the press. And it has a long history of allowing press coverage in war zones – which includes during some of its previous wars in Gaza since 2008.
The Supreme Court, which has yet give a final ruling on the petition, will have to decide whether to uphold the fundamental principles of press freedom and the public’s right to know. The free flow of information is in everyone’s interest, and it is time to open up Gaza once and for all.■
Tania Kraemer is an international journalist and chairperson of the Foreign Press Association in Israel and the Palestinian Territories.