Over 60 media and civil society organizations have signed a letter urging the Israeli government to allow journalists independent access to Gaza.
This initiative, led by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), addresses the lack of media access since the start of the conflict in Gaza.
Signatories include the Associated Press, BBC, CNN, The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.
They highlighted the challenges faced by journalists due to restricted access, noting that over 100 journalists have died since the conflict began.
Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of CPJ, criticized the conditions under which journalists are forced to work and called for immediate, independent access to Gaza for international news teams.
This request coincides with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to the United States on July 24, where he will meet President Joe Biden and address the U.S. Congress.
The letter argued that restrictions on media access place an unreasonable burden on local reporters and contribute to misinformation.
It called on Israel to adhere to international norms protecting journalists and to uphold press freedom.
The appeal, supported by organizations from over 26 countries, emphasized the importance of journalistic integrity and the role of a free press in maintaining democracy during conflict.
