’Erosion of Press Freedom’: Over 500 Journalists Demand Access to Gaza
More than 500 journalists and media organisations have signed a petition calling for “immediate, unsupervised foreign press access” to the besieged Gaza Strip.
“What’s happening in Gaza today reveals a far broader crisis: the erosion of press freedom as a pillar of democracy,” the petition stated. “The people most directly affected are not only the millions of civilians in Gaza enduring war beyond public scrutiny, but also global citizens everywhere whose right to receive free and independent information is being denied.”
No foreign journalists have been allowed into the enclave since Israel began its genocidal assault in October 2023, leaving Palestinian journalists on the ground to report on the situation.
“Nearly 200 journalists, “overwhelmingly Palestinian,” have been killed while reporting from Gaza, the petition noted, while foreign journalists “remain barred from entering the territory, blocked by Israeli-imposed restrictions that silence independent observation.”
“This is not just a humanitarian blackout, it is an information blackout that undermines the public’s right to know and journalism’s democratic function to hold power accountable,” it stressed.
‘Extraordinary Work’
As of July 25, the number of journalists killed in Gaza has risen to 232, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office. The worsening famine in Gaza has pushed some journalists to embark on a deliberate hunger strike in a desperate attempt to draw attention to the ongoing suffering of starving civilians in the besieged enclave.
The petition emphasised that it is “equally vital” to acknowledge “the extraordinary work” of Palestinian journalists inside Gaza, who, despite unimaginable danger, loss, and now starvation, continue to document the war “with extraordinary courage and professionalism.”
“Many have lost entire families; some can no longer operate cameras or speak clearly due to exhaustion and hunger,” it noted.
“Our goal is not to replace or diminish their efforts, but to stand alongside them, to complement their work and help ensure the world receives a fuller, independent account,” the petition added.
‘Playbook of Authoritarianism’
It further warned that if the press blackout continues, “it sets a dangerous precedent: that governments and military actors, through censorship, obstruction, and force, can shut down access to truth in times of war.”
“This is the very playbook of authoritarianism: control the narrative, silence independent voices, and sever the link between reality and public understanding,” the petition stressed. “To defend press access in Gaza is to defend the democratic ideal that truth is not the property of the powerful. If we fail to act, we signal that truth can be managed, that facts can be withheld when inconvenient.”
‘Defend Right to Report’
They further stated that “This is not activism; it is journalism, and it is urgent. The choice before us is simple: defend the right to report, or allow its erosion, one sealed border at a time.”
Leading journalists have signed the ‘Freedom to Report’ petition, including Pulitzer-prize winning journalists Chris Hedges, Zeteo founder Mehdi Hasan, documentary film maker Louis Theroux as well as organisations such as Reporters Without Borders.
The signatories represent countries across the world, including the US, UK, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Türkiye, Norway, Brazil, and South Africa.
Over 60,000 Killed
Since Israel’s reneging on the ceasefire on March 18, it has killed and wounded thousands of Palestinians throughout the Gaza Strip through a bloody and ongoing aerial bombardment.
On October 7, 2023, following a Palestinian Resistance operation in southern Israel, the Israeli military launched a genocidal war against the Palestinians, killing over 60,000, wounding more than 147,000, with over 14,000 still missing.
Despite habitual condemnation by many countries around the world of the Israeli genocide, little has been done to hold Israel accountable.
Israel is currently under investigation for the crime of genocide by the International Court of Justice, while accused war criminals — including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — are now officially wanted by the International Criminal Court.
The Israeli genocide has been largely defended, supported, and financed by Washington and a few other Western powers.
