Gaza – SABA:
More than two hundred journalists from around the world signed a petition addressed to the Zionist entity’s authorities on Monday, demanding immediate permission for foreign journalists to enter the Gaza Strip and freely and independently cover the ongoing war.
In the document published today, the journalists stressed that "Israel" continues to impose strict restrictions, barring international media from entering the Strip since the start of its aggression on October 7, 2023. They described these policies as "systematic media blackout" that undermines press freedom during conflicts.
The petition stated: "This blackout is not just a humanitarian blockade, but a suppression of truth and information, weakening the global public’s right to know and eroding journalism’s democratic role in holding power accountable."
The signatories praised the "exceptional" efforts of Palestinian journalists inside Gaza, who continue to work under ongoing war conditions, direct threats, starvation, and exhaustion.
They noted that these journalists document events on the ground with "courage and professionalism," despite many having lost family members and sometimes being unable to work due to hunger or injuries.
The document warned that the continued media blackout sets a dangerous precedent, reinforcing an authoritarian approach to controlling the narrative, silencing independent voices, and severing the vital link between reality and public understanding.
According to verified data, Zionist enemy forces have killed more than 230 Palestinian journalists since the start of the aggression—some deliberately targeted with their families—while dozens of press offices have been destroyed. The Zionist authorities continue to block foreign journalists from entering Gaza.
The journalists concluded their petition by emphasizing that defending press freedom in Gaza is defending the right to truth everywhere. They warned that international silence in the face of this media siege could pave the way for further violations against journalism worldwide.
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