GAZA, August 4, 2025 (WAFA) – Over 200 international journalists signed on Monday a petition demanding immediate and unhindered foreign press access to the war-battered Gaza Strip.
The signatories to the petition included journalists from countries across the world such as US, UK, France, Brazil, Belgium, Norway, Spain, South Africa, Portugal, and Türkiye. Among them are Christiane Amanpour, Lindsey Hilsum, Mehdi Hassan, and war photographer Don McCullin, and the Association of European Journalists, Committee to Protect Journalists, and Reporters Without Borders.
“Nearly 200 journalists, overwhelmingly Palestinian, have been killed while reporting from Gaza. Meanwhile, 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,” the petition read.
The signatories acknowledged the “extraordinary” work of Palestinian journalists inside Gaza. “Despite unimaginable danger, loss, and now starvation, they 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. 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,” they said.
They cautioned that “If this 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.”
They warned that if the press blackout continues, access to truth can be shut down in times of war, underlining "silence is already taking root."
According to documented data, Israeli occupation forces have killed more than 230 Palestinian journalists since the onset of the genocidal aggression, including some targeted with their families, and destroyed dozens of press offices. Meanwhile, the occupation authorities continue to deny foreign journalists access to Gaza.
A.D./ K.F.
