U.S. lawmakers demand Israel open Gaza to foreign journalists

Over 60 U.S. lawmakers have urged President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to push Israel to allow unrestricted access for international journalists in Gaza, which Israel continues to block.

In a letter sent on October 21, 2024, led by Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA), the lawmakers voiced concern over the ongoing Israeli limitations on press access, calling them a significant barrier to transparency and democratic accountability.

“It is imperative that the United States urge Israel to allow independent access for U.S. and international journalists, in the interest of transparency, accountability, and the fundamental principle of press freedom,” the lawmakers wrote. McGovern and 64 of his colleagues emphasized that the restrictions have created “significant challenges in obtaining accurate, verifiable information from Gaza.”

The letter comes as Israel has largely barred foreign journalists from entering Gaza, allowing only a few controlled trips arranged by the Israeli military. This has left local journalists to bear the brunt of reporting from within the conflict zone.

At least 130 journalists have been killed by Israeli hostilities since the start of the war, according to the International Federation of Journalists, which noted that the mortality rate for media workers in Gaza is over 10%. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has declared Gaza the “most dangerous ever” war zone for reporters.

More than 70 media and civil society organizations, including major outlets like The Associated Press, BBC, and The New York Times, signed an open letter in July urging Israel to allow independent media access to Gaza. Despite these calls, international journalists continue to face significant barriers, and the information coming out of Gaza is increasingly questioned due to the restricted access.

“The restrictions on media reporting have created significant challenges in obtaining accurate, verifiable information from Gaza, leading to increased skepticism about the limited reports that do emerge,” the lawmakers’ letter stated. They warned that the lack of reliable information undermines “the very foundation of press freedom and democratic accountability.”

CPJ, alongside other organizations, has called on the Biden administration to press Israel to uphold press freedom and provide foreign journalists with immediate, independent access to Gaza.

In their statement reacting to the lawmakers' letter, CPJ highlighted the dire conditions faced by journalists in Gaza, noting that those who remain are working in extreme deprivation and face threats including intimidation, violence, and arrest by Israeli authorities.

“Many have lost their limbs, homes, or families,” CPJ said, describing how reporters are “working amidst persistent internet shutdowns and cyberattacks on the media.” CPJ warned that the destruction of media offices and equipment has severely hampered the ability to report from Gaza, creating a vacuum that allows propaganda and misinformation to flourish. “The result is that information from Gaza is becoming harder to obtain and the reporting that does get through is subject to questions over its veracity,” CPJ stated.

The letter was signed by several prominent lawmakers, including Representatives Cori Bush (D-MO), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), who have been vocal advocates for Palestinian rights. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD), who is Jewish and has often spoken out on human rights issues, also signed the letter.