Women Press Freedom supports this call; journalists must be allowed to report freely and safely from the frontlines

Location: Palestine, Gaza

Date: February 28, 2024

Women Press Freedom stands in firm support of the over 50 journalists who have courageously called for unrestricted access for the foreign press to Gaza. The ability of journalists to report freely and safely from conflict zones is a cornerstone of press freedom and democracy. The collective effort by journalists, including prominent women correspondents and presenters like Alex Crawford, Lyse Doucet, Mishal Husain, and Clarissa Ward, highlights the pressing need for unimpeded entry for foreign media personnel into Gaza amidst growing concerns over limited press coverage in the region. We commend this action and reiterate their request to the authorities of Israel and Egypt to allow foreign press unfettered access to Gaza so they can report freely.

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In an open letter, addressed to the governments of Israel and Egypt, over 50 British and American journalists expressed the necessity of on-the-ground reporting for foreign media in Gaza to provide accurate and comprehensive coverage of the conflict. The journalists are urging the Israeli government to openly declare permission for the international press to operate in Gaza and implore Egyptian authorities to facilitate foreign press access through the Rafah crossing.

The letter describes the challenges faced by foreign journalists, who are currently subjected to limited and tightly controlled access, primarily through escorted trips with the Israeli military. These press trips organized by the Israeli military often confine reporters to specific locations, presenting a restricted perspective of the conflict.

Just one foreign journalist was permitted entry into Gaza via Egypt for a supervised visit. CNN's Clarissa Ward, one of the signatories of the letter, managed to spend merely a few hours in the southern border city of Rafah alongside an Emirati medical team in December 2023.

The Foreign Press Association (FPA) in Jerusalem has criticized Israel's restrictions on independent foreign press access. The FPA's petition to lift these restrictions was rejected by the Israeli High Court of Justice, citing security concerns and jurisdictional issues.

The journalists' plea extends beyond a demand for access; it calls for the acknowledgment of the inherent risks faced by those reporting from conflict zones. Despite the efforts of Palestinian journalists and media workers to document the situation from within Gaza, the risks they face are grave, with over 90 having been killed, including 18 women journalists, since the conflict escalated on October 7, 2023.

The restrictions on foreign journalists entering Gaza not only skews coverage but also gives Israel's perspective greater prominence in the media narrative. While international correspondents were permitted to visit the scenes of Hamas’ deadly massacre in southern Israel days after the attack, none were allowed to investigate sites of Israeli missile assaults inside Gaza. This limits the ability of media outlets to provide a balanced and comprehensive view of the conflict, violating the principles of freedom of the press and the right to information.

In response to the journalists' appeal, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of journalists by accompanying them in conflict zones.

The call for unrestricted media access to Gaza echoes the fundamental principles of press freedom and journalistic integrity. The courageous efforts of local journalists in Gaza, who are at the forefront of documenting this conflict, cannot be overstated. However, they are facing huge risks in deadly conditions and must be allowed the support of their foreign colleagues to document what is happening inside Gaza. The Israeli and Egyptian authorities must heed their call and ensure that journalists have the freedom to report without fear or hindrance, thereby fostering transparency and accountability amidst the chaos of conflict.

Ahmeti notes that as journalists, they frequently encounter challenges in the field, but this incident marked a first for her. She expresses concerns about the proliferation of hostility towards journalists, evident in social media discourse and public rhetoric in Kosovo. “What I have noticed recently is that the language of hatred towards journalists has spread a lot in social networks and in public,” says Ahmeti. “Different people are calling for us to be killed, beaten, or threatened. I think this violates democracy, our freedom, and correct reporting.”

Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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