Foreign journalists express deep disappointment as Israel’s top court again postpones a ruling on free press access to Gaza, citing secret security arguments.
JERUSALEM: The Foreign Press Association has expressed deep disappointment after Israel’s Supreme Court again postponed a ruling on a petition for free press access to Gaza.
The court said it would provide an update by March 31 following a hearing on Monday.
The FPA criticised the court for appearing to be swayed by the state’s classified security arguments, which were presented behind closed doors without its attorneys present.
“This secretive process offers no opportunity for us to rebut these arguments,” the association stated.
It argued this clears the way for the continued arbitrary closure of Gaza to foreign journalists.
The FPA said no security arguments justify Israel’s blanket ban on media access, especially when humanitarian aid workers are allowed in.
Israel has barred foreign journalists from independently entering Gaza since the war began in October 2023.
It only permits a limited number of reporters on a case-by-case basis embedded with its military.
The government previously argued that allowing journalists posed security risks while troops searched for hostages.
The remains of the last Israeli captive have now been returned, which the FPA said opens the way for independent access.
“The FPA urges the court to reconsider its decision and stresses the urgency of free, independent access to Gaza,” it said.
The war began after Palestinian militants took 251 people hostage and killed 1,221 others in an attack on Israel.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 71,662 Palestinians in Gaza, according to health ministry figures.
Media restrictions have prevented outlets like AFP from independently verifying casualty figures or freely covering the violence.
