For more than two years, Israel has maintained an absolute blockade on foreign press access to Gaza—the longest and most complete media ban of any modern conflict. Even after a so-called “ceasefire” was announced on October 10, Israel continues to ban foreign journalists. This isn’t about security—it’s about silence.
Since October 7, 2023, not a single foreign journalist has been granted independent access to Gaza. The only exceptions are rare, heavily escorted military tours where the Israeli army controls what reporters see, reviews all footage before broadcast, and censors the narrative. Meanwhile, at least 239 journalists and media workers have been killed, making this the deadliest period for press freedom ever recorded.
Palestinian journalists have borne the impossible burden of documenting this genocide while fighting for their own survival. They are displaced, starving, and hunted. Israel has systematically targeted them—in cafes, hospitals, and even press tents. The goal is obvious: eliminate witnesses.
The absence of foreign journalists is not a coincidence—it is strategy. When a government blocks the press, it’s because it has something to hide. Israel is trying to cover up one of the largest crime scenes of our time.
What Must Be Done:
Congress must demand that the Israeli government:
1️⃣ Grant immediate, independent access to Gaza for all foreign journalists without military escorts, censorship, or movement restrictions.
2️⃣ End the deliberate targeting and killing of journalists, and allow humanitarian organizations to protect and support press workers.
A free press is not a privilege—it is the foundation of democracy and accountability. The international community has a right to know what is happening in Gaza. We deserve independent documentation, not sanitized military footage.
Major news organizations—Associated Press, Reuters, BBC, CNN, The New York Times, The Guardian, and over 250 others—have all demanded access. The Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, and press-freedom groups worldwide have condemned Israel’s media blockade as an attack on press freedom itself.
Israel cannot claim to be a democracy while silencing those who document its actions. And the United States cannot claim to defend democratic values while funding and shielding a government that kills journalists and hides its crimes from the world.
I urge you to take immediate action to pressure Israel to lift its media blockade and to condition all U.S. aid on full compliance with international law—including the right of journalists to report freely.
First sent on November 11 by BlueCollarJew
