The United Kingdom supports the joint call for Israel to allow foreign media in Gaza

The United Kingdom is among 27 countries supporting a statement calling on Israel to allow immediate independent access to foreign media to Gaza.

France, Germany, Australia and Japan have also signed The text published by the Media Freedom Coalition – An intergovernmental group that advocates the rights and protection of journalists globally.

The statement also condemned the attacks on journalists, saying that those working in Gaza should be protected.

International journalists are banned from Israel from entering the Gaza Strip despite the beginning of the war nearly two years ago. Some journalists have been taken in Gaza from IDF under controlled access.

At least 192 journalists and media workers, the greater part of them Palestinian, have been killed since then in the most consumer conflict for journalists ever documented, according to the Commission for Protection of Journalists (CPJ).

The statement on Thursday, the first of its kind, which is made jointly by the parties, says their call is in the light of the “unfolding humanitarian disaster”, adding that they “oppose all attempts to restrict print freedom and block the entry of journalists.”

It states that “deliberate targeting of journalists” is unacceptable, urging all attacks to be investigated and followed by prosecution.

The last such attack happened earlier this month when Four Al Jazeera journalists, including prominent reporter Anas Al-Sharif, were killed in targeted Israeli blow Near the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza.

Sharif and another correspondent, Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with operators Ibrahim Sacher and Mohammed Nufal, were in a tent for journalists at the hospital’s main gate when he was struck, the television operator said at that time.

Two other freelance journalists were killed – Moama Aliva and Mohammed Al -Haldi.

The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has confirmed that he has headed for Sharif, claiming he “served as the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas.”

However, CPJ said Israel failed to provide evidence to support its allegations. Al Jazeera also denied Israeli’s claims.

As there were no international journalists authorized in Gaza, local reporters continued throughout the war to ensure that they would directly reflect on social media and work for Palestinian or international media organizations.

Israel’s Supreme Court last year ruled that Entry restrictions were justified on security groundsS The Association of the Foreign Press, which represents journalists operating in Israel, petitions to the court to annul the ban, argument that “unprecedented restrictions” have “prevented independent reporting.”

For journalists who are still in Gaza, the situation is terrible. In addition to Israeli air strikes, many face the threat of hunger.

Last month BBC and three news agencies – Reuters, AP and AFP – issued A A joint statement expressing “desperate concern” for journalists on the territoryThey say they are increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families.

More than 100 international help organizations and human rights have warned of mass fasting in Gaza.

Israel, who controls the entry of Gaza assistance supplies, has accused charity organizations of Hamas Propaganda Service. But his own government data show the amount of food that is allowed in the territory between March and July is well below what the World Food Program (WFP) says it is necessary for even basic help needs.

There are more fears for the Palestinians after the Israeli military began the first stages of a planned offensive in Gaza.

The Israeli government has announced its intention to conquer the entire Gaza band after the indirect conversations with Hamas to end the fire and the hostage release deal broke up last month.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to an attack led by Hamas against southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and 251 others were hostage.

Since then, at least 62 122 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the territory. The ministry’s numbers are cited by the UN and others as the most reliable source of statistics available to the victims.