October 16 — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged the Israeli Supreme Court to overturn a long-standing ban on international media access to the Gaza Strip, arguing that the prohibition violates global standards of press freedom. The Chenab Times has learned that the CPJ filed an amicus curiae brief supporting the Foreign Press Association’s renewed petition demanding unrestricted access for foreign journalists to the besieged territory.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has denied independent media entry into Gaza — a restriction that has persisted through war and ceasefire alike. Despite a week-long truce now in effect, Israeli authorities have not indicated any intention to lift the ban. The Chenab Times notes that this marks the second such legal challenge before Israel’s top court, following a similar petition earlier this year during the 58-day ceasefire between January and March.
In its submission, CPJ contended that Israel’s sweeping restriction breaches its obligations under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression. “For two years, Israel has sought to control the narrative on Gaza with a range of measures that are unprecedented compared to any war in modern memory,” said CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg. “This includes targeted killings of Palestinian journalists, attacks on media facilities, the banning of news outlets, and the prohibition on independent media access.”
CPJ’s analysis described independent access as “the cornerstone of credible war reporting,” noting that journalists have been able to cover other major conflicts — from Iraq and Afghanistan to Ukraine — with far fewer restrictions. Its comparative review of media access policies concluded that Israel’s approach resembles those of authoritarian governments in Myanmar, West Papua, and Russia, where journalists face systematic exclusion from conflict zones.
Currently, the only access Israel grants involves short, military-supervised visits for select international reporters — itineraries strictly controlled by the Israel Defense Forces. CPJ argued that these escorted trips amount to censorship, denying reporters the ability to engage freely with Palestinians and failing to meet even the basic international standards for embedded journalism. The organization further emphasized that embedding, while useful, “can only supplement — never replace — independent access.”
According to CPJ’s research, at least 237 journalists and media workers have been killed by Israeli forces in the past two years, including 197 Palestinians in Gaza alone. The watchdog said this record underscores the urgent need for transparency and independent documentation of the conflict.
The amicus brief, filed on October 5, awaits the court’s response. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for October 23.
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