Foreign media access to Gaza or face revolt is what Representative James P. McGovern leads 64 lawmakers in a powerful letter to US president, arguing the Israeli curbs on foreign reporting undermine “the very foundation of press freedom and democratic accountability.”
“The restrictions on media reporting have created significant challenges in obtaining accurate, verifiable information from the genocide in Gaza, leading to increased scepticism about the limited reports that do emerge,” the members wrote in a powerful letter.
Foreign media access to Gaza or face revolt
Foreign media remains largely barred from the blockaded area, with only a handful of controlled trips allowed by the Israeli military.
“At a time when reliable information is more critical than ever, the restrictions on foreign reporting undermine the very foundation of press freedom and democratic accountability,” they added.
With Israel preventing foreign media access to Gaza and its genocidal war being reported only by local Palestinian journalists — often at the risk of being killed or maimed by invading Israeli military — calls are growing for US President Joe Biden to pressurise Tel Aviv into allowing foreign journalists to the besieged Palestinian enclave.
The action follows a demand for justice from over 70 media and civil society organisations that signed an open letter in July, urging Israel to grant journalists access to Gaza. Israel rejected those calls.
House of Representatives is a powerful legislative branch of the US government with the power to provide oversight of the executive branch.