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FPA Says Israel Has No Security Reason to Block Journalists from Gaza
(MENAFN) The Foreign Press Association (FPA) on Wednesday stated that there are no “security justifications” for Israel’s ongoing ban on foreign journalists entering the Gaza Strip, following another postponement by Israel’s Supreme Court on a petition seeking access.
The FPA petition demands that Israel allow international reporters to enter Gaza, home to roughly 2.4 million Palestinians living under severe humanitarian conditions. The court has repeatedly deferred a decision, most recently earlier this week.
“The Foreign Press Association is deeply disappointed that the Israeli Supreme Court has once again postponed ruling on our petition for free, independent press access to Gaza,” the group said in a statement.
The association expressed concern that the court “appears to have been swayed by the state's classified security arguments, which were presented behind closed doors and without the presence of the FPA's attorneys.”
“This secretive process offers no opportunity for us to rebut these arguments and clears the way for the continued arbitrary and open-ended closure of Gaza to foreign journalists,” it added.
“As our lawyers made clear before the court, there are no security justifications for Israel’s blanket ban on foreign journalists and the denial of free access to Gaza,” the FPA emphasized, noting that humanitarian workers and other officials are still permitted to enter.
The group concluded by asserting that “the public's right to know should not be reduced to an afterthought,” urging the court “to reconsider its decision.”
The FPA petition demands that Israel allow international reporters to enter Gaza, home to roughly 2.4 million Palestinians living under severe humanitarian conditions. The court has repeatedly deferred a decision, most recently earlier this week.
“The Foreign Press Association is deeply disappointed that the Israeli Supreme Court has once again postponed ruling on our petition for free, independent press access to Gaza,” the group said in a statement.
The association expressed concern that the court “appears to have been swayed by the state's classified security arguments, which were presented behind closed doors and without the presence of the FPA's attorneys.”
“This secretive process offers no opportunity for us to rebut these arguments and clears the way for the continued arbitrary and open-ended closure of Gaza to foreign journalists,” it added.
“As our lawyers made clear before the court, there are no security justifications for Israel’s blanket ban on foreign journalists and the denial of free access to Gaza,” the FPA emphasized, noting that humanitarian workers and other officials are still permitted to enter.
The group concluded by asserting that “the public's right to know should not be reduced to an afterthought,” urging the court “to reconsider its decision.”
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