International journalists have renewed criticism of Israel’s continued refusal to allow foreign media to enter Gaza, a territory shattered by more than two years of genocidal war. Press representatives say the ban has outlived any credible justification and now functions as a deliberate blackout, preventing the world from witnessing conditions on the ground as entire neighbourhoods lie in ruins and civilians struggle to survive amid devastation.

The journalists’ association representing foreign correspondents working in the occupied Palestinian territories said the decision to keep Gaza closed to independent reporting was indefensible, particularly after repeated announcements of pauses and truces. Instead of enabling journalists to work independently alongside local reporters, the authorities have persisted in enforcing a blanket prohibition, arguing before the courts that unescorted access would pose security risks. Officials have also claimed that allowing foreign media in could interfere with ongoing efforts related to Israeli prisoners, an argument widely dismissed by press freedom advocates.

The legal dispute stems from a petition filed in 2024 demanding immediate and unrestricted access for international journalists. Despite multiple extensions granted by the Supreme Court for the authorities to submit a workable plan, no meaningful progress has been made. Critics argue that the prolonged delays point to a lack of political will rather than practical obstacles, especially as the ban remains in place even during declared ceasefire periods.

Press freedom organisations warn that this isolation has had deadly consequences. With foreign journalists barred, coverage of the genocidal war has depended almost entirely on Palestinian reporters working under constant threat. Many have been killed while carrying out their duties, while others have seen their homes destroyed and their families wiped out. Rights groups report that journalists’ residences and known media gathering points have been repeatedly struck, forcing surviving reporters to document the annihilation of their own communities.

The scale of the losses among Palestinian journalists is described as unprecedented in modern journalism. Beyond those killed, hundreds have been injured, detained or had close family members murdered. Observers say the combination of a total media ban and the systematic targeting of local reporters has created one of the most hostile environments for journalism anywhere in the world, effectively silencing first-hand testimony from Gaza.

These developments come as ceasefire violations continue to be reported almost daily. Hundreds of people have been killed since the truce was announced, adding to a death toll that now exceeds seventy thousand, with well over one hundred and seventy thousand wounded since the start of the genocidal war. For press advocates, the ongoing exclusion of international media is not a side issue but a central part of a broader effort to conceal the full human cost of what is unfolding in Gaza.