The Society of Editors has added its voice to a chorus of international press freedom organisations and news platforms calling on Israel to urgently grant the freedom of movement of journalists in and out of Gaza as many face the real threat of starvation.
The Society’s statement comes as some of the world’s biggest news organisations including AFP, the Associated Press, BBC and Reuters joined forces earlier this week to highlight the desperate plight of local journalists reporting from Gaza who they said are “increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families” and face the threat of mass starvation.
Calling on the Israeli government to immediately respect the freedom of movement of journalists in and out of Gaza, the Society’s Chief Executive Dawn Alford said that it was essential that local journalists are allowed to leave, if they wish, and that press freedom continues to be gravely undermined by the inability of the international media to be granted access to Gaza.
She said: “The Society of Editors is deeply concerned by the catastrophic situation that is facing local journalists in Gaza. For many months, they have continued to report at immense personal risk in order to document for the international community what is happening in Gaza. They are now working under acute humanitarian conditions with many starving, without access to clean water, medical supplies or safe shelter.
“We call on the Israeli government to urgently respect the freedom of movement of journalists within Gaza. Local journalists must be allowed to leave, if they wish, and the international media must be allowed free access in order to bear witness and offer respite to local reporters who bravely continue to carry out their role amid devastating conditions.
“Journalism is not a threat, it is a fundamental pillar of democracy and accountability, particularly in times of conflict. Blocking access serves only to suppress transparency and undermine public understanding. The international community must do more to protect journalists and ensure that the conditions for a free press are upheld.”
