Growing American Pressure on Israel to Allow Media Access to Gaza

Seventeen members of the U.S. Senate, including 16 Democrats and independent Senator Bernie Sanders, issued an urgent call to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging Israel to stop the "ban on media organizations and censorship" and allow international press access to the Gaza Strip, amid rising international criticism of targeting journalists.

This move came on Wednesday, just days after a similar call made by President Donald Trump, indicating a growing shared concern about press freedom in the ongoing conflict.

In their statement, the lawmakers clarified that "this is unacceptable and must stop," emphasizing the need for "the United States to make it clear to Israel that the ban on media organizations, censorship, and targeting or threatening members of the press is unacceptable and must cease."

In their message to the Secretary of State, the members urged the U.S. administration, saying: "We urge the State Department to demand that the Israeli government protect journalists in Gaza and allow international media access to the region," which is suffering from massive destruction due to the ongoing war.

Congress members explicitly referenced the Israeli airstrike that resulted in the deaths of 6 journalists four days ago, expressing their condemnation of what may constitute "a violation of international law." They commented on the incident, stating: "It appears that Israel has publicly acknowledged that it targets and kills journalists who reveal to the world the extent of suffering in Gaza."

The message also underscored the fundamental principle, affirming that "promoting press freedom worldwide, ensuring the safety of journalists, and advancing international law are essential for the United States' leadership position and to promote its interests and values."

President Trump commented on the issue last week, saying: "It would be very good for me if journalists went to the Gaza Strip," acknowledging the dangers they face: "This is very dangerous for journalists, but I hope it happens."

In a related development, reports on Wednesday evening indicated that a U.S. State Department official, Shah Qureshi, was dismissed from his position for suggesting that Washington express condolences to the families of the slain journalists in Gaza.

In this context, the organization "Reporters Without Borders" noted in early July that more than 200 local journalists have been killed in the region since October 2023. Due to the blockade imposed on Gaza, the vast majority of global media outlets rely on reports, texts, and footage produced by local Palestinian journalists to cover the developments of the conflict.