Israel urges Supreme Court to keep Gaza media ban, citing security risks
Israeli authorities have asked the country’s Supreme Court to keep a ban on independent international media access to Gaza in place, arguing that unescorted reporting would pose unacceptable security risks, according to a government submission filed by the public prosecutor and obtained by AFP.
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The prohibition has stood since the war in Gaza erupted in October 2023. In that time, Israel has permitted only a limited number of foreign reporters to enter the territory, and only while embedded with its military inside the blockaded strip.
The Foreign Press Association (FPA), which represents hundreds of foreign journalists working in Israel and the Palestinian territories, petitioned the Supreme Court in 2024 to allow immediate and unrestricted access for international media to Gaza. The government filed its response with the court yesterday.
“Even at this time, entry of journalists into the Gaza Strip without escort, as requested in the petition, should not be permitted,” the submission said. “This is for security reasons, based on the position of the defence establishment, which maintains that a security risk associated with such entry still exists.”
The authorities told the court the situation remains volatile, referring to what it called a ceasefire in Gaza that it said took effect on Oct. 10 and continues to face regular threats. Since that ceasefire took effect, at least 420 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces, according to the Gaza health ministry. The Israeli military said three of its soldiers have been killed by militants during the same period.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 71,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry. The scale of civilian harm has fueled international accusations of genocide and war crimes, allegations that Israel denies.
In its filing, the government also pointed to ongoing efforts to recover the remains of the last hostage believed held in Gaza, saying that opening the territory to independent reporters at this stage could hamper that operation. The remains of Ran Gvili — whose body was taken to Gaza after he was killed during the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023 — have not been recovered, the filing said. According to the authorities, all other 250 hostages seized that day, both living and dead, have been returned to Israel.
The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling, though it is unclear when a decision will be handed down. The case tests the balance between press freedom and national security during a protracted conflict, and whether escorted visits with the Israel Defense Forces provide sufficient transparency for international audiences.
An AFP journalist sits on the board of the FPA.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
