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February 15, 2026 – Italy –
Israeli authorities barred entry to Italian journalist Lorenzo Tondo, a veteran reporter for The Guardian, at Ben-Gurion Airport on February 11-12, 2026, after he arrived to cover developments related to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Israeli officials denied him a visa on the spot, citing what they described as his “one-sided and hostile” reporting on Israel’s military operations and policies. The decision was formally communicated by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which stated that Tondo’s previous articles reflected bias and did not meet the country’s standards for balanced journalism. Authorities did not list specific pieces but framed the refusal as a sovereign security and immigration decision.
Tondo has an extensive track record reporting from conflict zones and covering Israeli military operations, the occupation, and Palestinian life under siege. He has authored numerous articles critical of the impact of Israeli policies on Palestinian civilians, which Israeli officials viewed as antagonistic. The entry ban was upheld despite Tondo holding a press accreditation letter and prior visas for reporting in the region.
Media rights groups and press freedom advocates condemned the decision as an attack on independent journalism and a restriction on press freedom. Organizations such as Reporters Without Borders and international correspondents’ associations expressed concern that barring a prominent journalist because of perceived editorial stance sets a dangerous precedent for journalists covering the conflict. They warned it could chill critical reporting and discourage foreign journalists from seeking to cover Israel and the occupied territories.
Critics also noted that the ban occurred against a backdrop of heightened tensions over media freedom in the Israel-Palestine context, where journalists have frequently reported on harassment, detentions, and operational challenges. Some commentators highlighted that denying entry based on a journalistic perspective undermines transparency at a time when independent reporting on ground realities is crucial.
References:
https://thecradle.co/articles/israel-bans-entry-of-italian-journalist-over-critical-reporting
https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-denies-entry-italian-journalist-over-critical-coverage
