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October 16, 2025 – Palestine –
The CPJ has formally filed an amicus brief alongside the Foreign Press Association in Israel’s Supreme Court, challenging the Israeli government’s ongoing prohibition of independent international media access into the Gaza Strip.
According to CPJ, Israeli authorities have denied independent press access to Gaza since October 7, 2023, spanning a continuous 741-day ban despite the recent ceasefire. The organization argues that this blanket exclusion contradicts Israel’s obligations under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which safeguards freedom of expression and the press.
CPJ asserts that Israel’s approach—limited to short-duration, military-escorted visits for select international journalists—falls far short of internationally accepted standards for press access in war zones. These escorted trips offer no real independence and are tightly controlled by military planning.
The NGO’s filing points out that Israel’s handling of media access during the Gaza conflict has surpassed even that of authoritarian states; from targeted killings of Palestinian journalists to the shutting down of outlets, the current regime is depicted as one that “seeks to control the narrative.”
CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg commented, “With a ceasefire now in place, Israel cannot be allowed to normalize this unlawful behavior.” Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for October 23, 2025, following the October 5 filing of the brief.
This legal challenge represents an important juncture for press freedom: it directly questions the legitimacy of sweeping exclusions and underscores the necessity of independent reporting from conflict zones. Should the court rule in favor of CPJ and the Foreign Press Association, it could compel changes to Israel’s media access regime in Gaza and set a precedent for other conflict contexts.
Reference –
CPJ challenges Israel’s ban on international media access to Gaza in Israeli Supreme Court
