A coalition of 11 press outlets sent a letter, this Monday (13), to authorities in Israel and Egypt asking the governments to grant access to international correspondents to enter the Gaza Strip to cover the ongoing war.
“As the current crisis enters its sixth week, the need for more journalists to document events on the ground is greater than ever – especially when so much information is being shared informally via social media,” the letter states.
The letter was addressed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdul Fatah Khalil Al-Sisi.
Signed the document CNN BBC News, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, CBS News, ABC News, ITV News and Sky News.
The outlets further noted in the letter that “although we have been able to see images and read reports from inside Gaza, the only reliable reporting comes from a small number of incredibly courageous journalists who are working to document the events there.”
“We understand the risks that reporting on the ground in times of conflict entails, but we also know that factual and impartial information is vital to enabling the world to understand this crisis,” the letter states.
“As professional news organizations with decades of experience, we have the security infrastructure and planning to manage these risks,” he added.
The lack of direct access to the Gaza Strip has posed significant challenges to news organizations trying to cover Israel’s offensive against Hamas.
Since the start of the war, Western outlets have worked on extensive coverage of the war based in Israel, but it has been impractical to send teams into the Gaza Strip independently.
Instead, newsrooms have largely relied on freelancers and producers to deliver news from the war-torn locale.
In recent weeks, some journalists, including those from CNN had the opportunity to accompany the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as they carry out missions inside Palestinian territory.
However, these journalists had to agree to several conditions, including remaining with the IDF during their brief stay in Gaza.
See: CNN enters the Gaza Strip and shows the advance of Israeli troops
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
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