Gaza: ARTICLE 19 joins condemnation of Israel’s Media and

Gaza: ARTICLE 19 joins condemnation of Israel’s Media andInformation Blackout in GazaARTICLE 19 joins the mounting condemnation by global media organisations ofthe Israeli authorities’ decision to ban foreign journalists from entering Gazaand reporting on the worsening humanitarian crisis there.On 4 November 2008 the Israeli authorities extended their blockade of Gaza toprevent food, fuel and essential supplies from entering the territory. The blockadeeven extends to UN aid provisions. Furthermore, on 6 November the authoritiesimposed a news blackout by preventing international media from accessing Gaza.“This situation is absolutely intolerable. International media must be permitted toreport on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The people of Gaza have a right to be heardglobally. Journalists must be able to report from Gaza and add their voice to themounting campaign against the blockade of aid convoys, health supplies, food andfuel. The world needs know what is happening inside Gaza,” commented Dr AgnèsCallamard, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19.She continued, “We condemn the media blockade in Gaza and urge the Israeliauthorities to immediately lift this. We also condemn the food and fuel blockade,which is in flagrant violation of Israel’s obligations as an Occupying Power, underArticle 55 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.”In a letter addressed to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, sent on 21 November2008, leading global media executives, including Associated Press President TomCurley; Reuters Editor-in-Chief David Schlesinger; ABC News President DavidWestin; and BBC News Director Helen Boaden, expressed their grave concern “aboutthe prolonged and unprecedented denial of access to the Gaza Strip for theinternational media”. Yesterday the Foreign Press Association in Israel submitted apetition against the ban to the Israeli Supreme Court arguing, “The media banconstitutes a grave and mortal blow against freedom of the press and other basic rightsand gives the unpleasant feeling that the state of Israel has something to hide.”The Foreign Press Association highlighted the serious implications of an internationalmedia ban emphasising that, “The international media serve as the world's windowinto Gaza providing vital coverage of all aspects of Gazan life to news consumersaround the world.”Israel’s blockade on Gaza has severe humanitarian consequences for over 1.5 millionPalestinians living in the Gaza strip. These repercussions include the crippling