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The Israeli Supreme Court has rejected a petition filed by international media organizations seeking permission for their journalists to enter Gaza, citing security reasons. The decision has been met with disappointment by the Foreign Press Association in Jerusalem.
The court deemed security conditions in the region as justification for the imposed restrictions, stating that the independent entry of journalists could potentially "endanger" Israeli soldiers engaged in combat with Palestinian resistance groups, notably the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.
In a ruling delivered on Monday, the court asserted that allowing journalists into Gaza might lead to the revelation of operational details, including the positions of forces, in a way that could "pose a real risk" to them.
However, the Foreign Press Association in Jerusalem, which represents dozens of international media organizations in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, has expressed its "disappointment" with the verdict.
The association released a statement on Tuesday highlighting the unprecedented nature of Israel's ban on the entry of independent foreign press to Gaza, which has now lasted for a continuous 95 days.
In its decision, the court claimed to be striving for a balance between the safety of journalists and soldiers, and the "freedom of the press."
The court emphasized that both foreign and Israeli journalists are permitted limited access to Gaza under the escort of the Israeli military. However, the association pointed out that only a select few foreign media outlets receive such military escort, which is subject to stringent censorship.
The association questioned Israel's concerns regarding the reporting of troop locations, noting that Palestinian journalists continue to operate in Gaza. It stressed the necessity for foreign press to have access to areas in Gaza not occupied by Israeli forces.
Since the outbreak of Israeli aggression on Gaza three months ago, dozens of media personnel have been killed, with the majority being Palestinians, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists based in New York.
On Sunday, Al Jazeera announced the martyrdom of two of its journalists operating in the Gaza Strip in an Israeli air raid on their vehicle, prompting the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Monday to express "great concern" over the toll.
The Israeli bombardment of the enclave, along with a ground attack starting from October 27, has resulted in over 23,000 deaths and approximately 60,000 injuries, with the majority being women and children, according to the latest toll from the Gaza Health Ministry.
