Israel faces international criticism for restricting media access to Gaza

Israel is facing significant criticism from international media and human rights groups for its policies restricting journalists from entering and reporting from Gaza. The Israeli government has told its High Court that a ban on media access to Gaza should stay in place, and officials have stated that opening a border crossing will not guarantee entry for journalists. This has led to accusations from organizations like the Foreign Press Association that Israel is blocking essential war reporting.

In related developments, the Israeli government has accused the newspaper Haaretz of 'supporting the enemy in wartime' for its Gaza coverage, and a senior aide to Prime Minister Netanyahu was arrested for allegedly obstructing a probe related to Gaza war leaks. These actions are part of a broader pattern where critics of Israel's war conduct, from aid groups to media outlets, say space for legitimate criticism is shrinking.