Israel maintains Gaza journalist ban, claims to examine policy amid accusations of hiding atrocities

The Israeli government plans to reexamine a policy barring journalists from entering war-torn Gaza, local media has reported.

In a response sent to Israel’s Supreme Court, the government said on Sunday that it would reexamine its policy regarding the entry of journalists into Gaza within a month and submit an update on the matter by November 23, Haaretz newspaper said.

The move follows petitions filed with the court against a government ban on the entry of journalists into the Palestinian territory.

The government’s response to the court shows that journalists would continue to be banned from entering Gaza except inside the so-called “yellow line” until the policy is updated.

The “yellow line” is an imaginary line separating areas currently occupied by the Israeli army in Gaza from those where it had pulled out.

Last Thursday, the Foreign Press Association in Israel expressed disappointment over a Supreme Court ruling that allowed the government to continue preventing journalists from entering Gaza.

Efforts to hide atrocities in Gaza

At least 238 Palestinian journalists have been killed and dozens injured in Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 2023.

Palestinian and international human rights and media organisations warn that the Israeli ban on the entry of journalists and attacks on reporters aim to hide atrocities taking place inside Gaza.

Israel has killed more than 68,000 people and injured over 170,000 others in two years of attacks in Gaza since October 2023.

The first phase of a ceasefire agreement took effect in Gaza on October 10 under US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan.

Phase one includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The plan also envisages the rebuilding of Gaza and the establishment of a new governing mechanism without Hamas.