After consecutive delays on Gaza access, the Israeli Supreme Court has set January 4 as the deadline for Israel to respond to a petition submitted by the Foreign Press Association (FPA) in Jerusalem demanding media access to Gaza, according to AFP.
The association welcomed the Israeli decision, urging Israel to immediately grant journalists free and unlimited access to the Palestinian enclave after two years of war that has devasted the Palestinian territory.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza War in October 2023, Israel has barred foreign journalists from entering the Palestinian enclave, with a limited access for only a few reporters under strict military supervision during escorted visits with Israeli forces.
In 2024, FPA filed a petition to the Supreme Court, requesting immediate access for international journalists to Gaza.
The court held a first hearing on the case on October 23 and decided to grant Israeli authorities one month to prepare a plan for granting access.
The court gave the state, on November 24, an additional 10 days to respond to the appeal. However, the court then extended the deadline again to December 21.
In October, the association accused the Israeli government of repeatedly delaying the entry of foreign journalists into Gaza. Thus, it has prevented them from fulfilling their journalistic responsibilities and “hindering the public’s right to information.”
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