GAZA, (The Palestine Foundation Pakistan)The Government Media Office (GMO) in Gaza has condemned Israel’s continued ban on foreign journalists entering the Gaza Strip, calling it an attempt to suppress the truth and cover up its crimes.
The statement also rejected the recent decision by Israel’s so-called Supreme Court, which granted the Israeli government additional time to respond to petitions demanding access for international media.
In its statement on Friday, the GMO said the decision reflects Israel’s ongoing efforts to evade accountability and reinforce a policy of total media blackout imposed since the beginning of its genocidal war on Gaza. “The aim is to bury the truth and conceal the atrocities committed against every aspect of life, people, trees, and stones,” the statement read.
The GMO noted that Israel’s ban on foreign journalists for the third year running constitutes a crime against freedom of expression and the public’s right to know. It described the measure as further evidence that Israel is far removed from any democratic values.
“This behavior is yet another indictment of the occupation, which proves daily that it fears the truth, seeks to silence journalists who witness it, and blind the eyes of the world’s media,” the GMO added.
The Office pointed out that despite Israel’s attempt to hide its crimes, the world has already seen the reality through the courageous work of Gaza’s journalists and local media outlets.
“These journalists fulfilled their professional and moral duty despite the enormous cost of the genocide, 255 journalists killed, 48 imprisoned, and dozens injured since October 2023,” the statement said.
The GMO described the ongoing ban as a “stain of shame” not only on Israel but also on international institutions that claim to defend press freedom and human rights yet have failed to take meaningful action.
It called on the International Federation of Journalists, human rights organizations, and the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to pressure Israel and its backers to end this repressive policy, saying it “disgraces their charters and moral commitments.”
The statement concluded by expressing confidence that allowing foreign journalists into Gaza would strengthen the authentic Palestinian narrative, expose Israel’s fabrications, and reinforce its global isolation. “The truth of our people’s suffering during two years of genocide cannot be silenced,” it affirmed.
