TEL AVIV, Dec 9 (Bernama-dpa) — International journalists are still being prevented from travelling independently to the Gaza Strip to assess the situation there, despite the ceasefire, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
The Supreme Court in Jerusalem held another hearing on Tuesday regarding a petition by the Foreign Press Association (FPA) seeking access for journalists to the sealed-off coastal strip.
The court again granted the Israeli government a postponement before it needs to make its submissions.
The FPA says this is the ninth postponement since the petition was filed in September last year. The government has been given until December 21 to submit its position in writing.
In a statement, the FPA described the situation as “beyond absurd”.
“We are dismayed that the government keeps stalling, and deeply disappointed that the court continues to allow this,” the statement added.
“These repeated delays have robbed the world of a fuller glimpse of conditions in Gaza and made a mockery of the entire legal process,” the FPA said. However, the association says it remains determined to fight for the right of a global audience to information.
Access to the Gaza Strip is completely controlled by Israel. Since the start of the Gaza war more than two years ago, foreign journalists have only been able to visit the Gaza Strip on rare occasions with the Israeli army. They were only ever allowed to see very specific parts of the territory.
A fragile ceasefire has been in place since October 10.
In August, US President Donald Trump called on Israel to grant reporters access to the Gaza Strip.
— BERNAMA-dpa