Four of the world’s biggest news organisations, Associated Press (AP), BBC News, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse (AFP) have jointly raised alarm over the deteriorating conditions of independent journalists in Gaza, warning that many are now at risk of starvation.
In a rare joint statement released Thursday morning, the media giants called on the Israeli government to immediately allow journalists unfettered access into Gaza and to ensure the delivery of sufficient food supplies to the besieged region.
“We are desperately concerned for our journalists in Gaza, who are increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families,” the statement read. “For many months, these independent journalists have been the world’s eyes and ears on the ground in Gaza. They are now facing the same dire circumstances as those they are covering.”
Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel, Tel Aviv has heavily restricted access to Gaza for foreign journalists. The Israeli government insists it is too dangerous to allow free press movement in the territory, only permitting embedded access alongside its military.
The war has since claimed thousands of lives and plunged Gaza deeper into a humanitarian crisis. Hamas is still believed to be holding about 50 hostages, though it’s unclear how many remain alive.
“Journalists endure many deprivations and hardships in warzones. We are deeply alarmed that the threat of starvation is now one of them,” the outlets noted in their joint letter, calling the situation unprecedented.
AFP separately stated earlier this week that while the organisation has lost journalists in wars since its founding in 1944, "none of us can recall seeing a colleague die of hunger.”
