Israel Sued for Denying Access to Gaza, Shocked Journalists Discover Press Freedom Exists
France 24 reports two French journalist unions are suing Israel, accusing them of “obstructing the freedom to inform” in Gaza and the West Bank. This isn't groundbreaking news; rather, it’s a lawsuit over Israel's decades-long policy. Blocking journalists aligns perfectly with the strategy of controlling the narrative, a tactic perfected since at least the Second Intifada, and now vital to
sanitizing the daily carnage. When you're dropping 2,000-pound bombs on refugee camps, the last thing you want is an independent camera crew. The lawsuit implies Israel should respect press freedom, which is almost sweet in its naivete. For years, organizations like Reporters Without Borders have documented Israel's systematic obstruction of reporting, including the targeting of journalists, with
over 100 killed in Gaza since October 7th alone. (RSF, Nov 2024). Expecting transparency from a state bombing hospitals is like asking a shark to respect your vegan diet.