Democrats urge Biden to push Israel for press freedom in Gaza
Dozens of House Democrats are pressing the Biden administration to get tougher on Israel when it comes to press freedoms in Gaza, warning that a lack of media access in the war-torn territory has stifled any push for accountability surrounding military operations that have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.
In a letter to President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, 65 House Democrats voiced their “deep concern” that Israel’s near blockade on foreign press access — combined with the inherent dangers facing the local journalists who are covering the conflict — have left the world with a dim understanding of what’s actually happening on the ground in Gaza, where international aid groups report a burgeoning humanitarian crisis.
“The restrictions on media reporting have created significant challenges in obtaining accurate, verifiable information from Gaza, leading to increased skepticism about the limited reports that do emerge,” the lawmakers wrote earlier in the month.
“At a time when reliable information is more critical than ever, the restrictions on foreign reporting undermine the very foundation of press freedom and democratic accountability.”
The Democrats........
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