Global Call for Journalist Access to Gaza: BBC and News Agencies Unite

Wed Oct 22 2025 07:17:07 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A coalition of major news organizations, including the BBC, calls for unrestricted access for foreign journalists to Gaza amidst escalating conflicts and humanitarian concerns.

The BBC, along with Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, and Reuters, has released a compelling short film urging Israel to permit foreign journalists unrestricted access to Gaza. Narrated by veteran journalist David Dimbleby, the film highlights the necessity for international reporting to support Palestinian journalists who are currently bearing the brunt of the reporting crisis. This appeal aligns with ongoing demands for press freedom and safety in conflict zones, particularly as the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate.

The BBC and three international news agencies have released a short film calling on Israel to allow foreign journalists into Gaza.

The film, launched by the corporation with Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Associated Press (AP), and Reuters, is narrated by veteran BBC journalist David Dimbleby.

He said: International journalists must now be allowed into Gaza to share the burden with the Palestinian reporters there so we can all bring the facts to the world.

Foreign journalists have been banned from entering Gaza independently since Israel launched its 2023 offensive following the Hamas attacks on October 7. A small number have been taken into the Strip by Israeli troops under controlled access.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has previously stated that to allow journalists to report safely in Gaza, they must be accompanied by the military in order to ensure their safety.

The BBC has contacted the Israeli foreign ministry and the IDF for comment.

Deborah Turness, CEO of BBC News, emphasized the critical need for transparency: It is almost two years since October 7th when the world witnessed Hamas' atrocities. Since then, a war has been raging in Gaza, but international journalists are not allowed in. We must now be let into Gaza to work alongside local journalists, so we can all bring the facts to the world.

The film premiered in New York at an event hosted by the Committee to Protect Journalists, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly. It features footage of significant historical events and atrocities captured by journalists, underscoring the importance of journalistic presence in conflict zones.

According to the United Nations Human Rights Office, at least 248 Palestinian journalists have been killed during Israeli attacks in Gaza, emphasizing the dire conditions journalists face.

This is not the first time that news organizations have called on Israeli authorities to allow journalists into the territory. As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza escalates, the commitment to press freedom remains more critical than ever.