More than 100 media sign the Reporters Without Borders petition for international journalists to be allowed into the Gaza Strip

January 14, 2009

With 100 news media signatures now on the petition it launched on 9 January, Reporters Without Borders reiterates its appeal for support by the international media and again urges the Israeli authorities to lift the ban on foreign media access to the Gaza Strip that has been in force since November. Allowing journalists into the Gaza Strip would be the best way to ensure independent coverage of the events unfolding there.

The only news coverage of the situation in Gaza comes from the 295 Palestinians who are working for a range of news organisations in extremely difficult and dangerous circumstances. Reporters Without Borders express its solidarity with all these media employees and deplores the deaths of four journalists since 27 December, three of them in the course of their work. The four journalists are Basel Faraj, Ihab el-Wahidi, Omar Silawi and Alaa Mortaji. Reporters Without Borders offers its sincere condolences to their families.

Since the Israeli supreme court ruling on 31 December that foreign journalists should be allowed into the Gaza Strip in groups of 12, the Israel Defence Forces have permitted a very small number to enter. Reuters and the BBC were allowed to cover the activities of some Israeli soldiers for a few hours. The other journalists have been condemned to wait in Sderot or the hills that overlook Gaza.

"Dignity," a vessel chartered by the Free Gaza organisation carrying medical personnel and journalists, was driven back twice by the Israeli navy when it tried to approach the shore of the Gaza Strip.

The campaign must continue against the blockade imposed on the international media by Israel.

For the list of media that have signed the petition, go to this address on the Reporters Without Borders website: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=29928

News media that are interested in signing the appeal are asked to contact us at: gaza@rsf.org


For more information contact:
Reporters without Borders
Website: www.rsf.org


The following medias have already signed the appeal:

Afghanistan
Killid Group

Algeria
Echorouk
El Khabar
El Watan

Argentina
Desde Neuquén

Austria
Austrian Journalists Club from Vienna
ZDF

Azerbaijan
Turan News Agency

Bangladesh
Media Watch

Belgium
De Morgen
De Standaard
La Libre Belgique
Le Soir
RTBF TV et radio
VRT

Brazil
Associação Brasileira de Journalismo Investigativo (Abraji)

Canada
CBC
IFEX
In These Times
Le Devoir
Now Magazine
Public News Service
Rabble.ca
Sources.com
Wire Tap Magazine

France
ARTE
LCI (rédaction)
L’Express
Le Figaro
Le Nouvel Observateur
L’Humanité
Mediapart.fr
RFI
RMC
RTL
Rue 89.com

Germany
AFPA press
ARD
Breakingnews4all.de
Der Spiegel
Die lokale Onlinezeitung zum Mitmachen
Die Tageszeitung
Die Welt
Entwicklungspolitik Online
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Frankfurter Rundschau
Freie Medien
GEO
Menschen Machen Medien
N24
N-tv
Nachrichtenmagazin Focus
Panoriental TV
Stern
Süddeutsche Zeitung
Under.Attack Information
ZDF

Greece
Elefterotipia
Ethnos
Kathimerini
Le Petit journal
Nea
Vima

Guatemala
Guatemala Times

Guinea Bissau
ANG
Bombolom FM
Diário de Bissau
Gazeta de Notícias
Kansaré
NÔ Pintcha
Rádio Galáxia de Pindjiguiti
Rádio Jovem
Rádio Nossa
Rádio Sol Mansi
RDN
TGB
Última Hora

Hong Kong
Hong Kong Journalists Association

Italy
Carta
Radio 24
Radio Radicale
La Repubblica
Secolo XIX
L’Unita

Mauritania
Le Calame

Mexico
Dia Siete
El Diario de ciudad Juárez
El Manana de Nuevo Laredo>br> El Universal
Zócalo

Morocco
Atlantic Radio
Tel quel - Nichane

Netherlands
Firat News Agency

Nigeria
Economic News Media Group

Norway
Bergens Tidende
Scanpix Norway
Stavanger Aftenblad

Peru
Asociación de Periodistas de Lima Norte
El Comercio

The Philippines
Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility

Qatar
Al Jazeera

Romania
Adevarul Newspaper
Cotidianul Daily
Jurnalul National
Realitatea TV

Spain
ABC
Cadena SER
Cubamatinal.com
COM Ràdio
CNN+
Cuatro
Diariocritico.com
El Mundo
El País
El Periódico de Catalunya
Independant docs TV
Inter Press Service - Comunica
La Aventura Humana
La Sexta
Nuevatribuna.es
Periodistas-ES.org
RNE (information services)
TVE (information services)
Vida Positiva TV & Radio

Sweden
Nerikes Allehanda
Stockholm City
Sundsvalls Tidning
Svenska Dagbladet
Sweden Aftonbladet
Världshorisont
Vestmanlands Läns Tidning

Switzerland
Le Courrier
Le Quotidien Jurassien
Le Temps

Tunisia
Kalima Radio

Turkey
Demokrat Radyo

United Arab Emirates
Al Arabyia

United Kingdom
Article 19
BBC Arabic
Libre News Agency
Sky News The Guardian
Welsh Nation (Wales)
Y Ddraig Goch (Wales)
Y Papur Gwyrdd (Wales)

United States of America
ABC News
Cartoonists Rights Network International
CBS News
CNN
Minnesota Independent
New York Times
NPR
PeriodismoCiudadano.com

Uzbekistan
Ferghana.ru
Uzmetronom.com
Uznews.net

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