French foreign minister urges Israel to let international media 'bear witness' in Gaza

The French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Tuesday called on the Israeli government to permit international media representatives to enter Gaza amid the ongoing war with Hamas and a difficult humanitarian situation for the enclave’s residents. 

“I ask that the free and independent press be allowed to access Gaza to show what is happening there and to bear witness,” Barrot said in an interview with France Inter radio. The war, which has been going on for 22 months, began when Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, massacred 1,200 people and kidnapped 251 individuals on Oct. 7, 2023. 

While some international journalists like Douglas Murray have entered Gaza with IDF forces, Israel has largely prevented most international journalists from entering Gaza due to “extreme security concerns.”

The news agency Agent French Press (AFP) also criticized Israel’s decision to prevent most international media representatives from entering Gaza. 

"Since October 7, Israel has prohibited access to the Gaza Strip for all international journalists,” it stated in a post on 𝕏. 

"In this context, the work of our Palestinian freelancers is crucial to inform the world," it argued. AFP did not address the fact that many locals who work as freelance journalists are also affiliated with Hamas and only report what the terrorist organization demands.

Furthermore, several Arabic-speaking journalists who work for Western news outlets have praised the Hamas massacre in flagrant violation of international reporting norms. 

However, the French news agency did admit that the situation in Gaza is indeed dangerous. 

"But their lives are in danger, which is why we urge the Israeli authorities to allow their immediate evacuation along with their families." Eight of AFP’s staff members and their families were evacuated from Gaza during the period January to April 2024. 

The French top diplomat also demanded an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza and claimed that the Israeli military operation in the coastal enclave is no longer justified. 

"There is no longer any justification for the Israeli army's military operations in Gaza," Barrot argued. "This is an offensive that will exacerbate an already catastrophic situation and cause new forced displacements of populations, which we condemn in the strongest terms."

The French foreign minister did not mention that Hamas continues to hold approximately 50 Israeli hostages, including around 20 believed to be alive and at risk after nearly two years in captivity under harsh conditions. Barrot also did not address Hamas' stated goal of destroying Israel, its refusal to disarm, or its repeated declarations that it would carry out attacks similar to those of Oct. 7.

The IDF is currently operating in Deir al-Balah – a Hamas stronghold in central Gaza – for the first time since the war began.

While the Israeli military has targeted most areas of Gaza over the past 22 months, it had previously avoided Deir al-Balah due to intelligence indicating that Israeli hostages are likely being held there. Although Israel aims to isolate and defeat Hamas forces in the area, families of the hostages fear the operation could endanger the captives' lives. Hamas has previously executed hostages when Israeli troops neared their locations.

In June 2024, Israeli special forces rescued four Israeli hostages including Noa Argamani from the central Gaza Hamas stronghold Nuseirat. 

Some 25 countries from all over the world issued on Monday a joint statement demanding an end to the Gaza war and criticizing Israel’s humanitarian aid efforts.