A group of prominent British Jewish journalists, including Robert Peston, Emily Maitlis, and Jon Sopel, have publicly called on Israel and Egypt to lift restrictions preventing international media

from entering Gaza.

In a letter published by Press Gazette, the signatories expressed deep concern over the ongoing media blackout, which they say has persisted for 18 months despite repeated requests for access. Other notable signatories include Gabriel Pogrund (Sunday Times), Alex Brummer and Sabrina Miller (Daily Mail), Noa Hoffman (The Sun), and Ben Kentish (LBC).

“With the breakdown of the latest ceasefire, limitations on humanitarian aid, and the presence of troops on the ground, it's essential that journalists are allowed to report independently and ethically from Gaza,” the letter states.

The journalists emphasized that access for the international press is crucial for accurate and balanced coverage. “As Jewish journalists and editors, we view the continued refusal by Israel and Egypt as both unjustified and a serious obstruction of our professional duty to inform the public,” the letter adds.

Maitlis and Sopel, now co-hosts of The News Agents podcast, joined the call to highlight the role of the press in holding power to account. “Blocking media access silences the voices of people in Gaza,” the signatories argue. “We have a responsibility to ensure the world hears their stories.”

The initiative was spearheaded by Charles Keidan, Executive Editor of Alliance magazine, who enlisted support from Peston, also an ambassador for Jewish News.

“It’s critical that international journalists are allowed into Gaza,” said Peston. “Doing so supports impartial reporting and helps alleviate the pressure on local reporters. While our being Jewish doesn’t make our call more valid than others’, we hope our voices will resonate with Israeli and Egyptian authorities.” Photo by Wmcu, Wikimedia commons.