BBC and Global News Agencies Urge Access for Journalists in Gaza

Sat Oct 11 2025 03:39:30 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a powerful new film, the BBC, AFP, AP, and Reuters are calling for international journalists to be granted access to Gaza amid ongoing conflict. Veteran journalist David Dimbleby highlights the challenges faced by local reporters.

The BBC, alongside major news agencies, released a film urging Israel to allow foreign journalists into Gaza. Veteran journalist David Dimbleby narrates the appeal, emphasizing the critical need for international reporting amid the crisis, where local journalists endure severe hardships. The film premiers during the UN General Assembly, showcasing historical events documented by journalists, and urging for collaborative reporting in Gaza.

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 7 October attacks. 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, the military accompanies them when in the battlefield.

The BBC has contacted the Israeli foreign ministry and the IDF for comment. In prior discussions, Israel's High Court of Justice ruled that restrictions on entry to Gaza were justified on security grounds.

Deborah Turness, CEO of BBC News, reiterated the pressing need for access, remarking that it has been nearly two years since the onset of the war, thus amplifying the urgency for journalists to report on the crisis firsthand.

The film premieres in New York, coinciding with a UN General Assembly event, featuring footage from key historical events recorded by journalists and calling attention to the harsh realities faced by local correspondents in Gaza.

Dimbleby highlighted that current reporting predominantly falls on Palestinian journalists, many of whom face grave dangers, emphasizing the necessity for broader international coverage and support.

This appeal is not the first; in recent months, multiple news organizations have voiced their concerns regarding the dire conditions for journalists within Gaza and requested immediate access for foreign media.