Government reevaluating ban on independent press access to Gaza, court says

The government is reevaluating its ban on independent press access to Gaza, the High Court of Justice notes, in a decision ordering the state to inform the court if it will change its policy by the end of November.

The court held a brief hearing last week on a petition by the Foreign Press Association demanding free access to the war-torn territory, but since the state’s response on the matter was filed nearly four months before the current ceasefire, the court requested that the state provide an update on its position given the change in circumstances.

It now says the state is reexamining the matter.

Today’s decision formalizes the order to the government, giving it until November 23 to update the court on the matter. The court also notes that the state representatives said during the hearing that the practice of embedding reporters with IDF forces in Gaza would be renewed in the coming days, after such visits were halted following the approval of the ceasefire deal with Hamas earlier this month.