Nearly two weeks after the killing of 6 media workers in Gaza – including Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif – sparked international outrage and global protests, there are renewed calls for international media to be able to access Gaza, as Israel ramps up its siege of the ravaged city. 

Statements calling for greater media access,  protections for journalists have come  from 27 countries, via the Media Freedom Coalition, US lawmakers, journalists and advocacy coalitions, and outlined in protests across Israel and the world. 

Journalism is not a crime

More than 200 journalists and media workers have been killed, but confirmation that Al-Sharif had been targeted by the IDF, killing five other Al-Jazeera staff in the process, ignited frustration and anger at Israel’s impunity.

Yet another Palestinian journalist was killed in Gaza this week: freelance journalist Islam Al-Koumi died in a military strike on his home on Monday, cementing this conflict as the deadliest ever recorded for journalists. 

The Media Freedom Coalition statement followed a stark message from Norway’s press delivered last week to foreign affairs minister Espen Barth Eide, urging the government to “use all political and diplomatic means” to pressure Israel to safeguard journalists and ensure press freedom in Gaza.

Noting Norway’s ranking at the top of the Press Freedom Index by  (RSF), the organisation believes that: “Norwegian authorities have a special responsibility to stand up for press freedom globally” and contends: “We cannot allow Israel to systematically obstruct journalists and the global community’s right to information.”

What can be done: a call for solidarity – and clarity

Their appeal comes as global journalists ask what more can be done to support colleagues working under deadly conditions – and the Committee to Protect Journalists calls for independent investigations into the journalists’ deaths. 

In South Africa, journalists and activists took to the streets on Sunday to protest.

And as industry leaders debate how to provide practical support for Gaza’s reporters, a recent Columbia journalism review article suggested proactive steps the world’s media can take to counter compromised coverage of the crisis in Gaza:

• Independent investigations into attacks on journalists as potential war crimes
• Ending decades of impunity through international legal mechanisms
• Stronger ethical standards in reporting, including challenging propaganda and narratives that dehumanise local reporters
• Building solidarity through professional codes, with consequences for media organisations that excuse violence against colleagues

This is the English version of the Norwegian Press statement:  

Norway must use all political and diplomatic means to urge Israel to immediately take action to protect journalists and safeguard the media’s ability to report from the war in Gaza. 

Local journalists who wish to leave must be allowed to do so, and international media must be granted access.

Since the beginning of the war, local journalists have been the eyes and ears of the world. 

At great personal risk, they have conveyed information from within, while international media have been barred from doing their job for nearly two years. 

The death toll among journalists and other media workers in Gaza is enormous and nearly incomprehensible.

With over 200 killed, there are soon no people left to carry out this vital work on behalf of the global community. 

In recent weeks, reports have emerged of local journalists too weak to work due to lack of food and clean water. 

On Sunday evening, news broke that another five journalists were killed by Israeli authorities in a targeted attack.

Norwegian press organizations have long been deeply concerned and outraged by the situation facing our colleagues in Gaza. 

We have raised this issue in several statements and letters to Israeli and Norwegian authorities.

Norway is at the top of the Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). We believe Norwegian authorities have a special responsibility to stand up for press freedom globally. 

We urge Norwegian authorities to engage clearly and use all political and diplomatic channels to pressure Israel in this highly critical situation. 

We are also willing to contribute to dialogue around possible measures.

• Israel must immediately take action to protect journalists and the work of the press in Gaza, as it is obligated to do under the Geneva Convention.
• Local journalists who wish to leave must be allowed to do so.
• International journalists must be allowed to enter.
• We cannot allow Israel to systematically obstruct journalists and the global community’s right to information.

Signed, Arendal, August 13, 2025, by

Reidun Kjelling Nybø, Secretary General, Norwegian Editors’ Association
Dag Idar Tryggestad, Chair, Norwegian Union of Journalists
Elin Floberghagen, Secretary General, Norwegian Press Association
Randi S. Øgrey, CEO, Norwegian Media Businesses’ Association
Per Brikt Olsen, CEO, Norwegian Specialized Press Association
Tomas Bruvik, Secretary General, National Association of Local Newspapers
Aslak S. Skretting, Chair, Norwegian Local Radio Association

Also see:

• ‘Telling Stories Should Not Be a Death Sentence’ – World Editors Forum President on Gaza killings
• Here are the names of the journalists Israel killed in Gaza
• Starved, displaced and exhausted: Inside AFP’s fight to protect its Gaza reporters
• Protests over Israel’s killing of journalists in Gaza | BBC News
• Israel must allow independent investigations of Palestinian journalist killings – and let international media into Gaza