- Foreign Press Association
- 1 Agudat Hasport Hapoel St.
- Jerusalem 9695102
- Israel
- +972 (0)54-6311177
- fpa.execsec@gmail.com
FPA Statements 2023
December 19, 2023
Statement by the Foreign Press Association regarding entry to Gaza for journalists
The Foreign Press Association (FPA) in Jerusalem filed a petition on Monday with the Israeli Supreme Court seeking immediate access to the Gaza Strip for the international media. This step comes after multiple official requests to the Israeli Government Press Office (GPO), the Israeli military and Defense Ministry received no substantive response.
The FPA expects the Israeli government and military to stand true to their stated commitments to allow freedom of reporting for journalists.
Freedom of the press is a basic civil right in a democratic society. We also believe it is in the public interest to get a fullerpicture of conditions inside Gaza after 10 weeks of extremely limited and highly controlled access. The Israeli military hasallowed some reporters to embed with troops in Gaza, but this does not allow access to areas where soldiers are not present.
We are aware of the unique security challenges posed by the current war, and any members entering Gaza would have to take these risks into account. But the Israeli government’s recent agreement to allow aid to enter Gaza directly fromIsrael shows that such obstacles can be overcome.
Israel has blocked foreign press access to Gaza during some previous wars, but never before so long. We hope this petition will encourage the government to grant access.
The Foreign Press Association in Israel and the Palestinian territories represents about 370 journalists from 130 media outlets in more than 30 countries representing at least ten languages.
December 15, 2023
Statement by the Foreign Press Association regarding the killing of Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa
The Foreign Press Association grieves the death of our longtime FPA member Samer Abu Daqqa, a veteran Al Jazeera cameraman in Gaza. He is the first FPA member to be killed in Gaza in the war. We consider this a grave blow to the already limited freedom of the press in Gaza and call on the army for a prompt investigation and explanation.
According to Al Jazeera, Samer was wounded, along with his Al Jazeera colleague Wael Al-Dahdouh who was wounded in his arm and waist, by Israeli drone fire at the Farhana School in Khan Younis, where residents were sheltering amid the fighting.
Wael was able to reach the hospital, but Samer was unable to be transferred for medical care due to the conditions of the fighting in Gaza, Al Jazeera says. The network says he was subjected to continued shelling while he tried to crawl to safety, and that Samer continued to bleed for several hours until a Palestinian civil defense crew found him dead, the network says.
The FPA repeatedly appealed to the Israeli military, which said it had approved a bulldozer to clear the road for an ambulance to reach Samer, but it appears it took hours for first responders to gain access.
The FPA is alarmed by the military’s silence and calls for an immediate inquiry and explanation as to why it apparently attacked the area and why Samer could not be evacuated in time to be treated and potentially saved.
Samer Khalil Salman Abu Daqqa, 45 years old, was a father of four. He was a resident of the town of Abasan al-Kabira near Khan Yunis. He joined Al Jazeera in June 2004, where he worked as a cameraman and an editor.
We extend our condolences to his family and colleagues, and embrace our colleagues in Gaza who are covering the war under dangerous and extreme conditions. We grieve the deaths of all journalists who have been killed in this conflict.
November 9, 2023
Statement by the Foreign Press Association
The Foreign Press Association is extremely concerned that recent Israeli government statements can encourage incitement against journalists documenting the war.
The Foreign Press Association has full confidence in the news organization’s investigations.
November 7, 2023
Statement by the Foreign Press Association regarding incidents in the West Bank
The Foreign Press Association is alarmed by several incidents in which reporters on assignment in the West Bank were harassed by soldiers. We call on the Israeli army to ensure the safety of reporters and to facilitate and not impede the access of GPO accredited journalists working in the area.
In a series of incidents, reporters were stopped at checkpoints, barred from crossing despite showing their press cards, and harassed and threatened by settlers, some of whom wore army uniforms. These incidents have taken place despite repeated pleas to the army spokesman for assistance during the current Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The media outlets include: CNN, Germany’s ARD, Austrian ORF team, Netherland’s NOS team and an Al Jazeera team.
The military spokesman’s office has made promises to ensure the safety of journalists. While we welcome such pledges, we urge the military to turn those words into action.
October 29, 2023
Statement by the Foreign Press Association regarding recent harassment of journalists
The Foreign Press Association once again calls on the Israeli army to ensure the safety of journalists following a pair of incidents in which soldiers harassed reporters in the West Bank.
On Friday, a crew from Radio-Canada/CBC was filming an olive orchard in the northern West Bank when soldiers pushed the journalists and confiscated their camera. After an FPA complaint to the army, the soldiers returned the camera, but it was damaged. “We make the rules,” the soldiers said.
In the Hebron area, meanwhile, an ARD cameraman and his soundman were detained near Qawawis where there had been an incident with settlers. Soldiers detained the team for two hours, with phones and camera temporarily confiscated, eventually releasing them.
These are the latest in a series of violence committed by soldiers against journalists during the current Israel-Hamas war. The military spokesman’s office has made promises to ensure the safety of journalists. While we welcome such pledges, we urge the military to turn those words into action.
The Foreign Press Association also continues to call on all parties to ensure safety and freedom of reporting for journalists on the ground in Gaza, who are reporting in extremely dangerous circumstances.
October 28, 2023
Statement by the Foreign Press Association
The FPA is horrified and deeply saddened by the unspeakable loss of the family of Wael Dahdouh.
Wael Dahdouh, a long time FPA member and Gaza bureau chief for Al Jazeera, lost his wife, two children and grandson in an Israeli airstrike in the Nuseirat refugee camp.
We call on the Israeli military to immediately investigate and provide explanations for why the home where his family was sheltering was targeted. They had evacuated in southern Gaza, where Israel has ordered Gazans to flee for their safety.
Wael’s 15-year-old son Mahmoud dreamed of becoming a journalist like his father. Sham was only 7 years old. Adam was his young grandson.
No words can console such a tragedy. May they rest in peace.
May we all see better days.
October 20, 2023
Statement by the Foreign Press Association regarding safety for journalists
The Foreign Press Association calls on all parties, Israel and Hamas, to ensure the safety and freedom of reporting of our Palestinian members on the ground in Gaza, who are reporting the news despite extremely dangerous circumstances.
We also call on authorities to ensure the safety of journalists inside Israel, where reporters have been subject to verbal and physical abuse by civilians and security forces on multiple occasions.
July 10, 2023
Statement by the Foreign Press Association regarding an incident with Al-Araby TV in Jenin
The FPA is concerned about a July 4 incident during the IDF operation in Jenin, in which an Israeli soldier inside a military vehicle opened fire at a TV camera and live transmitting device belonging to FPA members from Al-Araby TV. The equipment was destroyed.
Footage of the shooting clearly shows the soldier firing at the equipment, breaking the lens, knocking the equipment to the ground and causing it to catch fire. FPA members Amid Shehadeh and Rabi Munir from Al-Araby TV and other journalists, who were clearly identified as journalists in helmets and protective vests, took shelter inside a nearby building and were later escorted out by a Red Crescent ambulance.
The FPA has repeatedly sought clarification from the IDF, which says it is still examining the incident. The FPA calls on the army to allow journalists to do their jobs freely and safely.The FPA notes that police did respond to our complaints and did attempt to quell the violence. But given the violent history of this event, we believe police should have been better prepared and could have done more to prevent these attacks from occurring in the first place.
May 21, 2023
Statement by the Foreign Press Association on harassment of journalists at Jerusalem Day Flag March
The Foreign Press Association expresses its concern about physical and verbal attacks toward journalists during Thursday’s flag march, May 18, 2023, through Damascus Gate.
On multiple occasions, marchers pelted journalists with water bottles,cans and wooden sticks. Marchers also shouted violent and racist epithets at reporters in the presence of police officers. At least two journalists were lightly injured.
In addition, a CNN team covering events in the Old City was shoved with unnecessary force by a police unit as they tried to interview local Palestinians.
The FPA notes that police did respond to our complaints and did attempt to quell the violence. But given the violent history of this event, we believe police should have been better prepared and could have done more to prevent these attacks from occurring in the first place.
The Israeli government’s commitment to protecting freedom of the press must include action, not just words.