The occupation imposes military censorship on foreign journalists requesting entry to Gaza.

The Israeli occupation recently imposed strict restrictions on the entry of civilian bodies and international media correspondents into the Gaza Strip, subjecting them to military censorship, according to documents submitted by the Ministry of Defense and the Israeli army following a petition by the Movement for Freedom of Information.

These documents were created with the aim of ensuring that any civilian activity in the Gaza Strip is subject to strict oversight and coordination with Israeli security agencies, under the pretext of "maintaining maximum state security and thwarting attempts to misuse humanitarian permits," according to the Walla website on Sunday.

The restrictions stipulate that the entry of professionals, relief organizations, or international delegations into the Gaza Strip requires strict registration and authorization procedures, including the submission of lists of the names of all participants in the activities, details of their purpose, the technological means they carry, details of communications and equipment, and the name of the accompanying entity responsible for the activity.

These restrictions are enforced by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the IDF Southern Command, and the Shin Bet. Any permit is subject to a thorough security review, including the possibility of revocation at any stage if the restrictions are violated.

The documents prohibit the transfer of any "suspicious equipment, leakage of sensitive information, or fear of unauthorized activity to local entities." They also require entities seeking entry to the Gaza Strip to inform Israeli security authorities in advance of any activity, including providing detailed reports on the activity, and to commit to operating with full transparency. Israel threatens to revoke entry permits to the Gaza Strip on the grounds of non-compliance with the imposed restrictions.

These restrictions aim to prevent exposure of the catastrophic situation and Israel's crimes in the Gaza Strip. Attorney Yaara Finkler, of the Movement for Freedom of Information, was quoted by Walla as saying, "The lack of transparency in the Israeli army regarding the procedures for the entry of civilians into Gaza and Lebanon is criminal negligence. The fact that the procedures are not made public to the public and soldiers has caused death and endangered human lives."

She added, "Transparency and oversight of the entry and exit of journalists, including their subordination to the IDF Spokesperson's Office, must be clear to all. The public must know if a journalist is subject to the IDF Spokesperson's instructions."

International media outlets, including the German magazine Der Spiegel, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and the BBC, are publishing testimonies from journalists in Gaza about the food shortages. Meanwhile, news agencies Reuters, the Associated Press, and the BBC issued a joint statement expressing concern for journalists in the Strip.

Walla stressed that Israel has been preventing Israeli and international media from covering events in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war, despite international criticism.

Last week, the Knesset's National Security Committee approved a bill to shut down foreign media outlets without court approval, which it will vote on in its first reading. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court rejected several petitions demanding that journalists be allowed into the Gaza Strip.

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