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Israel again shuts journalists out of Gaza | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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JERUSALEM, (Reuters) – Israel is again blocking foreign journalists from entering the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, an official said on Monday, despite protests by major news organisations.

Israel stopped journalists entering Gaza after an army raid into the territory on Nov. 4 triggered a wave of Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel from the Strip.

Israel briefly let journalists in last Thursday, but closed the crossings again on Sunday and Monday, said Peter Lerner, spokesman for Israel’s military coordinator for the Gaza Strip. “We have not instituted an overall ban, but we are looking at the security situation day by day,” he said. “We will allow journalists in if we consider the situation safe enough.”

The Foreign Press Association, which represents the collective interests of the international media in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, has petitioned Israel’s Supreme Court to have the restrictions lifted.