The people of Gaza have been under attack for a year, and international journalists have been largely prohibited from entering for over a year. Representative Jim McGovern is leading the call for President Biden and Secretary Blinken to urge Israel to allow independent journalists into Gaza. The public has the right to know what’s happening, and international media must be allowed to report the truth.

Call U.S. Capitol Switchboard Now!

Journalists are Ready—Israel Must Let Them In

In July, 73 journalism organizations signed an open letter published in The New York Times calling on Israel to grant media access to Gaza. They know the risks. Journalists are sent into war zones across the globe—it’s their job. They are demanding the right to enter Gaza to report on the realities on the ground, and we stand with them. Press freedom is a cornerstone of democracy, and Israel has a duty to allow independent journalists in to document what’s really happening.

Why This Matters?

Since the conflict began, over 130 journalists have been killed in Gaza. The International Federation of Journalists reports that Gaza became the deadliest war zone for journalists in 2023, with 75% of all journalist fatalities worldwide occurring there. Without independent reporting, the world is left in the dark. The absence of reliable information fuels misinformation and undermines efforts for accountability.

Act Now: Urge Congress to Sign McGovern’s Letter

Representative McGovern has penned a powerful letter to President Biden and Secretary Blinken, calling for immediate action to secure unrestricted media access to Gaza. But we need your help to make sure Congress stands behind this call. Contact your representatives today and demand that they sign on to McGovern’s letter. Let’s uphold the principles of press freedom and ensure the world can bear witness to the truth. Check out who has signed the letter so far!

Take Action for Gaza’s Journalists

t’s time to raise our voices and demand that Congress stand up for press freedom. Follow these simple steps to contact your representatives and ask them to sign Representative McGovern’s letter urging President Biden and Secretary Blinken to push for international media access in Gaza.

1. Call the Congressional Switchboard: Making a call is one of the most effective ways to make your voice heard. Here’s how to contact your representatives directly:

Dial 202-224-3121 for the U.S. Capitol Switchboard. Ask the operator to connect you to your Representative or Senators’ offices. If you don’t know who represents you, you can provide your zip code to the operator, and they will help you find your members of Congress.

What to say:

“Hello, my name is [Your Name] and I am a constituent from [Your City, State]. I’m calling to ask [Representative] to sign onto Representative Jim McGovern’s letter urging President Biden and Secretary Blinken to press Israel to allow international journalists into Gaza. The American public has a right to know what’s happening, and press freedom must be upheld. Can I count on [Representative] to support this letter?”

2. Tweet at Your Members of Congress: You can also use social media to quickly and publicly call on your members of Congress to take action.

Step-by-step instructions:

•If you’re unsure who your representative is, visit this Find Your Representative tool to identify them.

•Find their Twitter handles here

•Use the Click-to-Tweet link below to mention your representatives and senators in your tweet. Make sure to tag them by using the “@” symbol followed by their Twitter handle.

Click to Tweet: Hey @YourRep, I’m calling on you to sign @RepMcGovern 's letter urging @POTUS & @SecBlinken to tell Israel allow international journalists into Gaza. The world deserves to know what’s happening. Will you stand up for press freedom? #LetJournalistsIn

Letting international journalists into Gaza is essential for several key reasons, even though Palestinian journalists are doing incredible work under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions. Here’s why:

 Global Recognition and Amplification: International journalists often have larger platforms and broader reach in global media outlets. While Palestinian journalists provide crucial on-the-ground reporting, international correspondents can amplify their voices to a worldwide audience, bringing attention to Gaza in places where local reports might be overlooked or dismissed.

 Perception of Credibility: In some parts of the world, especially in regions with pro-Israel media bias, reports from Palestinian journalists may be unfairly discredited as biased or incomplete. International journalists can help counter this bias by corroborating local stories, lending additional credibility to the facts on the ground.

 Diverse Perspectives: Having journalists from different countries and backgrounds contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the situation. Each journalist brings their own perspective, helping to paint a fuller picture of the realities in Gaza and how the conflict impacts various groups.

 Safety and Burden: Palestinian journalists are not only reporting on the conflict—they are living through it. They face immense personal danger and emotional trauma, as many have lost colleagues, friends, or even family members. International journalists can help ease the burden by sharing the responsibility of reporting from the frontlines, reducing the physical and emotional strain on local media workers.

 Breaking the Information Blockade: Israel has imposed restrictions on independent international reporting from Gaza, making it difficult for the outside world to obtain an unbiased, direct view of the situation. Allowing international journalists in helps to break this information blockade, ensuring that the world gets a fuller, more accurate picture of the conflict.

 Holding Governments Accountable: Independent international journalists play a key role in holding governments accountable for their actions. Their presence in Gaza would shine a light on the human rights violations and war crimes taking place, increasing international pressure to address the situation. Governments and military forces may be more cautious knowing that their actions are being scrutinized by a global audience.

Check out who has signed the letter so far!