Occupation Prevents French Journalist from Entering Due to Her Stance on the Aggression Against Gaza

SadaNews - The Israeli occupation authorities prevented French journalist Alice Froussard, a correspondent for Radio France International, from entering the occupied Palestinian territories on Thursday, and deported her to Paris, due to her critical stance on the war of extermination in the Gaza Strip. This has sparked French criticism and was viewed as an infringement on press freedom.

The occupation authorities claimed that the French journalist had previously made "anti-Israel" statements, including describing the war on Gaza as a "massacre" and accusing Israel of practicing an apartheid regime. They argued that these positions justified their decision to bar her entry, while the French embassy in Israel expressed its displeasure with the decision.

The ban on Froussard came two days after France announced it would deny entry to extremist Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, due to his support for the annexation of the occupied West Bank and the expansion and recolonization of the Gaza Strip.

In recent months, Israel has prevented the entry of many foreign journalists and activists or expelled them due to their critical positions on the aggression against Gaza or their support for campaigns of boycotts and sanctions against Israel.

The Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate condemned the occupation authorities’ decision to deport journalist Froussard and bar her from entering the occupied Palestinian territories while on her way to cover her journalistic duties, considering the decision a violation of press freedom and the rights of journalists to access information.

The syndicate stated in a press release that this action comes within the framework of a systematic policy targeting both local and international media, aimed at restricting journalistic coverage and preventing the documentation of field violations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem.

It further added that the targeting of journalist Froussard cannot be separated from a series of escalating measures faced by Palestinian and international journalism, which include preventing field coverage, imposing restrictions on the movement of journalists, and targeting media institutions, in an attempt to impose limitations on the flow of information.

The syndicate noted that the targeting of journalists occurred concurrently with the continuation of the aggression against Gaza, which has resulted in the martyrdom, injury, and detention of a large number of journalists, alongside the destruction of media institutions and the prevention of foreign journalists from entering coverage areas.

It clarified that this decision reflects an escalation in policies regarding the media and represents an extension of ongoing violations against journalists, at a time when international calls are increasing to ensure freedom of the press and protect journalists.

Data from the syndicate indicates an unprecedented rise in violations against media crews since the onset of the aggression on Gaza, including direct targeting of journalists while performing their duties, preventing field coverage, and closing working media environments.

The syndicate concluded its statement by affirming its solidarity with journalist Alice Froussard and with Radio France International, calling on the international community to take urgent action to ensure press freedom and hold accountable those responsible for violations against journalists.