We Don’t Want Journalists Killed’ — Or Seen? Israel’s Gaza Excuse Unravels at UN
- Ahmed Fathi
- Jul 24
- 4 min read
By: Ahmed Fathi
UNHQ-New York: As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, a parallel battle is unfolding at the United Nations—not just over policy, but over access, accountability, and the control of truth.
On July 23rd, ahead of a scheduled Security Council session on the Middle East, I directly questioned Israel's Ambassador Danny Danon at the UN Security Council stakeout about Israel’s continued refusal to allow international journalists into Gaza.
At a time when conflicting narratives are shaping global perception, I asked: If Israel believes the world is being misled by misinformation, why not let independent journalists verify the facts on the ground?
Ambassador Danon responded by citing safety concerns. “You don’t want to see casualties, God forbid,” he said. Yet he quickly admitted, “If the journalists will go there, they will be able to see what’s happening.”
The contradiction was glaring. As I noted in my follow-up, war correspondents operate in conflict zones around the world—risk is inherent to our work. The decision to report from a war zone must rest with journalists and their editors, not governments seeking to manage optics. Restricting access in the name of safety may protect narratives, but it silences facts.
Humanitarian System Under Strain
Inside the Security Council chamber, the picture presented by Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari DDPA & DPO was stark. In a briefing based on field reports, Khiari talked about a humanitarian system that was falling apart: food insecurity at catastrophic levels, medical and sanitation services breaking down, and attacks on civilians and aid convoys continuing.
His comments directly went against what Ambassador Danon said and questioned the idea that humanitarian aid is moving freely. Khiari underscored the need for unimpeded aid delivery and protection of humanitarian personnel, stating clearly that operational conditions in Gaza have deteriorated to the point of dysfunction.
Press Freedom Under Siege
The question of media access drew swift reaction. On July 24th, four of the world’s leading news agencies—Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters, and the BBC—issued a joint statement calling on Israel to allow international journalists into Gaza and to facilitate the distribution of humanitarian aid. The agencies revealed that their local staff in Gaza are now facing starvation, amplifying the urgency.
At the same day press briefing, Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq was asked to respond. He confirmed that even UN staff and humanitarian workers inside Gaza are experiencing hunger, impairing their ability to carry out essential operations. On the question of journalist access, Haq referenced my earlier exchange with Danon and echoed my position: it is the responsibility of media organizations—not governments—to determine the risks of reporting in war zones.
Israel’s Response: A Narrative Offensive
Earlier that same day, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a public statement on X (formerly Twitter):
“Today, the IDF invited dozens of international journalists to the Kerem Shalom crossing inside Gaza, to see for themselves.
Hundreds of aid trucks have entered Gaza with Israel’s approval, but the supplies are standing idle, undelivered.
The reason? The UN refuses to distribute the aid.
Hamas and the UN prevent the aid from reaching civilians in Gaza.
The world deserves to know the truth.”
The message marked a notable shift—from citing safety concerns as justification for restricting access, to orchestrating a tightly controlled media tour. Some people say that these kinds of actions are just "stage-managed transparency," like showing stacked aid at a crossing point but not letting journalists move freely inside the war zone.
Humanitarian groups have pushed back, saying that distribution problems are caused by Israeli-imposed access restrictions, unsafe conditions because of ongoing fighting, and the breakdown of coordination mechanisms, not by the UN's refusal to send aid.
Conclusion: The Right to Witness
What began as a question about journalistic access has grown into a wider reckoning. The UN has confirmed that aid workers and staff are starving. Leading global media organizations are demanding access and accountability. And amid this, Israel is waging a public campaign to shift blame toward the very institutions trying to deliver relief and truth.
This is not just a war over territory—it is a war over credibility. And without access, independent verification, and respect for the role of journalism, the truth becomes collateral damage.
Gaza is a humanitarian emergency. But it is also a test of whether the world will accept sanitized narratives over documented reality. Until journalists are allowed in—and aid allowed through—the world will remain in the dark, and the people of Gaza will continue to suffer in silence.
** Ahmed Fathi is a United Nations correspondent, global affairs analyst, and author of* America First, The World Divided: Trump 2.0 Influence. *He writes about diplomacy, multilateralism, power, perception, and the politics that shape our global future.