International journalists are calling on Israel to allow media workers into Gaza, as a devastating siege on the Palestinian enclave takes more lives due to starvation and disease.
The Freedom To Report initiative has petitioned the Israeli government to grant "immediate and unsupervised foreign press access to the Gaza Strip" as the UN warns about a man-made famine sweeping the territory.
At least 180 Palestinians have died of starvation since a siege on the enclave tightened, including 93 children, with fears the death toll could rise exponentially in the coming weeks unless full and unfettered aid is allowed into Gaza.
Israel has denied that Gaza is amidst a manmade famine, with media calling on authorities to allow journalists access to the territory to check the situation for themselves.
"Unrestricted, independent access for foreign journalists is urgently needed, not only to document the unfolding atrocities but to ensure that the truth of this war is not dictated by those who control the weapons and the narrative," the group said.
"Gaza is the most urgent case, but it is not the only one. It reflects the gravest pattern of silencing journalists and restricting the press. If the democratic world truly intends to push back against this erosion of freedom, it must not turn a blind eye to Gaza.
Among the signatories are Zeteo founder Mehdi Hasan, CNN's Christiane Amanpour and war photographer Don McCullin, among other big names in the industry.
Israel has banned foreign journalists' access to Gaza unless embedded with the Israeli military, with movement strictly controlled.
Palestinian journalists continue to report from the territory, but their lack of reach compared to foreign media workers has led to accusations of Israel committing genocide in the dark.
Israel has repeatedly ignored calls and campaigns by international journalists to grant them access to Gaza.