Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the main reasons provided to them by the government of Israel for the continued ban on international observers and international journalists from entering Gaza.

Journalists and media workers play an important role in sharing the devastating reality of war with the global public and the Government opposes all attempts to restrict press freedom and block entry to journalists during conflicts. On 21 August, the UK joined a Media Freedom Coalition statement urging Israel to allow immediate media access to independent foreign media and afford protection for journalists working in Gaza.