Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Reporters Without Borders article One year in Gaza: how Israel orchestrated a media blackout on a region at war, published on 3 October; and what representations, if any, they have made to the government of Israel regarding the barring of international journalists from the Gaza Strip.

The UK has endorsed the Media Freedom Coalition's statement, which raises concerns about the safety of journalists and their access to information due to the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, as indicated by the Reporters Without Borders article. The statement called on all parties to the conflict to comply with international law and guarantee the protection of journalists and media workers covering the conflict. The UK remains committed to Media Freedom and to championing democracy and human rights around the world. Independent media is essential to a functioning society.