Trump administration encourages Israel to let journalists into Gaza

Washington began making the request to allow journalists into Gaza earlier this year.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The Trump administration has renewed its request for Israel to permit foreign media access to Gaza since the start of the current ceasefire, according to two U.S. officials cited by The Times of Israel.

Officials said Washington began raising the issue earlier this year. President Donald Trump told reporters in August that he supported allowing foreign journalists into the enclave, though he cautioned that parts of Gaza remain unsafe.

Israel continues to control the eastern sector of the Strip after the ceasefire took effect on October 10. One of the officials said the administration is pressing the issue again but noted that it is not among Washington’s top priorities.

Separately, Israel’s High Court of Justice on October 23 granted the state an additional 30 days to submit an updated position on independent journalist entry to Gaza. The order came in response to a petition filed by the Foreign Press Association in 2024 seeking access for international correspondents.

The state filed its initial response in June, arguing that security risks prevented entry. During last month’s hearing, the panel of justices observed that the situation had changed significantly since the ceasefire began and asked the government to reassess whether reporters could safely enter under current conditions.

The court has not yet issued a final ruling. For now, journalists remain barred from Gaza as Israel weighs new security assessments and the U.S. continues to push for greater transparency during the early stages of humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts under the fragile truce.