Israel Imposes Deadly Famine on Palestinian Journalists in Gaza

In the war-torn Gaza strip, markets lie empty, and food, when available, is sold at extortionate prices. The Israeli control over all entry points for food and aid has been widely condemned, with the "drip-feeding" of aid being a significant concern.

The dire situation has extended to the journalistic community, with most journalists now relying on overstretched charity kitchens for food. A coalition of over 100 NGOs has warned that they are witnessing their own colleagues waste away before their eyes.

The physical condition of media workers in Gaza is deteriorating, with some feeling tired, exhausted, dizzy, and experiencing delirium and fatigue. AFP photographers are reporting that they no longer have the strength to work for the media. Some freelancers are too weak to hold cameras or speak.

The slow siege by starvation is a new method of censorship in Gaza, less visible but just as lethal. The Agence France-Presse (AFP) has requested immediate evacuation of its freelance contributors and their families from Gaza due to illness and starvation.

The slow and deliberate starvation of these journalists is considered an information siege. Freelancers working for the BBC, ABC, AFP, Reuters, and AP in Gaza are going days without food. Nearly 200 Palestinian journalists in Gaza have been killed, many in targeted strikes on press-marked vehicles, homes, and media towers.

Banks are closed in Gaza, forcing freelancers to use informal money traders who skim 45% from transfers. A $1,000 remittance yields just $550 in Gaza. The reality now facing Gaza's remaining journalists is that if they don't eat, they can't report.

Global media organizations, including BBC News, AFP, AP, Reuters, and ABC, have issued statements expressing concern for their journalists in Gaza and urging Israeli authorities to allow journalists freer movement in and out of Gaza. On July 23, 2025, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and over 100 other NGOs issued a joint appeal to Israeli authorities to loosen access restrictions for journalists in Gaza.

On Wednesday, 28 countries, including the UK, called on Israel to comply with international humanitarian law and end the siege. The World Health Organization states that Gaza is facing man-made mass starvation. The situation in Gaza is a pressing concern, not just for the journalists themselves, but for the freedom of the press and the flow of information in the region.