Israel’s top court delays Gaza press access ruling amid years-long ban

Court gives Israeli government until March to justify ban on foreign media from GazaPublished On 28 Jan 2026Israel’s Supreme Court has postponed a decision on whether to allow foreign journalists independent access to Gaza, in the latest delay of a legal battle that has stretched over a year.The court granted the government until March 31 to respond to the petition filed by the Foreign Press Association, despite state attorneys failing to provide detailed justifications beyond citing security risks.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Israeli plans for Rafah ‘camp’ in Gaza slammed as continuation of genocidelist 2 of 3Israel’s phase one Gaza ceasefire violationslist 3 of 3UK, France, Canada among 11 countries condemning Israel’s UNRWA demolitionsend of listThe decision extends a policy that has barred foreign correspondents from entering Gaza to report on conditions there, unless reporters are prepared to embed with the Israeli army.At the hearing on Wednesday, justices appeared frustrated with the government’s explanations for maintaining the blanket ban on independent press access, which has remained in place since Israel launched its genocidal war against the Palestinian people of Gaza following the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.A ceasefire took effect in October 2025, though Israel has continued carrying out attacks, which have killed more than 400 people.Justice Ruth Ronen rejected the state’s arguments, insisting that “it is not enough to cite ‘security risks’ without providing details” and noting there had been “a very significant change on the ground” since the ceasefire.The FPA’s legal team was barred from attending or accessing the material presented to the judges.The FPA, which represents 370 journalists from 130 media outlets, said it was “deeply disappointed that the Israeli Supreme Court has once again postponed ruling on our petition for free, independent press access to Gaza.”