{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-colleagues-renew-calls-to-protect-press-freedom-in-gaza", "Kaine, Colleagues Renew Calls to Protect Press Freedom in Gaza", "2024-12-10", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, (D-VA) alongside a group of 11 senators renewed calls to the Biden Administration to urge the governments of Israel and Egypt to protect press freedom and allow journalists into Gaza to cover the ongoing crisis. In the letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the senators underscored the dangerous conditions for reporters, the importance of safe access into Gaza for journalists, and the need for accurate and independent reporting from the area. They also raised concerns about violence against journalists in Lebanon and the West Bank and highlighted the vital role press freedom plays in democracy around the world.\n\n\u201cSince October 7, 2023, over 130 journalists have been killed, the vast majority of whom were Palestinians killed in Gaza. The lack of safe working conditions for journalists in Gaza makes it almost impossible to have an accurate understanding of the humanitarian devastation taking place in the territory,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nThey continued, \u201cThe United States must make clear to Israel that targeting media organizations and members of the press is unacceptable. It is also important that the United States support UN efforts calling for accountability and protection of journalists in Gaza and the West Bank. The absence of U.S. government support for accountability efforts by the UN and press freedom defenders only undermines U.S. leadership. Promoting press freedom globally, protecting journalist safety, and advancing international laws and norms are essential to sustaining a rules-based international order.\u201d\n\nThroughout his tenure in the Senate, Kaine has been a vocal supporter of press freedom around the world. In May, Kaine introduced a Senate resolution recognizing widening threats to freedom of the press and reaffirming the vital role of free and independent press in promoting democracy and human rights. Kaine also led the bipartisan International Press Freedom Act of 2021, legislation that would promote global press freedom by creating a Coordinator for International Press Freedom at the State Department and use existing funding to prevent, investigate, and prosecute crimes against journalists overseas.\n\nThe letter was cosigned by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), George Helmy (D-NJ), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Tina Smith (D-MN).\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Blinken,\n\nWe appreciate your continued engagement with Congress as you work to resolve the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon and secure the release of all hostages. We write today to follow up on the December 2023 letter to President Biden about the lack of press freedom related to the conflicts. It is crucial for you to work with the Israeli and Egyptian governments to allow all interested journalists to report with appropriate protections and without restriction from Gaza. We appreciate the State Department\u2019s response to the letter which reiterated the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s commitment to protecting journalists during armed conflict. However, the situation on the ground in Gaza has gotten worse since last December. Crackdowns and violence against journalists in the West Bank have steadily increased as well.\n\nWe recognize the longstanding challenges to press freedom in Gaza predate Hamas\u2019s unspeakably brutal attacks on October 7, 2023. Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, has a record of harassing, obstructing, torturing, and using physical violence against journalists in Gaza. Several journalists were among the 1,200 people killed on October 7th. We strongly condemn Hamas\u2019s actions, both in its repression of the Palestinian people and its violent attacks against the Israeli people. However, we must hold our closest democratic allies and partners to a higher standard than a terrorist organization when it comes to protecting the bedrock democratic value of freedom of the press.\n\nOver one year into the war, the Israeli government continues to ban journalists from entering Gaza independently, despite standing calls from Israeli and foreign press in the country. With the exception of operational security requirements for embedded journalists, all interested journalists must be allowed to report without restriction from Gaza. As a Haaretz editorial asserts, \u201cBy blocking journalists from Gaza, Israel not only prevents coverage of the war\u2019s horrors but also hinders real-time scrutiny of Hamas\u2019 claims \u2013 a key Israeli interest.\u201d The Foreign Press Association in Israel calls \u201c...for unfettered and independent access to Gaza. To Israel, we say enough with the excuses. It is time to let us in.\u201d We urge you to prioritize journalists\u2019 immediate access to Gaza with guarantees from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to ensure that it does not target them in its operations.\n\nSince October 7, 2023, over 130 journalists have been killed, the vast majority of whom were Palestinians killed in Gaza. The lack of safe working conditions for journalists in Gaza makes it almost impossible to have an accurate understanding of the humanitarian devastation taking place in the territory. Nevertheless, local reporters have continued working despite being displaced repeatedly, losing family members, experiencing hunger, and living under constant threat of violence. Israel has also injured scores of Palestinian journalists and detained dozens, some of whom have been placed in arbitrary administrative detention without access to due process.\n\nJournalists face safety threats from the IDF outside of Gaza as well. As you are aware, on October 13, 2023, IDF strikes hit a group of journalists in southern Lebanon. These strikes killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, injured Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalist and U.S. citizen Dylan Collins, and caused severe injuries to another AFP journalist at the scene, Christina Assi, who lost her right leg. The journalists were wearing helmets and jackets clearly marked with the word \u201cpress\u201d as they filmed from a location on top of an exposed hillside when they were struck by tank rounds. The IDF has not released a review or investigation into the incident.\n\nViolence against journalists in the West Bank is on the rise as the IDF increases its operations. According to the United Nations (UN), there were at least three incidents in September 2024 alone where Israeli security forces fired live ammunition at journalists or their vehicles while they were reporting in the West Bank. Journalists are at risk of being detained and harassed, making it increasingly difficult to operate in the West Bank. On September 22, the IDF raided and closed Al Jazeera\u2019s office in the West Bank for at least 45 days. This followed the IDF\u2019s decision in May to close Al Jazeera\u2019s offices in Israel. The network remains banned and it is unclear what actions the U.S. government has taken on this issue beyond expressing concern.\n\nThe United States must make clear to Israel that targeting media organizations and members of the press is unacceptable. It is also important that the United States support UN efforts calling for accountability and protection of journalists in Gaza and the West Bank. The absence of U.S. government support for accountability efforts by the UN and press freedom defenders only undermines U.S. leadership. Promoting press freedom globally, protecting journalist safety, and advancing international laws and norms are essential to sustaining a rules-based international order.\n\nConsidering our profound concern for the safety of journalists and demand for justice for targeted attacks on journalists, we respectfully request detailed responses to the following questions:\n\nWhat specific steps has the State Department taken to secure access for international journalists, including Americans, to Gaza?\n\nHas the State Department urged Israel to permit entry to journalists willing to travel to Gaza for reporting? If so, in what ways, by whom, and how often?\n\nHas the State Department expressed support for Israeli journalists and international correspondents in Israel seeking to gain independent access to Gaza? If so, in what ways, by whom, and how often?\n\nHas the State Department advocated for equipment for journalists, including cell phones and cameras, to be allowed into Gaza?\n\nWhat steps has the State Department taken to ensure that the IDF \u2013 a major recipient of U.S. security assistance \u2013 reforms its rules of engagement (ROEs) to mitigate harm to journalists in Gaza and the West Bank?\n\nIf the IDF is unwilling to change ROEs in ways that lessen harm to journalists, what steps are you considering taking to show U.S. government disapproval and secure policy changes that end the pattern of violent attacks on journalists?\n\nIs it your assessment that the Israeli government has thoroughly investigated allegations of any wrongdoing, ensuring immediate and transparent accountability for any abuses?\n\nIs it your assessment that Israeli government\u2019s actions in Gaza are in accordance with international humanitarian law?\n\nWhat support has the State Department provided to help injured journalists leave Gaza for medical care?\n\nWhat steps have you taken to seek full accountability for the killings of journalists by the IDF?\n\nWhat steps have you taken to ensure accountability for the October 13, 2023 attack that injured Mr. Collins and killed Issam Abdallah in southern Lebanon?\n\nDo you have information about the status of the reported Israeli investigation into the incident?\n\nDo you have confidence that any Israeli investigation would result in effective accountability and serve to deter future IDF attacks on journalists?\n\nWhat specific steps has the State Department taken to secure the release of journalists in administrative detention?\n\nHas the U.S. Embassy assessed allegations of mistreatment in Israeli custody of journalists?\n\nHave you discussed allegations of mistreatment of detained journalists with Israeli authorities, including IDF leaders?\n\nWhat steps have you taken to identify the whereabouts of missing Palestinian journalists? Have you asked the Israeli government if missing journalists are in their custody?\n\nIs it your assessment that the Israeli government has thoroughly investigated allegations of any wrongdoing, ensuring immediate and transparent accountability for any abuses or violations related to detentions?\n\nWhat steps has the State Department taken to advocate the importance of press freedom within Israel?\n\nHave you or other State Department officials raised your concern over the closing of Al Jazeera in Israel and the West Bank to the Israeli government? If so, what responses have you received?\n\nWhat is the State Department assessment of the impact on global press freedom of countries \u2013 especially closely allied democracies, like Israel \u2013 of placing restrictions on, detaining, or allowing violence against journalists?\n\nWe appreciate your response to these questions and look forward to hearing from you.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-colleagues-renew-calls-to-protect-press-freedom-in-gaza"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.5432498659938574, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}