'Let journalists in': TV host Piers Morgan slams Israel's Gaza media restrictions
British media personality Piers Morgan called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to let in more international journalists and said that the recent aid blockade and bombardment was "ferocious" and "crossed a line." Morgan is a well-known TV presenter, journalist and host of the show 'Piers Morgan Uncensored'.
"What has been happening in recent weeks and months, especially since this blockade, but also the ferocious bombardments in the last few weeks in particular, to me has crossed a line," Morgan said in a session on the third day of the Arab Media Summit.
Morgan called Israel's prohibition on international reporters entering the Gaza strip "a complete disgrace". "It is ridiculous that Israel has the ability to prevent the world's journalists getting in there to establish whether what Israel is saying it's doing is actually what it's doing," he added.
Morgan's 'firm' message to PM Netanyahu
"My firm message to Prime Minister Netanyahu, let the journalists in. You know, they keep pretending it's because of our safety," he said. Since the beginning of the war, Israel has not allowed foreign journalists to operate independently inside of the strip, with coverage relying solely on Palestinian journalists. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 181 media personnel have died since October 7, 2023.
"Please, we're not stupid. Let the international journalists in. And then we can work out whether what Israel is saying, the government is saying, is correct," he empasized.
He said that although his views on the Gaza genocide have changed with time, the views he held from the beginning of Israel's onslaught remain the same. "Israel had to defend itself after that horrific attack on October 7th, my question from the start was always, what is the proportionate response?"
EU chief denounces strikes on civilian facilities
Meanwhile, European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen denounced on Tuesday Israel's "abhorrent" deadly wave of strikes on civilian facilities in Gaza including a school. Rescuers said Israeli strikes killed at least 52 people in the Gaza Strip Monday, 33 in a school-turned-shelter, in a renewed offensive to destroy Hamas that has drawn international condemnation.
The World Health Organization said on Monday majority of supplies of medical equipment have run out in Gaza, while 42% of basic medicines including pain killers are out of stock.
The Israeli blockade began on March 2, 2025, with no supplies like food and medicine entering Gaza for 11 consecutive weeks. Fifty-seven children have reportedly died from the effects of malnutrition, according to the Ministry of Health, with thousands more at risk of famine, starvation, and death, according to the WHO.
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