Israel prevents journalists from entering Gaza

Israel has barred foreign journalists on Thursday from entering the Gaza strip despite promising to allow them into the Erez crossing. Palestinian (Ma’an) news agency quoted a readout of an email sent to foreign reporters from the Government Press Office saying that “following an assessment of the situation and decision by GOC southern command, Erez crossing will be open to journalists with valid GPO cards (Cards issued by Israeli government to visiting journalist), subject to their signing a waiver at the crossing.” The news agency reported that journalists were however stuck at the crossing and not being let inside. Journalists assumed they were barred to enter due to rocket fire in the vicinity. Back in December 2008, during Israel’s operation known as Cast Lead that claimed the lives of 1,400 Palestinians and13 Israelis, foreign media were also banned from entering the Gaza Strip under directives from the army and former GPO head. Israel and Palestine have been in clashes for two days since Israel has started launching air strikes on Gaza, one of which has killed a Hamas senior official, Ahmed al-Jaabari on Wednesday. The attacks have brought the death toll to eleven Palestinians while Hamas has threatened to retaliate after the Israeli attacks killed two of their fighters and a security officer, according to Ma’an. Earlier today, Al Qassam Brigades, a Hamas military wing, fired a rocket in Israel’s Kiryat Malachi town, which killed three people.