Israel scrapped arrangements today to allow the first foreign reporters into the Gaza Strip since the military launched its offensive against Hamas, adding to mounting media frustration at being locked out of the war zone, The Associated Press reported. The ban on foreign media, which has been appealed to the Israeli Supreme Court, drew criticism from journalists that Israel is trying to manage the story. Israel asserts that opening border crossings for journalists would endanger staff at the terminals, which have often been targeted by militants. The Associated Press and some other news organizations have Palestinian reporters, photographers and cameramen based in Gaza. Many media have no reliable source of independent information. "The barring of outside news organizations from Gaza hampers the flow of unbiased information of vital interest to the entire world. Authorities on all sides should work to allow access by journalists in keeping with the aims of press freedom," said John Daniszewski, the AP's managing editor for international news.
