Overview

• The Media Freedom Coalition statement urges Israel to allow independent foreign media into Gaza and to protect reporters across Israel and the Palestinian territories.
• Canada was not among the original 27 signatories on Thursday but was added to the statement later that evening following media coverage.
• Global Affairs Canada told The Canadian Press it would issue a comment, yet no statement was provided before Canada's inclusion.
• Canada co-founded the coalition in 2020 and has signed dozens of similar declarations, with a recent absence only during the 2021 election campaign.
• The coordinated appeal followed condemnation of Israel for killing Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif, which Israel defended by alleging he led a Hamas cell.