The Media Line: Journalists Demand EU Suspend Israel Agreement Over Press Freedom Violations

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), alongside 38 European journalists’ unions and over 20 press freedom NGOs, has called on the European Union to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement and impose sanctions on those responsible for what they describe as Israel’s war crimes and repeated violations of international law.

This appeal was formalized in a letter addressed to EU’s top diplomats, Josep Borrell and Valdis Dombrovskis, initiated by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and co-signed by various organizations, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The letter outlines several key concerns, such as the unprecedented killing of over 100 Palestinian journalists and media workers alongside Israeli and Lebanese journalists, making this the deadliest period for journalists in the region in recent decades.

It also highlights targeted killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and allegations of torture and mistreatment of journalists by Israeli authorities since the conflict escalated in October 2023. Additionally, the letter criticizes the severe restrictions on media access to Gaza, noting that these actions have created a significant information void and hindered independent reporting on the conflict.

The letter urges the EU to take immediate action, including suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement and adopting targeted sanctions against those responsible. It also calls for the EU to pressure Israel to allow unrestricted media access to Gaza, revoke laws that permit government censorship of foreign outlets, and ensure accountability for abuses against journalists.