Israel accused of imposing media blackout on occupied south Lebanon

Israel is accused of imposing a media blackout on its occupied southern Lebanon territory, according to UN peacekeepers and Lebanese journalists. Journalists have been unable to arrange visits to the Israeli-occupied zone for weeks, despite several embeds with UN Interim Force for Lebanon (Unifil) since a June ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

The restriction on media visits has left the predominantly Christian villages within the occupied territory without independent reporting on potential crimes and violations, depriving the communities of a voice and violating their right to know, claims Elsy Moufarrej, president of the Union of Journalists in Lebanon. Israel has maintained strict control over movement in and out of the occupied area, enforcing restrictions through military positions, strikes, forced displacement orders, and access limitations.

The Israeli military has denied allegations of targeting journalists but admitted to raising concerns about journalist access with Unifil following incidents involving unauthorized journalist entries into the security zone. Tightened restrictions have also affected humanitarian and civilian convoys, which have become increasingly difficult for journalists to access due to Israeli forces preventing such convoys from entering if journalists accompany them.