NewsNation sends letter to Israel demanding journalist access to Gaza

NewsNation sends letter to Israel, demands journalist access to Gaza

More than 35,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since Oct. 7 Hamas attack
NewsNation letter: 'We have an essential role to play'
Cuomo's message: 'The players pay attention. Your voice will be heard'

Updated: May 17, 2024 / 06:31 PM CDT

TOPSHOT – This picture taken on October 11, 2023 shows an aerial view of buildings destroyed by Israeli air strikes in the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in Gaza City. Israel declared war on Hamas on October 8 following a shock land, air and sea assault by the Gaza-based Islamists. The death toll from the shock cross-border assault by Hamas militants rose to 1,200, making it the deadliest attack in the country’s 75-year history, while Gaza officials reported more than 900 people killed as Israel pounded the territory with air strikes. (Photo by Yahya HASSOUNA / AFP) (Photo by YAHYA HASSOUNA/AFP via Getty Images)

(NewsNation) — NewsNation sent a letter to Israel’s embassy in Washington, D.C., demanding journalists be able to report from Gaza amid the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas.

Michael Corn, NewsNation president of programming and specials, and Cherie Grzech, NewsNation president and managing editor of news and politics, signed off on the letter requesting permission for reporters to work from inside the Gaza region.

“Since the subsequent military operations by Israeli forces began, the worldwide public has had to rely on Palestinian accounts of the war, the humanitarian situation there, and the number of civilian casualties,” the letter reads. “The resulting information vacuum has led to reliance on reports that have often turned out to be exaggerated, inflated, or flat out false.”

“We, as journalists, believe we have an essential role to play in the public’s right to know the details of a life-and-death struggle that will have international repercussions for years to come,” the letter continues. “We are asking your permission to allow us to fulfill that vital role.”

NewsNation host Chris Cuomo mentioned the letter on his show this week.

“Many of you have asked about my recent criticism that Israel should allow media to be on the ground in Gaza. NewsNation agrees and has sent a letter demanding access,” Cuomo said. “Let it be known that you want to see more coverage of the actual realities — the players pay attention to social media, your voice will be heard.”

“There’s no way a conflict of this magnitude should be going on without a fair appraisal from the ground,” Cuomo added.

The Israeli offensive has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians in Gaza since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, according to local health officials, while hundreds more have been killed in the West Bank.

Cuomo said he understands why the Israeli military is concerned with people seeing what’s really happening in Gaza.

“They’re worried that they may injure journalists as they have in the past,” Cuomo said. “But that is not their choice to make. That is the choice of a free media. And that is a choice that we freely make.”