U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, led a group of 12 senators Friday in calling for the Biden Administration to urge Israel and Egypt to allow journalists into Gaza and to protect press freedoms.

In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the senators underscored the dangerous conditions facing journalists in the region, noting that more than 130 of them — mostly Palestinians working in Gaza — have been killed since Oct. 7, 2023, the day after Hamas staged a deadly assault on Israel. The lawmakers also stressed the need for safe access into Gaza for journalists and the importance of accurate and independent reporting from the war zone.

The lawmakers also posed a set of questions to the secretary regarding the department’s actions to ensure the safety of journalists covering the conflict from within Gaza.

“The lack of safe working conditions for journalists in Gaza makes it almost impossible to have an accurate understanding of the humanitarian devastation taking place in the territory,” the senators wrote.  “Nevertheless, local reporters have continued working despite being displaced repeatedly, losing family members, experiencing hunger and living under constant threat of violence. Israel has also injured scores of Palestinian journalists and detained dozens, some of whom have been placed in arbitrary administrative detention without access to due process.”

Lawmakers previously appealed to Biden in a December 2023 letter expressing concern about the lack of press freedom related to the Israel-Hamas war. The administration responded with assurances of its commitment to protecting journalists covering the conflict. However, in the latest letter, Schatz and his fellow senators noted that “the situation on the ground in Gaza has gotten worse since last December. Crackdowns and violence against journalists in the West Bank have steadily increased as well.”

The letter criticized Israel for blocking journalists from entering Gaza independently and noted threats journalists face from the Israel Defense Forces even outside of Gaza, specifically citing the Oct. 13, 2023 Israeli strike that killed Reuters video journalist Issam Abdallah and injured six other journalists.

“The United States must make clear to Israel that targeting media organizations and members of the press is unacceptable,” the lawmakers wrote. “It is also important that the United States support UN efforts calling for accountability and protection of journalists in Gaza and the West Bank.

“The absence of U.S. government support for accountability efforts by the UN and press freedom defenders only undermines U.S. leadership,” they continued. “Promoting press freedom globally, protecting journalist safety, and advancing international laws and norms are essential to sustaining a rules-based international order.”

While acknowledging that Hamas has a long record of “harassing, obstructing, torturing and using physical violence” against journalists in Gaza, the senators wrote that it was necessary for the U.S. to hold its closest democratic allies to a higher standard with regard to press freedom. 

The letter was signed by Schatz and U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; Tim Kaine, D-Va.; Peter Welch, D-Vt.; Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.; Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; George Helmy, D-N.J.; Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.; and Tina Smith, D-Minn.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.