Since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge on July 8, the Government Press Office (GPO) has dealt with 705 foreign journalists from over 42 countries who came to cover the events. During the Operation Pillar of Defense in November 2012, 303 foreign journalists came to Israel. The journalists joined and reinforced the existing crews regularly working in Israel, who number approximately 750 journalists.

Upon the conclusion of the operation, the GPO accumulated testimony by foreign journalists regarding harassment by Hamas activists regarding the carrying out of their assignments. Journalists said that during their coverage of the fighting they received threats and – in several cases – were the victims of violence that included destruction of their equipment because they had documented criminal activity by Hamas such as the launching of rockets from the heart of civilian areas.

At the onset of the operation, the GPO opened a media and information center in Ashkelon and held weekly tours, briefings and press conferences with Cabinet ministers and government and military officials. Journalists noted that their meeting with Col. (ret.) Richard Kemp, former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, who briefed them on the challenges of urban and guerrilla warfare, assisted them in understanding the complexity of the current violence.

At Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, journalists met and spoke with wounded IDF soldiers and with Palestinians from Gaza who were being treated in Israel. Before the end of the operation, journalists toured the IDF field hospital at Erez Crossing, which received and treated approximately 50 wounded. During the tour, the journalists witnessed the violation of the ceasefire by Hamas and heard the many explosions in the area. As the journalists observed the delivery of humanitarian aid via the Kerem Shalom Crossing, they noted the scope of the humanitarian assistance, which included medicine, medical equipment, food, clothing and fuel. In the past month, approximately 1,500 trucks with humanitarian aid entered Gaza.

GPO Director Nitzan Chen said, “During 29 days of stubborn fighting and constant threats to the home front, the GPO worked to provide information and service to the foreign media and to present them with the whole picture of Israel.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)