Media

NewsNation sends letter demanding access to Gaza for journalists

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on buildings near the separating wall between Egypt and Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, May 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramez Habboub)

Cable news channel NewsNation is demanding Israel allow journalists to report from Gaza amid the ongoing war between the country’s forces and Hamas in the region.

The network said it sent a letter to the Embassy of Israel in Washington requesting permission for reporters to work from inside the Gaza region.

Prime-time anchor Chris Cuomo mentioned the letter on his show earlier 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,” he said, encouraging viewers to, “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.”

He argued that a conflict of this magnitude needs shouldn’t go on “without a fair appraisal from the ground.”

“And I have to be honest, I understand why the [Israeli military], why Israeli politicians would be concerned about people seeing what they’re doing, but that’s only more reason to have people see what they’re doing,” he said. “And also, they’re worried that they may injure journalists as they have in the past. 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.”

More than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the months since Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack in Israel.

The ongoing violence has sparked massive protests in the United States and around the world and led some Democrats to urge the White House and Congress to cut off funding to Israel.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.