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BBC News1 min read
Israel deports French journalist accused of supporting Hamas
TL;DR
Israel has deported French journalist Alice Froussard, accused of supporting Hamas. The French government supports her but acknowledges Israel's legal right to deport her amid concerns over press freedom.
Key points
- Alice Froussard is a French journalist deported by Israel.
- Israel accused her of supporting Hamas.
- France supports Froussard but acknowledges Israel's legal right to deport.
- The incident raises concerns about press freedom in Israel.
- Many journalists have faced restrictions or violence during the conflict.
Mentioned in this story
Alice FroussardHamasFrench Ministry of Foreign AffairsIsrael
Israeli authorities have deported a French journalist who has often been critical of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and its policies in the occupied West Bank.
A spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that France was supporting Alice Froussard, but that Israel ultimately had the legal right to deport her. Israel has been widely accused of suppressing the free press by clamping down on media outlets and targeting journalists.
No official reason was given for the journalist’s deportation, but a senior Israeli minister later accused her of supporting Hamas.
Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli wrote on social media of his joy that “Alice Froussard, a French journalist who supports Hamas, and who claims that the October 7 massacre must be viewed ‘in context’, is making her way from Ben Gurion Airport back to Paris”.
The barring of the journalist put the spotlight on Israel’s long-running efforts to suppress international coverage of its siege of Gaza and invasion of Lebanon. While reporters from across the globe have been prevented from reporting from the Palestinian territory, numerous locally based journalists have been killed during the conflict that began following the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023.
The Foreign Press Association has condemned Froussard’s treatment, stating that Israel had already authorised her travel to the country prior to her arrival.
“This is not the first case in which the Israeli government decides that the journalistic coverage is ‘one-sided’,” it said in a statement.
Israel has been repeatedly criticised for restricting media coverage of its actions in Gaza. Not a single foreign reporter has been allowed to enter the enclave since it began its assault nearly three years ago.
The ban has forced Palestinian journalists to report extensively on their own suffering. Israel is accused of killing hundreds of reporters and media workers in the enclave in an attempt to silence the reports.
Q&A
Why was Alice Froussard deported from Israel?
Alice Froussard was deported for allegedly supporting Hamas, according to a senior Israeli minister.
What has France said about Alice Froussard's deportation?
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed support for Froussard but recognized Israel's legal authority to deport her.
How does this deportation relate to press freedom in Israel?
The deportation highlights ongoing concerns about Israel's suppression of the free press and restrictions on international media coverage.
