France’s Agence France-Presse (AFP) is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where its remaining local collaborators are reportedly starving to death. The agency’s internal journalists’ association has issued a stark warning that these freelance reporters can no longer fulfill their roles due to the catastrophic conditions in the region. AFP has relied on ten local freelancers since its staff withdrew from the enclave in early 2024, leaving these journalists as the only remaining sources of news from Gaza. The situation has deteriorated to the point where the freelancers, who receive payment, are living in ‘utter destitution,’ with no food to buy, untreated illnesses, and severe malnutrition. They travel on foot or by donkey cart, as fuel and vehicles are scarce. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot responded to the report, expressing hope to evacuate some collaborators and demanding that international press be allowed into Gaza to ‘bear witness’ to the suffering. Israel has maintained a strict ban on foreign journalists, citing security concerns, while the UN has condemned the restrictions as ‘unprecedented.’
The conflict, which began in October 2023 after a deadly Hamas incursion into southern Israel led to over 1,200 deaths, has intensified the crisis in Gaza. Since then, over 59,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel has imposed a strict blockade on the enclave, allowing only minimal humanitarian aid to enter while continuing to apply pressure on Hamas. The situation has drawn global condemnation, with international human rights groups and organizations warning of ‘catastrophic hunger’ and a rising death toll from malnutrition. The AFP statement, which noted that the agency has ‘never faced the horror of watching one of our collaborators starve to death,’ has amplified calls for international intervention. While some officials, including Barrot, have called for the evacuation of journalists and the lifting of press restrictions, Israel maintains its position, citing national security concerns. The ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis continue to dominate global discussions, with the plight of journalists and civilians remaining at the center of international attention.
Meanwhile, France’s diplomatic response has focused on both immediate relief and long-term accountability. Barrot’s call for foreign journalists to be permitted into Gaza reflects broader international concerns about the lack of independent reporting from the region. The UN has urged Israel to lift its restrictions on international press, arguing that the current situation demands transparency and verification. However, Israel has insisted that its policies are necessary to prevent the leakage of sensitive operational information and to ensure security. This has created a complex diplomatic stalemate, with international observers and human rights groups continuing to call for urgent action. The plight of journalists in Gaza, caught between war and starvation, underscores the broader humanitarian crisis and the challenges of covering conflict zones under extreme conditions. The AFP statement, which highlighted the agency’s ‘never faced the horror of watching one of our collaborators starve to death,’ has further intensified global scrutiny of the situation, drawing attention to the risks faced by journalists in war-torn areas.