Gaza (Quds News Network)- The UK, Germany, and Australia are among 27 countries calling on Israel to immediately grant international journalists access to Gaza, allowing them to report on the “unfolding humanitarian catastrophe” and to ensure the protection of Palestinian journalists in the war-torn enclave. The 27 countries have signed a joint statement calling for it to end its block on press access and for protection for journalists operating in Gaza. The UK, Germany, Australia and Ukraine are among those to have signed the statement from the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC), an international advocacy group that the UK helped to create. “In light of the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, we, the undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition, urge Israel to allow immediate independent foreign media access and afford protection for journalists operating in Gaza,” they said. “Journalists and media workers play an essential role in putting the spotlight on the devastating reality of war. Access to conflict zones is vital to carrying out this role effectively. We oppose all attempts to restrict press freedom and block entry to journalists during conflicts.” The governments condemned Israel’s deliberate targeting of journalists in Gaza, as more than 230 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza by Israel since the war began. The statement follows an outcry earlier this month when a targeted and directIsraeli attack killed six journalists, including well-known Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif. The Israeli military admitted assassinating al-Sharif, claiming, without providing any evidence, that he was leading a Hamas cell. The MFC statement said: “We also strongly condemn all violence directed against journalists and media workers, especially the extremely high number of fatalities, arrests and detentions. We call on the Israeli authorities and all other parties to make every effort to ensure that media workers in Gaza, Israel, the West Bank and East Jerusalem – local and foreign alike – can conduct their work freely and safely.” “Deliberate targeting of journalists is unacceptable. International humanitarian law offers protection to civilian journalists during armed conflict. We call for all attacks against media workers to be investigated and for those responsible to be prosecuted in compliance with national and international law.” The statement follows pleas from news organisations and senior journalists, with recent reports that freelance reporters working in Gaza are at risk of starvation as a result of Israel’s blockade on aid entering the strip. Last month, some of the world’s biggest news outlets, including BBC News, Agence France-Presse, Associated Press and Reuters, said they were “desperately concerned” about journalists in Gaza, saying staff were “increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families” amid widespread reports of mass starvation. This week, a group of 17 US senators also urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to pressure Israel to protect journalists in Gaza and to allow media access to the enclave. “The United States must make it clear to Israel that banning and censoring media organisations and targeting or threatening members of the press is unacceptable and must stop,” the Democratic senators said in a statement. “We urge you to press the Israeli government to protect journalists in Gaza and allow international media to access the territory.” Israel has barred international reporters from entering and reporting in Gaza. “I have no doubt that the prevention of international access, the killings of journalists, the targeting of media facilities, the punishment of [Israeli] outlets like Haaretz is part of a deliberate strategy on the part of Israel to conceal what is happening inside Gaza,” said the CPJ chief executive, Jodie Ginsberg.