JERUSALEM: An organization representing international media in Israel and the Palestinian territories on Friday urged Israel to grant journalists immediate, independent access to Gaza following the declaration of a ceasefire.
Since the Gaza war broke out in October 2023, Israeli authorities have prevented foreign journalists from entering the devastated territory, taking only a handful of reporters inside along with its troops.
The Foreign Press Association, which represents hundreds of foreign journalists, said it “welcomes the agreement between the warring parties on a ceasefire in Gaza.”
“With the halt in fighting, we renew our urgent call for Israel to open the borders immediately and allow international media free and independent access to the Gaza Strip,” it added.
An AFP journalist sits on the FPA’s board of directors.
The FPA has on multiple occasions asked for access to Gaza over the past two years.
“These demands have been repeatedly ignored, while our Palestinian colleagues have risked their lives to provide tireless and brave reporting from Gaza,” the association said.
On October 23, the country’s top court is due to hear the FPA’s petition demanding access, “but there is no reason to wait that long,” it said.
“Enough with the excuses and delay tactics. The restrictions on press freedom must come to an end,” it added.
On Friday, Israel declared a ceasefire and started pulling back troops from several areas in Gaza, as part of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war.
The withdrawal set the clock running on a 72-hour deadline for Hamas to release all the remaining hostages held in Gaza.
In return, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans it detained since Hamas triggered the latest war with its attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Foreign press group urges immediate access to Gaza after ceasefire
https://arab.news/9p28z
Foreign press group urges immediate access to Gaza after ceasefire
- Since the Gaza war broke out in October 2023, Israeli authorities have prevented foreign journalists from entering the devastated territory
MrBeast’s first Saudi-shot video racks up tens of millions of views as Riyadh Season leans into his brand
- ‘100 Pilots Fight for a Private Jet’ amassed around 72m views and tens of thousands of comments within days of release
- Production coincides with ‘Beast Land,’ a theme-park-style experience at Riyadh Season
LONDON: MrBeast’s first video filmed in Saudi Arabia has pulled in tens of millions of views within days of release, coinciding with Riyadh Season 2025’s celebrations themed around the US creator’s extravagant stunts and big-money giveaways.
The YouTuber, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, published “100 Pilots Fight for a Private Jet” on Saturday, featuring 100 pilots from different countries competing for a private jet worth about $2.4 million. The episode follows his signature formula of large-scale, elimination-style challenges built around eye-catching prizes.
Within a few days, the video had amassed around 72 million views and tens of thousands of comments, underscoring the continued global pull of MrBeast’s content. Organizers of Riyadh Season have highlighted the collaboration as a sign of the festival’s growing international profile.
Donaldson, who began posting videos in 2012, has become one of the world’s most influential online creators, with more than 450 million subscribers and a business empire spanning sponsorships, consumer brands such as Feastables, and food ventures including MrBeast Burger.
Various estimates value his wealth in the billions of dollars, although figures differ across sources.
His rapid rise has also brought scrutiny. A reality competition project, “The Beast Games,” has faced lawsuits alleging unsafe working conditions, harassment, and withheld pay and prizes, claims that Donaldson has dismissed as being “blown out of proportion.”
Some of his high-profile philanthropic videos, such as funding eye surgeries, hearing treatments, or well-building projects in Africa, have been questioned by observers who argue they blur the line between charity, branding, and spectacle.
Despite the controversy, his popularity remains strong, including in the Middle East. In Riyadh, he has lent his name and concepts to “Beast Land,” a temporary theme-park-style experience running from Nov. 13 to Dec. 27, featuring obstacle courses and game-style challenges reminiscent of his online videos.
The collaboration comes amid a broader push by Riyadh Season to cement the Saudi capital’s status as a major entertainment destination. Last year’s edition attracted more than 20 million visitors from 135 countries, and organizers say they expect greater numbers this year.
