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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.

DUBAI: Dubai Lynx, a regional creative festival and awards program organized by Cannes Lions, is now accepting entries for the 2026 awards.

This year sees the addition of a new category, the Luxury Lynx Awards.

Marian Brannelly, global director of Awards, LIONS, told Arab News: “The luxury sector is evolving rapidly.

“Driven by innovation and an increasingly discerning audience, brands in this sector are at the cutting edge of culture, shaping and reframing excellence.”

The award will spotlight “branded communications and solutions that drive business performance and brand loyalty,” and aim to “set a new benchmark” for the regional luxury industry, according to Dubai Lynx.

Other categories have also been updated to reflect the region’s evolving creative landscape.

The Design Lynx Award now features a new section, Transformative Design, which will recognize the role of design in driving innovation while delivering measurable impact.

The Social & Creator Lynx Award, previously known as the Social & Influencer Lynx Award, has been renamed and expanded, with five new sub-categories, to recognize the growing role of influencers and content creators in marketing.

Dubai Lynx is also broadening the scope of Glass: The Award for Change, extending its focus beyond gender to include issues such as disability, race, sexuality and social inequity.

Entrants must specify the community the work represents; explain the problem it addresses and demonstrate its impact on that community.

Other changes include updates to the Digital Craft and Creative Commerce categories, along with the introduction of a new Cultural Engagement sub-category across multiple awards.

“Each year, the awards spotlight the work that not only defines the MENA creative landscape but also demonstrates the power of creativity to deliver real business results and cultural impact,” said Kamille Marchant, director of Dubai Lynx.

“As the industry evolves, Dubai Lynx remains a platform that celebrates those setting new standards, pushing boundaries and driving the future of creativity forward,” she told Arab News.

The deadline for submissions is Jan. 22, 2026, and the awards ceremony will take place on April 1, 2026, in Dubai.