A SKY News journalist challenged an Israeli spokesperson on allowing international journalists to enter Gaza.

Israel has come under increasing pressure on the issue in recent months and, in February, more than 50 international broadcast journalist signed an open letter to call for “Free and unfettered access to Gaza for all foreign media”.

As of August 9, statistics from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) show that at least 113 journalists and media workers have been killed since Israel’s bombardment of Gaza began, making it the deadliest period for journalists since CPJ started gathering data in 1992.

During an interview with Sky News, Jayne Secker told Israeli spokesperson David Mencer: “It would help if international journalists were allowed in there by Israel, then we would be able to give independent verification but you don’t allow us in so we can’t.”

Mencer had said that “almost nothing, no information leaves Gaza” without it first being verified.

He took issue with Secker’s point, telling her it was “what you call a drive-by” and asked the host to allow him to respond.

“This has been one of the most reported conflicts ever…”

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Secker interjected to add: “But not freely by the international media. The international media, Sky News, are only allowed in accompanied by Israel on very, very limited trips.”

Mencer replied: “It is a very dangerous warzone. For the safety of these journalists, but we’re keeping them out but we will let them in because…”

The host then pointed out that the decision to keep journalists out was a “decision you’ve just acknowledged”.

The Israeli spokesperson continued: “No, the decision I’m taking, I’m telling you about is that we’re focusing on bringing our hostages home. That’s what our emphasis is.

“You know because the story’s getting out and you see them on your screens every single moment of every single day.

“So the story is getting out so this idea that it isn’t getting out is ridiculous. It’s on our front screens all the time.”

Secker replied: “But it’s hard because if I say a fact and then you say it’s Hamas, we can’t independently verify because you won’t let us in so it becomes a circular argument doesn’t it?”

It’s not the first time Mencer has clashed with UK media as we told in April how he clashed with Channel 4 presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy following the death of seven aid workers.