The governments of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom issued the following statement:
"On September 24, during the High-Level Week of the United Nations General Assembly, France, along with Reporters Without Borders, organized an event dedicated to the situation of journalists in Gaza. At the end of this event, this statement was endorsed by 21 countries:
"We met together with representatives of civil society to discuss the protection of journalists in Gaza and access to information.
"We pay tribute to the journalists killed and injured in Gaza while carrying out their work.
"We reaffirm our commitment to the safety of journalists and media professionals in Gaza and demand that their protection be ensured, in accordance with international humanitarian law. We call on the Israeli authorities to allow journalists who wish to leave the Gaza Strip to do so and to authorize access for independent foreign media to Gaza.
"We recall our commitment to the principles of press freedom and freedom of expression. Safe access to information is essential for journalists and media professionals to be able to do their work. A free and pluralistic press is necessary for the functioning of democracy."
