Israel deports French journalist Alice Froussard and bars her entry
France condemns the move as an attack on press freedom amid growing challenges for journalists covering the region.
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Israeli authorities on Thursday denied entry to French journalist Alice Froussard, who has been covering the Israeli Palestinian conflict for several years on behalf of French public media outlets.
Radio France Internationale condemned the decision, describing it as "an obstacle to press freedom" and expressing its support for the journalist.
Froussard had arrived at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on Wednesday afternoon, where Israeli authorities refused to allow her to enter the country. She spent the night at the airport before returning to Paris on a flight that departed on Thursday morning.
Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli announced the decision to deport her. He said that Froussard had "sought to return to and work permanently in Israel," adding that "she was deported this morning (Thursday) and placed on a flight back to France" following a recommendation from the ministry.
Chikli also accused the French journalist of supporting Hamas.
For its part, Radio France Internationale said in a statement: "Journalist Alice Froussard was denied entry into Israeli territory, despite holding the required travel authorization and having duly applied for a journalist visa to work in the occupied West Bank."
The statement added: "The Israeli authorities did not provide Radio France Internationale with any explanation for this decision."
It continued: "The management of Radio France Internationale expresses its full support for Alice Froussard and protests this expulsion, which constitutes an obstacle to press freedom at a time when journalists are facing increasing difficulties in covering ongoing events in the region."
Froussard's entry ban came two days after Paris announced that it had barred far right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering French territory because of his support for the annexation of the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, and for the resumption of settlement activity in the Gaza Strip.