Travellers to Palestine: Four Foreign Reporters Denied Entry in One Week

Israeli authorities barred four foreign journalists from entering Israel and the Palestinian territories over the past week, including French journalist Sylvain Mercadier, whose entry visa was revoked by the Population and Immigration Authority just days after it was issued, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Tuesday.

Key facts

• Four foreign journalists were barred from entry in one week: one French, and one each from Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom.
• French journalist Sylvain Mercadier's entry visa was revoked days after it was issued.
• Mercadier works for the French newspaper L'Humanité and had been scheduled to cover the Israeli elections.
• Earlier in October 2026, American Jewish researcher Sophia Goodfriend was refused entry over posts on X criticising Israel's war on Gaza.
• The Committee to Protect Journalists documented at least six foreign journalists denied entry in the previous year, in a report published on 17 June 2026.

What happened?

Mercadier, who reports for the French newspaper L'Humanité, had been due to cover the Israeli elections. His entry visa was withdrawn by Israel's Population and Immigration Authority only days after being granted. Haaretz noted this was the first time a country's authorities had barred a journalist who had already been granted an entry visa.

L'Humanité said Israeli authorities had not responded to its inquiries. The Population and Immigration Authority declined to answer similar questions from Haaretz.

Who else was affected?

Entry bans also affected three other journalists, from Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom. During questioning of British journalist Skunder Kramani, Israeli investigators asked whether he believed Israel was committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Earlier in October 2026, Israeli authorities refused entry to American Jewish researcher Sophia Goodfriend over posts she published on the X platform criticising Israel's war on Gaza.

Why is this happening?

The measures come amid growing Israeli restrictions on foreign journalists, according to the report. International media outlets continue to be barred from independently entering the Gaza Strip since the war began in October 2023, with entry permitted only in limited cases through tours accompanied by the Israeli military.

Haaretz also reported that the Israeli army arrested Mercadier in Syria before releasing him after questioning. The army said at the time that the arrest was due to his approaching Israeli soldiers.

What this means for travellers

Foreign journalists planning to travel to Israel or the Palestinian territories should be aware that entry visas already issued have been revoked in at least one case, and that refusal of entry has also been linked to social media posts and to answers given during questioning. Travellers in this category may wish to confirm their visa status shortly before departure.

The Committee to Protect Journalists documented at least six foreign journalists denied entry to Israel and the Palestinian territories during the previous year in a report published on 17 June 2026. No further figures or policy changes have been announced.