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Journalist Deported
Israeli authorities deported French journalist Alice Froussard after refusing her entry at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport on June 10, 2026, despite her holding the required travel authorization and applying for a press visa to work in the West Bank.
Minister of Diaspora and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli announced on social media that Froussard was deported following the ministry's recommendation, accusing her of supporting Hamas and stating she "claims that the October 7 massacre must be viewed in context."
Radio France Internationale (RFI), Froussard's employer, condemned the deportation as "an obstacle to press freedom" and noted Israeli authorities did not provide any justification for the decision.
The Foreign Press Association described the accusations against Froussard as "outrageous," emphasizing that she had been authorized to travel and work in the region prior to her arrival.
Accusations and Reactions
Israeli officials accused Froussard of making hostile statements about Israel, including legitimizing the October 7 attack, describing Israeli military actions in Gaza as a "massacre," and accusing Israel of apartheid.
Amichai Chikli celebrated the deportation on X, stating, "Anyone who supports Hamas and the boycott movement against Israel will not be allowed to enter."
The French Embassy in Israel expressed strong dissatisfaction with the deportation, and France activated diplomatic support channels for Froussard, though acknowledging the decision falls within Israeli sovereign authority.
RFI and the France 24 journalists' association condemned the move, with the latter noting it comes amid a "troubling trend of increasing restrictions imposed on journalists seeking to cover news in the region."
Press Freedom and Conflict Context
Froussard has reported for major French media outlets including RFI, Le Figaro, TV5Monde, and Mediapart, and has spent six years living and working in Jerusalem and Ramallah.
“Israeli authorities have deported a French journalist who has often been critical of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and its policies in the occupied West Bank”
Press freedom groups have condemned Israel for restricting media coverage and targeting journalists since the Gaza war began in October 2023, with at least 258 journalists and media workers killed by Israeli forces.
The Foreign Press Association stated, "This is not the first case in which the Israeli government decides that the journalistic coverage is ‘one-sided.’"
The deportation highlights Israel's efforts to suppress international coverage of its siege of Gaza and invasion of Lebanon, with no foreign reporters allowed to enter Gaza since the conflict began, forcing Palestinian journalists to report extensively on their own suffering.
