The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed alarm Monday over new directives issued by Israeli authorities ordering international media to obtain prior approval from the military censor before broadcasting news from combat zones or missile impact areas in Israel.

The move represents a significant escalation in efforts to control wartime reporting. CPJ regional director Sara Qudah voiced deep concern over the “escalating efforts to suppress press freedom through censorship and intimidation,” emphasizing that silencing the press “deprives the world of a clear, unfiltered view of the reality unfolding in the region.”

The Union of Journalists in Israel also denounced the move. Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the decision, arguing it damages Israeli diplomacy and is unenforceable considering smartphone ubiquity.