JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel prevented 20 European Union diplomats from entering the Gaza Strip.
The consul generals were scheduled to meet Thursday with business leaders and human rights activists in Gaza, the Israeli daily Ha’aretz reported. Israel Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lerner told the newspaper that Israel had told the consuls Wednesday that they would not be allowed to cross over, but they still tried to cross into Gaza on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, foreign journalists have not been allowed to cross into Gaza, the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.
Lerner told the newspaper that while there has been no order issued to keep the journalists out of Gaza, entry has been allowed only on the basis of humanitarian concerns since the renewal of rocket attacks last week.
The Foreign Press Association has appealed to the government to allow journalists entry into Gaza, but without success.
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