AhlulBayt News Agency: Israeli occupation authorities have barred an Italian journalist from entering the occupied territories, despite his having visited around 15 times in recent years and receiving a Government Press Office journalist card on each occasion.
According to details published Wednesday by the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz, Alessandro Stefanelli’s digital visa was abruptly canceled in July last year without any explanation.
In January, when he attempted to enter through Jordan, he was detained for five hours and ultimately denied entry. Documents handed to him stated that Israeli police accused him of covering events “in a biased, one‑sided manner.”
Stefanelli is a freelance journalist who contributes to major international outlets, including France’s Libération, the U.S. magazine The Atlantic, and Italy’s La Repubblica and La Stampa.
Throughout his years reporting from Israel, he was never arrested or questioned by police. However, last July he received an email informing him that his visa had been canceled and that he must visit the Israeli embassy in Rome to renew it — a visit that provided no explanation for the decision.
Last month, Stefanelli again attempted to enter via Jordan, arriving at the King Hussein (Karama) Bridge, where Israeli Population and Immigration Authority officials stopped and interrogated him. After five hours, he was told he was barred from entering and was sent back to Jordan.
The document he received stated that he was denied entry for “biased coverage against Israel.”
The document further cited Israeli police claims that after October 7, 2023, Stefanelli accused Israel of practicing apartheid in the West Bank — a statement used as grounds to recommend denying him entry.
His case is part of a growing pattern of entry refusals. Recent examples include volunteer doctors attempting to return to Gaza to treat the wounded, UN employees seeking access to the Strip, humanitarian workers, and medical staff who previously worked in the occupied West Bank.
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