Executives from the Associated Press, Reuters, New York Times, BBC, CNN and other news organizations have signed a letter criticizing the Israeli government’s decision to ban journalists from entering Gaza. In a letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the executives wrote, “We are gravely concerned about the prolonged and unprecedented denial of access to the Gaza Strip for the international media.” Israel has virtually sealed off the Gaza Strip and cut off aid and fuel shipments. A spokesperson for Israel’s Defense Ministry said Israel was displeased with international media coverage, which he said inflated Palestinian suffering and did not make clear that Israel’s measures were in response to Palestinian violence.