31 dec 2013
Tadhamun Foundation for Human Rights said that the Israeli intelligence officers are still interrogating the doctoral student and journalist Bilal Dofesh, who is held in Petah Tikva interrogation center, despite suffering a nervous breakdown. Dofesh, 35, from al-Khalil, is a doctoral student at Cyprus University and works in the field of photography and production of documentaries.
Lawyer at Tadhamun Foundation Mohammed Abed, who visited the detainee, said that Dofesh suffered a nervous breakdown during his arrest on November 24, 2013, and that he did not eat for 3 days because of the ongoing daily interrogation.
He pointed out that the Israeli investigators placed Bilal on a lie detector three times, and subjected him to psychological torture and sleep deprivation.
The journalist will appear before the Israeli court in Ofer on the first of January.
Munther Dofesh, Bilal's older brother, told Tadhamun Foundation that the occupation forces arrested his brother at the Karama border crossing, between Jordan and the West Bank, as he came with a Cypriot media delegation to film a documentary in the city of Ramallah.
Lawyer at Tadhamun Foundation Mohammed Abed, who visited the detainee, said that Dofesh suffered a nervous breakdown during his arrest on November 24, 2013, and that he did not eat for 3 days because of the ongoing daily interrogation.
He pointed out that the Israeli investigators placed Bilal on a lie detector three times, and subjected him to psychological torture and sleep deprivation.
The journalist will appear before the Israeli court in Ofer on the first of January.
Munther Dofesh, Bilal's older brother, told Tadhamun Foundation that the occupation forces arrested his brother at the Karama border crossing, between Jordan and the West Bank, as he came with a Cypriot media delegation to film a documentary in the city of Ramallah.
28 dec 2013
Many Palestinian young men and anti-settlement activists suffered bullet and tear gas injuries during violent clashes on Friday afternoon with the Israeli occupation forces in different West Bank areas. Three Palestinian young men suffered live bullet injuries and many others suffered tear gas suffocation during the confrontations that took place at the western entrance to Silwad town, east of Ramallah city.
Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian information center (PIC) reporter that the IOF used silenced firearms during the events, affirming that all the wounded young men, including a 16-year-old kid Ramzi Hamed, were rushed to Ramallah hospital.
Manal Al-Tamimi, a female anti-settlement activist, and two journalists working for French and Turkish news agencies also suffered serious bullet injuries in their legs when the IOF violently attacked a peaceful march protesting Israel's settlement activities in Nabi Saleh village to the north of Ramallah.
Eyewitnesses said that Tamimi was shot at point-blank range, which caused her to suffer a leg fracture.
In Bil'in village, some foreign and Palestinian activists in addition to a journalists suffered bullet and tear gas injuries during their participation in the weekly anti-wall march held after Friday prayers.
The IOF also clashed with dozens of angry Palestinian young men outside Ofer jail, south of Ramallah, and used excessive force to disperse them.
In Budrus village to the west of Ramallah, the IOF attacked Palestinian homes with tear gas grenades following clashes with young men near the segregation wall there.
Similar clashes erupted in Eizariya town, east of occupied Jerusalem, between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian young men protesting the segregation wall.
Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian information center (PIC) reporter that the IOF used silenced firearms during the events, affirming that all the wounded young men, including a 16-year-old kid Ramzi Hamed, were rushed to Ramallah hospital.
Manal Al-Tamimi, a female anti-settlement activist, and two journalists working for French and Turkish news agencies also suffered serious bullet injuries in their legs when the IOF violently attacked a peaceful march protesting Israel's settlement activities in Nabi Saleh village to the north of Ramallah.
Eyewitnesses said that Tamimi was shot at point-blank range, which caused her to suffer a leg fracture.
In Bil'in village, some foreign and Palestinian activists in addition to a journalists suffered bullet and tear gas injuries during their participation in the weekly anti-wall march held after Friday prayers.
The IOF also clashed with dozens of angry Palestinian young men outside Ofer jail, south of Ramallah, and used excessive force to disperse them.
In Budrus village to the west of Ramallah, the IOF attacked Palestinian homes with tear gas grenades following clashes with young men near the segregation wall there.
Similar clashes erupted in Eizariya town, east of occupied Jerusalem, between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian young men protesting the segregation wall.
27 dec 2013
A photographer was injured and dozens suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation as Israeli forces dispersed a demonstration in Bilin near Ramallah.
Israeli forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas and stun grenades at demonstrators as they neared their lands close to the wall.
Photographer Mohammad Yassin, 20, was hit with a rubber coated steel bullet during the protests.
The demonstration was held in celebration of Christmas and the release of Samer Issawi, and in protest of Israeli settlement activity and the separation wall.
Participants, some of whom wore Santa Claus costumes, raised Palestinian flags and chanted songs for unity and resistance.
Since 2005, Bilin villagers have protested on a weekly basis against the Israeli separation wall that runs through their village on land confiscated from local farmers.
Previous protests by Bilin activists have forced the Israeli authorities to re-route the wall, but large chunks of the village lands remain inaccessible to residents because of the route.
Israeli forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas and stun grenades at demonstrators as they neared their lands close to the wall.
Photographer Mohammad Yassin, 20, was hit with a rubber coated steel bullet during the protests.
The demonstration was held in celebration of Christmas and the release of Samer Issawi, and in protest of Israeli settlement activity and the separation wall.
Participants, some of whom wore Santa Claus costumes, raised Palestinian flags and chanted songs for unity and resistance.
Since 2005, Bilin villagers have protested on a weekly basis against the Israeli separation wall that runs through their village on land confiscated from local farmers.
Previous protests by Bilin activists have forced the Israeli authorities to re-route the wall, but large chunks of the village lands remain inaccessible to residents because of the route.
25 dec 2013
Three Palestinians including a child and a cameraman were injured in clashes between Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and young men in Tulkarem city afternoon Wednesday. Local sources said that the confrontations started after IOF soldiers raided the city and fired metal bullets and teargas and sound bombs at citizens.
They said that 13-year-old child Mohammed Haddad was injured with shrapnel of a sound bomb in his head and hand while the cameraman Bara’a Omar was injured in his foot.
The sources pointed out that the third young men was hit a bullet in his foot and was then arrested by the soldiers.
They said that 15 citizens were treated for gas inhalation, adding that the soldiers withdrew to the outskirts of the city.
They said that 13-year-old child Mohammed Haddad was injured with shrapnel of a sound bomb in his head and hand while the cameraman Bara’a Omar was injured in his foot.
The sources pointed out that the third young men was hit a bullet in his foot and was then arrested by the soldiers.
They said that 15 citizens were treated for gas inhalation, adding that the soldiers withdrew to the outskirts of the city.
19 dec 2013
A month away from the end of 2013 witnessed troubling media freedoms violations committed by Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza for the third month, where the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) has monitored a series of arrests, verbal and physical abuse, which is a warning sign of a deterioration in the status of media freedoms.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) also had its share in committing violations against journalists last November, by targeting journalists and preventing them from covering incidents, but most notable was the arrest of Mahmoud Abu Khdeir (Al Quds newspaper correspondent) for a whole month.
And in regards of the IOF's Impunity, the Foreign Press Association (FPA) released a statement on 2nd December 2013, accusing the IOF of firing rubber bullets and sound grenades deliberately at journalists during November, the statement also stated that FPA submitted complaints to Israel regarding ten incidents in which journalists were attacked by the IOF during the last two years, and they were ignored, they also referred to Israel's poor record in investigating of this type of incidents.
The Foreign Press Association feels the IOF statement regarding the Nov. 29 incident at the Qalandiya crossing to be misleading and unsatisfactory. During the incident, troops fired rubber bullets and threw stun grenades directly at a group of working journalists. The IOF's statement does not explain why troops fired rubber bullets at eye-level, rather than at the lower body, which in this incident could have resulted in a fatality. It also gives no answer or explanation as to why someone threw a stun grenade at the back of a group of photographers who had made clear to them that they were walking away from the scene.
Once again, we urge the IOF to investigate the very real concerns that we raised. The photojournalists were clearly identified and there can be no excuses made for the way in which they were treated. By turning a blind eye to clear breaches of protocol, and repeatedly failing to properly investigate similar incidents in the past, we fear the IDF is creating a culture of impunity within its ranks that only serves to perpetuate an already dangerous situation.
The FPA statement coincided with the end of MADA's campaign "International Day to End Impunity", under the theme "Yes to holding freedom for expression offenders accountable".
The Palestinian violations:
In Selfit on the 1st November 2013, Majdi Taha the manager of Sawt Alghad Radio station was arrested by the Palestinian detectives' for writing a report about a missing girl near the village of Bedya north of West Bank. And in Bethlehem, on Sunday the 10th November 2013, journalist George Canawati, the manager of Radio Bethlehem 2000 was arrested from his home, on the background of his weekly radio show "Amar ya Bald".
In Gaza, on Monday 11th November 2013, the French Agency Cameraman Yahya Hasouna was detained by the Internal Security while preparing a report on the 9th memorial of the Late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat.
Where on Sunday 24th November 2013, members of the intelligence service's of the presidential guards detained the crew of Watan TV; reporter Ibrahim Ankawi (26 years old) and photographer Nael Rajoub (33 years old), while they were preparing a report on the false companies, near the Moqata'a (presidential headquarters) in Ramallah.
In Tulkarem, On Wednesday 13th November 2013, Watan TV correspondent Sami Saai was summoned for investigation by the Preventive Security. And in Gaza on the same day, a group of armed men broke into the home of Al Arabyia TV cameraman and the manager of the broadcast Shabaan Mema, they stole his car and kidnapped him.
The Israeli Occupation Violations:
The Israeli occupation forces arrested Mohamed Abu Khdeir the correspondent of Alquds Newspaper, during his return home from a trip via the Ben-Gurion Airport, on Wednesday 6th November 2013; he was released a month later. And on Friday 15th November 2013, the IOF targeted a group of journalists during their coverage of the weekly peaceful Balain protests.
On Saturday 21st November 2013, Al-Quds TV crew (Mamdouh Hamamra - correspondent and Abd Algani Natsha - cameraman) were prevented by a group of Israeli soldiers from covering the Occupations bulldozing the lands of (Baten Al-Masi) an area south of Al-Khadir village near Bethlehem.
Conclusion and recommendations:
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) condemns all violations against journalists in Palestine, and MADA expresses a grave concern from the violations by Palestinians, and demands the Palestinian officials to end the attacks against journalists and to respect the right to freedom of expression guaranteed Article 19 of the Palestinian Basic Law.
MADA calls upon the civil society to exercise effective pressure on the Israeli Occupation to stop the all violations against journalists, and to respect freedom of expression.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) also had its share in committing violations against journalists last November, by targeting journalists and preventing them from covering incidents, but most notable was the arrest of Mahmoud Abu Khdeir (Al Quds newspaper correspondent) for a whole month.
And in regards of the IOF's Impunity, the Foreign Press Association (FPA) released a statement on 2nd December 2013, accusing the IOF of firing rubber bullets and sound grenades deliberately at journalists during November, the statement also stated that FPA submitted complaints to Israel regarding ten incidents in which journalists were attacked by the IOF during the last two years, and they were ignored, they also referred to Israel's poor record in investigating of this type of incidents.
The Foreign Press Association feels the IOF statement regarding the Nov. 29 incident at the Qalandiya crossing to be misleading and unsatisfactory. During the incident, troops fired rubber bullets and threw stun grenades directly at a group of working journalists. The IOF's statement does not explain why troops fired rubber bullets at eye-level, rather than at the lower body, which in this incident could have resulted in a fatality. It also gives no answer or explanation as to why someone threw a stun grenade at the back of a group of photographers who had made clear to them that they were walking away from the scene.
Once again, we urge the IOF to investigate the very real concerns that we raised. The photojournalists were clearly identified and there can be no excuses made for the way in which they were treated. By turning a blind eye to clear breaches of protocol, and repeatedly failing to properly investigate similar incidents in the past, we fear the IDF is creating a culture of impunity within its ranks that only serves to perpetuate an already dangerous situation.
The FPA statement coincided with the end of MADA's campaign "International Day to End Impunity", under the theme "Yes to holding freedom for expression offenders accountable".
The Palestinian violations:
In Selfit on the 1st November 2013, Majdi Taha the manager of Sawt Alghad Radio station was arrested by the Palestinian detectives' for writing a report about a missing girl near the village of Bedya north of West Bank. And in Bethlehem, on Sunday the 10th November 2013, journalist George Canawati, the manager of Radio Bethlehem 2000 was arrested from his home, on the background of his weekly radio show "Amar ya Bald".
In Gaza, on Monday 11th November 2013, the French Agency Cameraman Yahya Hasouna was detained by the Internal Security while preparing a report on the 9th memorial of the Late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat.
Where on Sunday 24th November 2013, members of the intelligence service's of the presidential guards detained the crew of Watan TV; reporter Ibrahim Ankawi (26 years old) and photographer Nael Rajoub (33 years old), while they were preparing a report on the false companies, near the Moqata'a (presidential headquarters) in Ramallah.
In Tulkarem, On Wednesday 13th November 2013, Watan TV correspondent Sami Saai was summoned for investigation by the Preventive Security. And in Gaza on the same day, a group of armed men broke into the home of Al Arabyia TV cameraman and the manager of the broadcast Shabaan Mema, they stole his car and kidnapped him.
The Israeli Occupation Violations:
The Israeli occupation forces arrested Mohamed Abu Khdeir the correspondent of Alquds Newspaper, during his return home from a trip via the Ben-Gurion Airport, on Wednesday 6th November 2013; he was released a month later. And on Friday 15th November 2013, the IOF targeted a group of journalists during their coverage of the weekly peaceful Balain protests.
On Saturday 21st November 2013, Al-Quds TV crew (Mamdouh Hamamra - correspondent and Abd Algani Natsha - cameraman) were prevented by a group of Israeli soldiers from covering the Occupations bulldozing the lands of (Baten Al-Masi) an area south of Al-Khadir village near Bethlehem.
Conclusion and recommendations:
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) condemns all violations against journalists in Palestine, and MADA expresses a grave concern from the violations by Palestinians, and demands the Palestinian officials to end the attacks against journalists and to respect the right to freedom of expression guaranteed Article 19 of the Palestinian Basic Law.
MADA calls upon the civil society to exercise effective pressure on the Israeli Occupation to stop the all violations against journalists, and to respect freedom of expression.
18 dec 2013
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) raided the city of Tulkarem on Tuesday night and roamed various streets while firing teargas canisters at random. Local sources said that IOF soldiers in four armored vehicles provocatively patrolled the streets of the city and fired teargas and sound bombs at crowded area when citizens threw stones at them.
They said that citizens suffered breathing problems especially inside shops while cameraman Ahmed Qaddoura was slightly injured in his head when shrapnel of a sound bomb hit him.
Confrontations lasted for two hours until the soldiers withdrew from the city, which is the scene of repeated raids the latest of which was yesterday when undercover IOF soldiers kidnapped liberated prisoner Mutsem Iraqi, 25, who was released in the Wafa Al-Ahrar prisoners’ exchange deal.
They said that citizens suffered breathing problems especially inside shops while cameraman Ahmed Qaddoura was slightly injured in his head when shrapnel of a sound bomb hit him.
Confrontations lasted for two hours until the soldiers withdrew from the city, which is the scene of repeated raids the latest of which was yesterday when undercover IOF soldiers kidnapped liberated prisoner Mutsem Iraqi, 25, who was released in the Wafa Al-Ahrar prisoners’ exchange deal.
17 dec 2013
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms on Tuesday released a statement documenting "worrying violations" against media freedoms in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
MADA monitored a series of arrests and verbal and physical abuses in November which it said was a "warning sign of a deterioration in the status of media freedoms."
In Salfit, manager of Sawt Alghad Radio, Majdi Taha, was arrested by Palestinian Authority forces on Nov. 1 after writing a report about a missing girl in the northern West Bank, MADA said.
PA forces detained journalist George Canawati, the manager of Radio Bethlehem 2000, on Nov. 10 after raiding his home, while intelligence services working for the PA presidential guard detained a crew from Watan TV on Nov. 24 while they were preparing a report on false business companies.
In Tulkarem, Watan TV correspondent Sami Saai was summoned for investigation by the PA's preventative security forces.
In the Gaza Strip, Agence France Press cameraman Yahya Hasouna was detained by Hamas security forces on Nov. 11 while preparing a report about the 9th memorial of Yasser Arafat's death, MADA said.
On the same day, armed men broke into the home of Al-Arabiya TV cameraman Shabaan Mema and stole his car.
MADA also noted numerous media violations by Israeli forces.
On Nov. 6, Mohammad Abu Khdeir, a correspondent with al-Quds newspaper, was detained at Ben Gurion airport after returning home from a trip.
He was held by Israeli forces for a month before being released.
In early December, the Foreign Press Association accused the Israeli army of "deliberately targeting" journalists after soldiers fired rubber bullets and threw stun grenades at photojournalists clearly identified as press.
The Tel Aviv-based group, which represents journalists of all foreign media, said troops had directly targeted a group of photographers covering clashes at the Qalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah.
"The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms condemns all violations against journalists in Palestine," MADA said, urging all violations by Palestinian authorities to be investigated.
The group also called on civil society to put pressure on Israeli military forces to stop all violations against journalists and to respect the freedom of expression.
MADA monitored a series of arrests and verbal and physical abuses in November which it said was a "warning sign of a deterioration in the status of media freedoms."
In Salfit, manager of Sawt Alghad Radio, Majdi Taha, was arrested by Palestinian Authority forces on Nov. 1 after writing a report about a missing girl in the northern West Bank, MADA said.
PA forces detained journalist George Canawati, the manager of Radio Bethlehem 2000, on Nov. 10 after raiding his home, while intelligence services working for the PA presidential guard detained a crew from Watan TV on Nov. 24 while they were preparing a report on false business companies.
In Tulkarem, Watan TV correspondent Sami Saai was summoned for investigation by the PA's preventative security forces.
In the Gaza Strip, Agence France Press cameraman Yahya Hasouna was detained by Hamas security forces on Nov. 11 while preparing a report about the 9th memorial of Yasser Arafat's death, MADA said.
On the same day, armed men broke into the home of Al-Arabiya TV cameraman Shabaan Mema and stole his car.
MADA also noted numerous media violations by Israeli forces.
On Nov. 6, Mohammad Abu Khdeir, a correspondent with al-Quds newspaper, was detained at Ben Gurion airport after returning home from a trip.
He was held by Israeli forces for a month before being released.
In early December, the Foreign Press Association accused the Israeli army of "deliberately targeting" journalists after soldiers fired rubber bullets and threw stun grenades at photojournalists clearly identified as press.
The Tel Aviv-based group, which represents journalists of all foreign media, said troops had directly targeted a group of photographers covering clashes at the Qalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah.
"The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms condemns all violations against journalists in Palestine," MADA said, urging all violations by Palestinian authorities to be investigated.
The group also called on civil society to put pressure on Israeli military forces to stop all violations against journalists and to respect the freedom of expression.
