30 dec 2016
The Israeli prison authority on Thursday released Palestinian journalist Qutaiba Qasem, 29, after he spent 25 months in an Israeli jail.
A Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reporter said that Qutaiba, from Bethlehem, was released at al-Dhahirya (Mitar) crossing.
Qasem, who is also a noted political activist, had been taken prisoner in December 2014 at al-Container checkpoint, northeast of Bethlehem.
Immediately following his detention at the time, the Israeli army raided his home and confiscated personal belongings, including computers.
He already served about four years intermittently in Israeli jails, and was detained by the Palestinian Authority security apparatuses several times.
A Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reporter said that Qutaiba, from Bethlehem, was released at al-Dhahirya (Mitar) crossing.
Qasem, who is also a noted political activist, had been taken prisoner in December 2014 at al-Container checkpoint, northeast of Bethlehem.
Immediately following his detention at the time, the Israeli army raided his home and confiscated personal belongings, including computers.
He already served about four years intermittently in Israeli jails, and was detained by the Palestinian Authority security apparatuses several times.
28 dec 2016
A total of 584 Israeli violations were monitored by the Palestinian Committee to Support Journalists over 2016 against media freedom.
120 violations against media freedoms were also carried out by Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, according to the monthly report.
The committee called on the international community to work seriously to put an end to press freedom violations in the Palestinian territories and to provide protection for Palestinian journalists.
Most recorded Israeli violations were committed during October 2016 as it marks the first anniversary of the outbreak of Jerusalem Intifada, while the highest recorded Palestinian violations were reported during May 2016.
Journalists and media outlets faced fierce and wide practices of suppression by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) during 2016, the committee pointed out.
The reported Israeli violations include arrests, killing, harassment, ill-treatment, brutal attacks, raids into printing houses and media outlet, searching and confiscating its equipment, targeting right of movement, and travel ban.
The most prominent violation was the killing of the media student Iyad Sajadia, 22, in occupied Jerusalem in March 2016.
The report said that 60 Palestinian journalists were injured during the reported period including four females.
According to the monthly report, 138 journalists were either arrested or summoned for investigation over the past year while 87 raids were committed against journalists’ houses and media outlets.
Four media outlets were also closed by the IOF during 2016 while five others were threatened to be closed under incitement pretexts.
120 violations against media freedoms were also carried out by Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, according to the monthly report.
The committee called on the international community to work seriously to put an end to press freedom violations in the Palestinian territories and to provide protection for Palestinian journalists.
Most recorded Israeli violations were committed during October 2016 as it marks the first anniversary of the outbreak of Jerusalem Intifada, while the highest recorded Palestinian violations were reported during May 2016.
Journalists and media outlets faced fierce and wide practices of suppression by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) during 2016, the committee pointed out.
The reported Israeli violations include arrests, killing, harassment, ill-treatment, brutal attacks, raids into printing houses and media outlet, searching and confiscating its equipment, targeting right of movement, and travel ban.
The most prominent violation was the killing of the media student Iyad Sajadia, 22, in occupied Jerusalem in March 2016.
The report said that 60 Palestinian journalists were injured during the reported period including four females.
According to the monthly report, 138 journalists were either arrested or summoned for investigation over the past year while 87 raids were committed against journalists’ houses and media outlets.
Four media outlets were also closed by the IOF during 2016 while five others were threatened to be closed under incitement pretexts.
26 dec 2016
Dozens of Palestinian journalists staged a sit-in on Monday at the Gaza office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) demanding the release of their colleagues detained in Israeli jails.
The sit-inners, who raised banners condemning targeting journalists, asked Israel to stop harassing the Palestinian journalists especially in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.
Wajih al-Najjar, the spokesman of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, accused the Israeli occupation authorities of attempting to silence the voice of Palestinians in the West Bank through closing Palestinian media outlets and arresting their crews.
He pointed out that the number of the Palestinian journalists in the Israeli jails reached 27, some of whom are on hunger strike and suffering tough conditions and harassment by the jailers.
Palestinian journalists are targeted because they report the real image of the Israeli occupation to the outside world, he added.
Al-Najjar appealed to the international press institutions to work hard and pressure Israel to release the detained journalists and the rest of the Palestinian detainees, accusing them of remaining silent despite the Israeli crimes.
The sit-inners, who raised banners condemning targeting journalists, asked Israel to stop harassing the Palestinian journalists especially in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.
Wajih al-Najjar, the spokesman of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, accused the Israeli occupation authorities of attempting to silence the voice of Palestinians in the West Bank through closing Palestinian media outlets and arresting their crews.
He pointed out that the number of the Palestinian journalists in the Israeli jails reached 27, some of whom are on hunger strike and suffering tough conditions and harassment by the jailers.
Palestinian journalists are targeted because they report the real image of the Israeli occupation to the outside world, he added.
Al-Najjar appealed to the international press institutions to work hard and pressure Israel to release the detained journalists and the rest of the Palestinian detainees, accusing them of remaining silent despite the Israeli crimes.
24 dec 2016
Israeli forces, on Friday, suppressed Bethlehem’s “Santa Claus March,” shooting tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets at participants, with many suffering from tear gas inhalation.
A number of demonstrators, including five journalists and foreigners, participated in a march near Israeli checkpoint 300, in the north of Bethlehem, which separates residents from Jerusalem.
The march, which includes participants dressing up as Santa Claus, close to the Christian holiday of Christmas, was launched under the banner “Terrorism and Occupation are Two Sides of the Same Coin,” and demanded the opening of Israeli checkpoints for Christian tourists to celebrate the holiday in the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ.
A Ma’an News Agency reporter witnessed Israeli forces fire rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas into the crowd, which caused a number of participants to suffer from inhalation. Five journalists were also injured, including the cameraman for the Jordanian al-Roya TV Muhammad Shoudha. Israeli forces reportedly fired tear gas canisters directly at his foot.
An Israeli border police spokesperson was reported to have said that “15 men in the afternoon threw rocks at Israeli soldiers,” he said, adding that “some of them were dressed as Santa Claus and tried to cross the checkpoint between Bethlehem and Jerusalem.”
The spokesperson also said that two Israeli soldiers were injured by rocks being thrown at them. The injuries were reported as light.
This was the second such march to be organized this year, in Bethlehem, for the Christian holidays. Israeli-imposed restrictions on Palestinian movement, regulated by more than 196 illegal Israeli settlements scattered across Palestinian territory, more than a hundred Israeli checkpoints and physical obstacles, and the construction of the Israeli separation wall has continued to strain the movement of Palestinians, and has caused the tourism industry to plummet.
Christmas is typically a time of year where Bethlehem receives droves of Christian tourists visiting the Nativity Church in the Old City. However, activists have pointed out that the tourism industry has severely declined, with Israeli authorities continuing to tighten control over Palestinian movement, as the Israeli occupation now enters its 50th year.
A number of demonstrators, including five journalists and foreigners, participated in a march near Israeli checkpoint 300, in the north of Bethlehem, which separates residents from Jerusalem.
The march, which includes participants dressing up as Santa Claus, close to the Christian holiday of Christmas, was launched under the banner “Terrorism and Occupation are Two Sides of the Same Coin,” and demanded the opening of Israeli checkpoints for Christian tourists to celebrate the holiday in the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ.
A Ma’an News Agency reporter witnessed Israeli forces fire rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas into the crowd, which caused a number of participants to suffer from inhalation. Five journalists were also injured, including the cameraman for the Jordanian al-Roya TV Muhammad Shoudha. Israeli forces reportedly fired tear gas canisters directly at his foot.
An Israeli border police spokesperson was reported to have said that “15 men in the afternoon threw rocks at Israeli soldiers,” he said, adding that “some of them were dressed as Santa Claus and tried to cross the checkpoint between Bethlehem and Jerusalem.”
The spokesperson also said that two Israeli soldiers were injured by rocks being thrown at them. The injuries were reported as light.
This was the second such march to be organized this year, in Bethlehem, for the Christian holidays. Israeli-imposed restrictions on Palestinian movement, regulated by more than 196 illegal Israeli settlements scattered across Palestinian territory, more than a hundred Israeli checkpoints and physical obstacles, and the construction of the Israeli separation wall has continued to strain the movement of Palestinians, and has caused the tourism industry to plummet.
Christmas is typically a time of year where Bethlehem receives droves of Christian tourists visiting the Nativity Church in the Old City. However, activists have pointed out that the tourism industry has severely declined, with Israeli authorities continuing to tighten control over Palestinian movement, as the Israeli occupation now enters its 50th year.
21 dec 2016
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) broke into the house of the Palestinian journalist Emad Saeed on Wednesday in Deir Ibzi village to the west of Ramallah city and searched it.
According to local sources, an Israeli military force raided the house, searched it and tampered with its contents but did not confiscate anything.
The IOF closed on Monday the northwest entrance of the village with concrete blocks after a shooting attack against an Israeli settlers’ bus near the village.
The entrances to a number of villages in western Ramallah province are still closed, and the Israeli forces are still conducting search operations in the Palestinian houses during night hours after three shooting attacks were carried out in the area in one week.
According to local sources, an Israeli military force raided the house, searched it and tampered with its contents but did not confiscate anything.
The IOF closed on Monday the northwest entrance of the village with concrete blocks after a shooting attack against an Israeli settlers’ bus near the village.
The entrances to a number of villages in western Ramallah province are still closed, and the Israeli forces are still conducting search operations in the Palestinian houses during night hours after three shooting attacks were carried out in the area in one week.
19 dec 2016
Salama Maarouf, general manager of the government media office in Gaza, called in a press conference held on Sunday evening for cancelling Israel’s membership from the International Federation of Journalists.
Maarouf pointed out that Israel carried out more than 600 press violations since the beginning of 2016 in total violation of international laws and norms.
The reported 600 press violations include the killing of 53 Palestinian journalists and the arrest of 137 others, 24 of them are still held behind Israeli bars.
Maarouf hailed the heroic sacrifices made by the Palestinian journalists to expose Israel’s ugly image.
He announced the start of the day of solidarity with Palestinian journalists on December 31st that would include various activities in support of journalists.
He pointed out that the activities would continue for ten days, with cooperation from several institutions.
He added that the activities will begin with the football championship and with the cooperation of several institutions, including the Ministry of Sports and Amwaj Media. The football league designated a Palestinian journalist day championship for December 21st and 22nd.
The Palestinian government in Gaza has adopted the date of December 31st, each year, to honor the Palestinian journalists, in recognition of their sacrifices.
Maarouf pointed out that Israel carried out more than 600 press violations since the beginning of 2016 in total violation of international laws and norms.
The reported 600 press violations include the killing of 53 Palestinian journalists and the arrest of 137 others, 24 of them are still held behind Israeli bars.
Maarouf hailed the heroic sacrifices made by the Palestinian journalists to expose Israel’s ugly image.
He announced the start of the day of solidarity with Palestinian journalists on December 31st that would include various activities in support of journalists.
He pointed out that the activities would continue for ten days, with cooperation from several institutions.
He added that the activities will begin with the football championship and with the cooperation of several institutions, including the Ministry of Sports and Amwaj Media. The football league designated a Palestinian journalist day championship for December 21st and 22nd.
The Palestinian government in Gaza has adopted the date of December 31st, each year, to honor the Palestinian journalists, in recognition of their sacrifices.
Head of the Palestinian government media office in Gaza, Salama Ma’rouf, has announced a day of solidarity with Palestinian journalists, coinciding on December 31st, and to include various activities in support.
Ma’rouf said, during a press conference on Sunday, that the activities would continue for ten days, with cooperation from several institutions.
He added that the activities will began with the football league and with the cooperation of several institutions, including the Ministry of Sports and Amwaj Media. The football league deisgnated a Palestinian journalist day championship for December 21st and 22nd.
According to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, a seminar about social responsibility towards Palestinian journalists is to be held on 26 December.
Ma’rouf explained that the activities will conclude on 31 December, with the honoring of disabled journalists, during which a display regarding journalists’ sacrifices will featured.
He praised the role of Palestinian journalists and their acts of heroism which help in resisting the Israeli military occupation, and called for serious support, from all interested international media organizations, in stopping Israeli violations against journalists.
The Palestinian government in Gaza has adopted the date of December 31st, each year, for this purpose, in gratitude of their sacrifices.
Ma’rouf said, during a press conference on Sunday, that the activities would continue for ten days, with cooperation from several institutions.
He added that the activities will began with the football league and with the cooperation of several institutions, including the Ministry of Sports and Amwaj Media. The football league deisgnated a Palestinian journalist day championship for December 21st and 22nd.
According to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, a seminar about social responsibility towards Palestinian journalists is to be held on 26 December.
Ma’rouf explained that the activities will conclude on 31 December, with the honoring of disabled journalists, during which a display regarding journalists’ sacrifices will featured.
He praised the role of Palestinian journalists and their acts of heroism which help in resisting the Israeli military occupation, and called for serious support, from all interested international media organizations, in stopping Israeli violations against journalists.
The Palestinian government in Gaza has adopted the date of December 31st, each year, for this purpose, in gratitude of their sacrifices.
15 dec 2016
Israeli authorities Monday extended for the third time prominent Palestinian journalist Omar Nazzal’s administrative detention -- internment without charge or trial -- for an additional three months, according to a statement released Tuesday by prisoners’ rights group Addameer.
According to Addameer, Nazzal’s detention was extended once again despite the fact that his second renewal was on Nov. 21 when Israeli authorities extended his detention for one-and-a-half months, as the imprisoned journalist was expected to be released on Dec. 24.
Nazzal, a member of the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate, was detained by Israeli forces in April and placed under Israel's widely condemnded policy of administrative detention, where he launched a hunger strike on Aug. 4.
Nazzal said at the time that his decision to begin a hunger strike was to protest his own administrative detention, as well as that of fellow prisoner Bilal Kayid.
Nazzal’s wife Marilyn told Arabic media outlet Wattan News that Nazzal ended his hunger strike on Aug. 22..
In August, the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS) announced that the group would organize a solidarity sit-in to support Nazzal.
Members of the International Federation of Journalists also declared their support at the time for journalists held in administrative detention, and had plans to officially demand that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu release all Palestinian journalists held without charge or trial from Israel’s prisons.
Israel has stepped up a crackdown on Palestinian journalists and media organizations since a wave of unrest swept the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel last October. While the Israeli authorities have said those targeted were responsible for incitement against Israel, rights groups argue the crackdown is a blatant violation of media freedoms.
Israel’s policy of administrative detention, almost exclusively used against Palestinians, has been widely criticized by rights group which have accused Israel of using the policy to erode Palestinian political and social life by detaining scores of Palestinians without proof of wrongdoing.
According to Addameer, Nazzal’s detention was extended once again despite the fact that his second renewal was on Nov. 21 when Israeli authorities extended his detention for one-and-a-half months, as the imprisoned journalist was expected to be released on Dec. 24.
Nazzal, a member of the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate, was detained by Israeli forces in April and placed under Israel's widely condemnded policy of administrative detention, where he launched a hunger strike on Aug. 4.
Nazzal said at the time that his decision to begin a hunger strike was to protest his own administrative detention, as well as that of fellow prisoner Bilal Kayid.
Nazzal’s wife Marilyn told Arabic media outlet Wattan News that Nazzal ended his hunger strike on Aug. 22..
In August, the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS) announced that the group would organize a solidarity sit-in to support Nazzal.
Members of the International Federation of Journalists also declared their support at the time for journalists held in administrative detention, and had plans to officially demand that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu release all Palestinian journalists held without charge or trial from Israel’s prisons.
Israel has stepped up a crackdown on Palestinian journalists and media organizations since a wave of unrest swept the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel last October. While the Israeli authorities have said those targeted were responsible for incitement against Israel, rights groups argue the crackdown is a blatant violation of media freedoms.
Israel’s policy of administrative detention, almost exclusively used against Palestinians, has been widely criticized by rights group which have accused Israel of using the policy to erode Palestinian political and social life by detaining scores of Palestinians without proof of wrongdoing.
9 dec 2016
Chief editor of the Falastin newspaper Waleed Ali was released on Thursday evening from an Israeli jail, where he had spent a total of 22 years.
A PIC news correspondent said journalist Ali had spent 22 years in Israeli lock-ups in several earlier arrests and that he was first arrested on April 21, 1993.
In 1993 and 1995 he served two administrative prison-terms respectively for 15 and five months.
In 1995 he was sentenced to five years in jail. He was rearrested in 2001 for the fourth time and jailed administratively for five years.
A prolific writer, Ali produced several religious and literary pieces of writing in Israeli prisons.
A PIC news correspondent said journalist Ali had spent 22 years in Israeli lock-ups in several earlier arrests and that he was first arrested on April 21, 1993.
In 1993 and 1995 he served two administrative prison-terms respectively for 15 and five months.
In 1995 he was sentenced to five years in jail. He was rearrested in 2001 for the fourth time and jailed administratively for five years.
A prolific writer, Ali produced several religious and literary pieces of writing in Israeli prisons.
2 dec 2016
Israeli forces committed more than 48 violations against Palestinian journalists during the month of November, the Government Media Office (GMO) in Gaza reported, Thursday.
The GMO published a monthly report in which it documented the violations committed by Israeli forces against the journalists.
The report, according to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, documented the detention of journalists Khaled Ma’lee, Nedal Annatsha, and Anas Abu Deais who were released later, and that of two journalists named Hamza Bernat and Abd al-Azeez. The Israeli courts extended the detention of Nedal Annatsha, Ibraheem Abu Safeya, Omar Nazzal and Anas Abu Dabas.
It also documented the injury of three journalists, the arson of two press cars and the raids of nine media facilities; six of them were printing houses and three were the homes of journalists.
The report also documented seven violations committed against journalists in Israeli jails. Israeli authorities imposed fines on three journalists as a condition to be released. The patient journalist Bassam Assayeh also reportedly suffered from medical negligence.
It also documented one case of threatening a journalist and closing the facebook account of journalist Khaled Ma’lee. It also banned four journalists from traveling, some of them from Gaza.
The monthly report also documented eight violations committed by Palestinian Authority against journalists in the occupied West Bank.
The GMO published a monthly report in which it documented the violations committed by Israeli forces against the journalists.
The report, according to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, documented the detention of journalists Khaled Ma’lee, Nedal Annatsha, and Anas Abu Deais who were released later, and that of two journalists named Hamza Bernat and Abd al-Azeez. The Israeli courts extended the detention of Nedal Annatsha, Ibraheem Abu Safeya, Omar Nazzal and Anas Abu Dabas.
It also documented the injury of three journalists, the arson of two press cars and the raids of nine media facilities; six of them were printing houses and three were the homes of journalists.
The report also documented seven violations committed against journalists in Israeli jails. Israeli authorities imposed fines on three journalists as a condition to be released. The patient journalist Bassam Assayeh also reportedly suffered from medical negligence.
It also documented one case of threatening a journalist and closing the facebook account of journalist Khaled Ma’lee. It also banned four journalists from traveling, some of them from Gaza.
The monthly report also documented eight violations committed by Palestinian Authority against journalists in the occupied West Bank.
26 nov 2016
The Palestinian media delegation ended on Saturday its four-day visit to Cairo.
A Palestinian media delegation, comprising 31 journalists, arrived on Tuesday to Cairo to participate in a media conference about the Palestinian cause organized by al-Ahram newspaper.
The delegation visited the Egyptian Media City and held meetings in other media institutions in the country including al-Ahram newspaper and Middle East News Agency.
The delegation members expressed gratitude to the good hospitality and warm reception they were offered during the visit.
A Palestinian media delegation, comprising 31 journalists, arrived on Tuesday to Cairo to participate in a media conference about the Palestinian cause organized by al-Ahram newspaper.
The delegation visited the Egyptian Media City and held meetings in other media institutions in the country including al-Ahram newspaper and Middle East News Agency.
The delegation members expressed gratitude to the good hospitality and warm reception they were offered during the visit.