3 june 2015
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) carried out last month 35 violations against Palestinian journalists, Palestinian Information Ministry revealed Tuesday.
The ministry has documented more than 30 violations against journalists as part of the Israeli systematic policy to prevent them from covering the occupation’s real image.
The documented violations include attacking journalists, targeting them with tear gas bombs, ill-treatment, humiliation, arrests, confiscation of their equipments, travel ban, and preventing them from covering events.
Israeli violations have notably escalated in occupied Jerusalem over the past period, where journalists were targeted by both Israeli forces and settlers.
The ministry has documented more than 30 violations against journalists as part of the Israeli systematic policy to prevent them from covering the occupation’s real image.
The documented violations include attacking journalists, targeting them with tear gas bombs, ill-treatment, humiliation, arrests, confiscation of their equipments, travel ban, and preventing them from covering events.
Israeli violations have notably escalated in occupied Jerusalem over the past period, where journalists were targeted by both Israeli forces and settlers.
1 june 2015
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, on Monday at dawn, nine Palestinians in different parts of the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem, and handed a family near Jenin an order to demolish their artesian well. One Palestinian was kidnapped on Sunday evening.
Media sources in Bethlehem said several army vehicles invaded Husan town, west of the city, broke into and violently searched several homes and kidnapped three Palestinians.
The kidnapped residents has been identified as Mohammad Jamal Zaghoul, Mohammad Ali Hamamra and Mohammad Ahmad Shousha.
Soldiers also invaded the Balata refugee camp, in the northern West bank city of Nablus, and kidnapped Mohammad Salah Hejazi, 31, after searching his home.
One Palestinian, identified as Sameh Othman Ramadan, from Tal village near Nablus, was kidnapped on Sunday evening on a military roadblock near the village.
In addition, soldiers invaded the Dahia area, in Nablus city, and kidnapped a Palestinian journalist, identified as Ahmad al-Beetawi, 33, after storming his home and searching it.
Also on Monday at dawn, soldiers invaded the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and the Jaba’ nearby town, and kidnapped two Palestinians.
Resident Ghassan al-Atrash, 40 years of age, was kidnapped from his home in the Eastern Neighborhood in Jenin.
The soldiers also invaded and searched the homes of his brothers ‘Ala, Husam and Adnan, in addition to their father’s home.
The soldiers also invaded Ta’nak village, west of Jenin, and handed resident Suleiman Suleiman a military warrant, ordering him to demolish his artesian well, under the pretext of lacking the needed permits.
In Jaba’ town, south of Jenin, soldiers invaded several homes, violently searched them, and kidnapped Amin Emad Kan’aan, 20 years of age.
The soldiers also clashed with local youths, and fired scores of gas bombs and rounds of live ammunition, causing many residents to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Two more Palestinians were kidnapped from their homes in Silwan town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, after the soldiers searched their homes and many other homes in the town.
The two have been identified as Khalil Odeh and Amer al-Abbassi; they were moved to an interrogation facility in the city.
On Monday morning, soldiers installed a roadblock on the main entrance of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, and detained several Palestinians while investigating their ID cards and interrogating them.
Media sources in Bethlehem said several army vehicles invaded Husan town, west of the city, broke into and violently searched several homes and kidnapped three Palestinians.
The kidnapped residents has been identified as Mohammad Jamal Zaghoul, Mohammad Ali Hamamra and Mohammad Ahmad Shousha.
Soldiers also invaded the Balata refugee camp, in the northern West bank city of Nablus, and kidnapped Mohammad Salah Hejazi, 31, after searching his home.
One Palestinian, identified as Sameh Othman Ramadan, from Tal village near Nablus, was kidnapped on Sunday evening on a military roadblock near the village.
In addition, soldiers invaded the Dahia area, in Nablus city, and kidnapped a Palestinian journalist, identified as Ahmad al-Beetawi, 33, after storming his home and searching it.
Also on Monday at dawn, soldiers invaded the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and the Jaba’ nearby town, and kidnapped two Palestinians.
Resident Ghassan al-Atrash, 40 years of age, was kidnapped from his home in the Eastern Neighborhood in Jenin.
The soldiers also invaded and searched the homes of his brothers ‘Ala, Husam and Adnan, in addition to their father’s home.
The soldiers also invaded Ta’nak village, west of Jenin, and handed resident Suleiman Suleiman a military warrant, ordering him to demolish his artesian well, under the pretext of lacking the needed permits.
In Jaba’ town, south of Jenin, soldiers invaded several homes, violently searched them, and kidnapped Amin Emad Kan’aan, 20 years of age.
The soldiers also clashed with local youths, and fired scores of gas bombs and rounds of live ammunition, causing many residents to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Two more Palestinians were kidnapped from their homes in Silwan town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, after the soldiers searched their homes and many other homes in the town.
The two have been identified as Khalil Odeh and Amer al-Abbassi; they were moved to an interrogation facility in the city.
On Monday morning, soldiers installed a roadblock on the main entrance of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, and detained several Palestinians while investigating their ID cards and interrogating them.
29 may 2015
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) wrapped up a two-day training workshop for journalists in Jerusalem on the subject of freedom of expression and media legislations,
On the first day, the media lecturer at Al-Quds University Ms. Shireen Najeeb presented the international and national concepts of freedom of expression and its status in Palestine, as well as the negative impacts of the violations against freedom of expression on the media and society. Najeeb gave an overview of the Palestinian laws related to the media. She explained the differences between the citizens and the public figures and their behavioral expression and their effect on public opinion.
On the second day, Law lecturer at Al-Quds University Ms. Sana' Totah presented media laws including the Israeli media laws, legal protection for journalists and privacy rules. She explained the work of the judiciary and the rules of media coverage of judiciary news.
On the first day, the media lecturer at Al-Quds University Ms. Shireen Najeeb presented the international and national concepts of freedom of expression and its status in Palestine, as well as the negative impacts of the violations against freedom of expression on the media and society. Najeeb gave an overview of the Palestinian laws related to the media. She explained the differences between the citizens and the public figures and their behavioral expression and their effect on public opinion.
On the second day, Law lecturer at Al-Quds University Ms. Sana' Totah presented media laws including the Israeli media laws, legal protection for journalists and privacy rules. She explained the work of the judiciary and the rules of media coverage of judiciary news.
The Palestinian center for development and media freedoms (MADA) welcomes the UN Security Council resolution No. 2222 on the protection of journalists, which was adopted by all members on the day before yesterday (05/27/2015), which called on States and local and regional organizations to take advantage of best practices, experiences, and lessons learned on the protection of journalists, and it condemned all forms of abuses and violations and attacks against journalists during the period of armed conflicts, and it called on all parties in armed conflicts to respect the professional independence and rights of journalists, it also condemned the continued impunity of the aggressors on the journalists, and it called for bringing them to justice.
MADA monitored 465 violations during the past year alone, where the Israeli occupation forces committed 351 violations, including the killing of 17 journalists and media workers during its aggression in the Gaza Strip last summer, yet the IOF the aggressor has not been brought to justice for these crimes nor the ones committed throughout the previous decades, and even though the UN has allocated the 2nd of November as the World Day to end impunity of the aggressors against journalists.
while MADA welcomes this UN Security Council resolution to protect journalists during conflicts, we emphasize the need for the Security Council to take it upon themselves to apply the decision and to punish States and entities who continues its violations against journalists and media freedoms, including the state of Israel, which did not stop its attacks on journalists since the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1967.
The full text of resolution 2222 (2015) reads as follows:
"The Security Council
"Bearing in mind its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security, and underlining the importance of taking measures aimed at conflict prevention and resolution,
"Reaffirming its resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1674 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict and its resolution 1738 (2006) on the protection of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in armed conflicts as well as other relevant resolutions and presidential statements,
"Reaffirming its commitment to the Purposes of the Charter of the United Nations as set out in Article 1 (1-4) of the Charter, and to the Principles of the Charter as set out in Article 2 (1-7) of the Charter, including its commitment to the principles of the political independence, sovereign equality and territorial integrity of all States, and respect for the sovereignty of all States,
"Recalling the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, in particular the Third Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 on the treatment of prisoners of war, and the Additional Protocols of 8 June 1977, in particular article 79 of the Additional Protocol I regarding the protection of journalists engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict,
"Recognizing that the work of journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel often puts them at specific risk of intimidation, harassment and violence in situations of armed conflict,
"Reaffirming that parties to an armed conflict bear the primary responsibility to take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of affected civilians, including those who exercise their right to freedom of expression by seeking, receiving and disseminating information by different means, online as well as offline, in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
"Recognizing the important role of international humanitarian law, and international human rights law as applicable, in protecting journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in armed conflicts,
"Further recognizing that States bear the primary responsibility to respect and ensure the human rights of their citizens, as well as individuals within their territory as provided for by relevant international law,
"Recalling the right to freedom of expression reflected in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the General Assembly in 1948 ("the Universal Declaration"), and recalling also the right to freedom of expression in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights adopted by the General Assembly in 1966 ("ICCPR") and that any restrictions thereon shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary on the grounds set out in paragraph 3 of Article 19 of the ICCPR,
"Deeply concerned at the frequency of acts of violence in many parts of the world against journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel in armed conflict, in particular deliberate attacks in violation of international humanitarian law,
"Emphasizing that there are existing prohibitions under international humanitarian law against attacks intentionally directed against civilians, as such, which in situations of armed conflict constitute war crimes, and recalling the need for States to end impunity for such criminal acts,
"Bearing in mind that impunity for crimes committed against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in armed conflict remains a significant challenge to their protection and that ensuring accountability for crimes committed against them is a key element in preventing future attacks,
"Recognizing that journalists, media professionals and associated personnel can play an important role in protection of civilians and conflict prevention by acting as an early warning mechanism in identifying and reporting potential situations that could result in genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity,
"Reaffirming its condemnation of all incitements to violence against civilians in situations of armed conflict, and condemning the use of the media to incite violence, genocide, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international humanitarian law,
"Recalling that States Parties to the Geneva Conventions have an obligation to search for persons alleged to have committed, or to have ordered to be committed a grave breach of these Conventions, and an obligation to try them before their own courts, regardless of their nationality, or may hand them over for trial to another concerned State provided this State has made out prima facie case against the said persons,
"Further recalling the responsibility of all Member States to comply with their respective obligations to end impunity and to investigate and prosecute those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or other serious violations of international humanitarian law and noting that the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes of international concern committed against civilians has been strengthened through the work on and prosecution of these crimes by the International Criminal Court, in accordance with the principle of complementarity to national criminal jurisdictions as set out in the Rome Statute, ad hoc and mixed tribunals and specialized chambers in national tribunals,
"Expressing deep concern at the growing threat to the safety of journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel posed by terrorist groups and strongly condemning incidents of killings, kidnapping and hostage taking committed by terrorist groups for any purpose, including raising funds or gaining political concessions, and expressing its determination to prevent kidnapping and hostage taking committed by terrorist groups and to secure the safe release of hostages without ransom payments or political concessions, in accordance with applicable international law,
"Stressing the contribution that peacekeeping operations and special political missions, where mandated, can make to international efforts to promote and protect human rights, and the protection of civilians, including journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel including through monitoring and reporting on violations and abuses as well as providing support for national Governments' efforts to promote and protect human rights, and in order to strengthen the fight against impunity for crimes committed against civilians, including journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel,
"Recognizing the importance of a comprehensive, coherent and action-oriented approach, including in early planning, of protection of civilians in situations of armed conflict, stressing, in this regard, the need to adopt a broad strategy of conflict prevention, which addresses the root causes of armed conflict in a comprehensive manner in order to enhance the protection of civilians on a long-term basis, including by promoting sustainable development, poverty eradication, national reconciliation, good governance, democracy, the rule of law and respect for and protection of human rights,
"Acknowledging the important role that regional and subregional organizations can play in ensuring the protection of journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel in armed conflicts and the importance of effective cooperation between the United Nations and those organizations,
"Further acknowledging the specific risks faced by women journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in conduct of their work, and underlining in this context the importance of considering the gender dimension of measures to address their safety in situations of armed conflict,
"Recognizing that the consideration of the issue of protection of journalists in armed conflict by the Security Council is based on the urgency and importance of this issue, and recognizing the valuable role that the Secretary-General can play in providing more information on this issue,
"1. Condemns all violations and abuses committed against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situations of armed conflict, and calls upon all parties to armed conflict to bring an end to such practices;
"2. Affirms that the work of a free, independent and impartial media constitutes one of the essential foundations of a democratic society, and thereby can contribute to the protection of civilians;
"3. Recalls in this regard that journalists, media professionals and associated personnel engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict shall be considered as civilians and shall be respected and protected as such, provided that they take no action adversely affecting their status as civilians. This is without prejudice to the right of war correspondents accredited to the armed forces to the status of prisoners of war provided for in article 4.A.4 of the Third Geneva Convention;
"4. Strongly condemns the prevailing impunity for violations and abuses committed against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situations of armed conflict, which in turn may contribute to the recurrence of these acts;
"5. Emphasized the responsibility of States to comply with the relevant obligations under international law to end impunity and to prosecute those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law;
"6. Urges Member States to take appropriate steps to ensure accountability for crimes committed against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situations of armed conflict and through the conduct of impartial, independent and effective investigations within their jurisdiction and to bring perpetrators of such crimes to justice;
"7. Recalls its demand that all parties to an armed conflict comply fully with the obligations applicable to them under international law related to the protection of civilians in armed conflict, including journalists, media professionals and associated personnel;
"8. Urges the immediate and unconditional release of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel who have been kidnapped or taken as hostages, in situations of armed conflict;
"9. Urges all parties involved in situations of armed conflict to respect the professional independence and rights of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel as civilians;
"10. Recalls also that media equipment and installations constitute civilian objects, and in this respect shall not be the object of attack or of reprisals, unless they are military objectives;
"11. Recognizes the important role that education and training in international humanitarian law can play in supporting efforts to halt and prevent attacks against civilians affected by armed conflict, including journalists, media professionals and associated personnel;
"12. Affirms that United Nations peacekeeping and special political missions, where appropriate should include in their mandated reporting information on specific acts of violence against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situation of armed conflict;
"13. Urges all parties to armed conflict to do their utmost to prevent violations of international humanitarian law against civilians, including journalists, media professionals and associated personnel;
"14. Calls upon Member States to create and maintain, in law and in practice, a safe and enabling environment for journalists, media professionals and associated personnel to perform their work independently and without undue interference in situations of armed conflict;
"15. Stresses the need to ensure better cooperation and coordination at the international level, including among the United Nations and relevant international regional and subregional organizations, including through technical assistance and capacity-building, with regard to promoting and ensuring the safety of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in armed conflicts;
"16. Encourages the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations to share expertise on good practices and lessons learned on protection of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in armed conflict and, in close cooperation, to enhance the coherent and effective implementation of applicable international humanitarian law and relevant Security Council resolutions including those on protection of journalist, media professionals and associated personnel in situations of the armed conflict;
"17. Invites States which have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the additional Protocols I and II of 1977 to the Geneva Conventions at the earliest possible date;
"18. Reaffirms that it will continue to address the issue of protection of journalists in armed conflict;
"19. Requests the Secretary-General to include consistently as a sub-item in his reports on the protection of civilians in armed conflict the issue of the safety and security of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel, including the existence of measures to protect such individuals facing an imminent threat, and to ensure that information on attacks and violence against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel and preventative actions taken to prevent such incidents is included as a specific aspect in relevant country specific reports."
MADA monitored 465 violations during the past year alone, where the Israeli occupation forces committed 351 violations, including the killing of 17 journalists and media workers during its aggression in the Gaza Strip last summer, yet the IOF the aggressor has not been brought to justice for these crimes nor the ones committed throughout the previous decades, and even though the UN has allocated the 2nd of November as the World Day to end impunity of the aggressors against journalists.
while MADA welcomes this UN Security Council resolution to protect journalists during conflicts, we emphasize the need for the Security Council to take it upon themselves to apply the decision and to punish States and entities who continues its violations against journalists and media freedoms, including the state of Israel, which did not stop its attacks on journalists since the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1967.
The full text of resolution 2222 (2015) reads as follows:
"The Security Council
"Bearing in mind its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security, and underlining the importance of taking measures aimed at conflict prevention and resolution,
"Reaffirming its resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1674 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict and its resolution 1738 (2006) on the protection of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in armed conflicts as well as other relevant resolutions and presidential statements,
"Reaffirming its commitment to the Purposes of the Charter of the United Nations as set out in Article 1 (1-4) of the Charter, and to the Principles of the Charter as set out in Article 2 (1-7) of the Charter, including its commitment to the principles of the political independence, sovereign equality and territorial integrity of all States, and respect for the sovereignty of all States,
"Recalling the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, in particular the Third Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 on the treatment of prisoners of war, and the Additional Protocols of 8 June 1977, in particular article 79 of the Additional Protocol I regarding the protection of journalists engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict,
"Recognizing that the work of journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel often puts them at specific risk of intimidation, harassment and violence in situations of armed conflict,
"Reaffirming that parties to an armed conflict bear the primary responsibility to take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of affected civilians, including those who exercise their right to freedom of expression by seeking, receiving and disseminating information by different means, online as well as offline, in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
"Recognizing the important role of international humanitarian law, and international human rights law as applicable, in protecting journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in armed conflicts,
"Further recognizing that States bear the primary responsibility to respect and ensure the human rights of their citizens, as well as individuals within their territory as provided for by relevant international law,
"Recalling the right to freedom of expression reflected in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the General Assembly in 1948 ("the Universal Declaration"), and recalling also the right to freedom of expression in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights adopted by the General Assembly in 1966 ("ICCPR") and that any restrictions thereon shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary on the grounds set out in paragraph 3 of Article 19 of the ICCPR,
"Deeply concerned at the frequency of acts of violence in many parts of the world against journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel in armed conflict, in particular deliberate attacks in violation of international humanitarian law,
"Emphasizing that there are existing prohibitions under international humanitarian law against attacks intentionally directed against civilians, as such, which in situations of armed conflict constitute war crimes, and recalling the need for States to end impunity for such criminal acts,
"Bearing in mind that impunity for crimes committed against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in armed conflict remains a significant challenge to their protection and that ensuring accountability for crimes committed against them is a key element in preventing future attacks,
"Recognizing that journalists, media professionals and associated personnel can play an important role in protection of civilians and conflict prevention by acting as an early warning mechanism in identifying and reporting potential situations that could result in genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity,
"Reaffirming its condemnation of all incitements to violence against civilians in situations of armed conflict, and condemning the use of the media to incite violence, genocide, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international humanitarian law,
"Recalling that States Parties to the Geneva Conventions have an obligation to search for persons alleged to have committed, or to have ordered to be committed a grave breach of these Conventions, and an obligation to try them before their own courts, regardless of their nationality, or may hand them over for trial to another concerned State provided this State has made out prima facie case against the said persons,
"Further recalling the responsibility of all Member States to comply with their respective obligations to end impunity and to investigate and prosecute those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or other serious violations of international humanitarian law and noting that the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes of international concern committed against civilians has been strengthened through the work on and prosecution of these crimes by the International Criminal Court, in accordance with the principle of complementarity to national criminal jurisdictions as set out in the Rome Statute, ad hoc and mixed tribunals and specialized chambers in national tribunals,
"Expressing deep concern at the growing threat to the safety of journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel posed by terrorist groups and strongly condemning incidents of killings, kidnapping and hostage taking committed by terrorist groups for any purpose, including raising funds or gaining political concessions, and expressing its determination to prevent kidnapping and hostage taking committed by terrorist groups and to secure the safe release of hostages without ransom payments or political concessions, in accordance with applicable international law,
"Stressing the contribution that peacekeeping operations and special political missions, where mandated, can make to international efforts to promote and protect human rights, and the protection of civilians, including journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel including through monitoring and reporting on violations and abuses as well as providing support for national Governments' efforts to promote and protect human rights, and in order to strengthen the fight against impunity for crimes committed against civilians, including journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel,
"Recognizing the importance of a comprehensive, coherent and action-oriented approach, including in early planning, of protection of civilians in situations of armed conflict, stressing, in this regard, the need to adopt a broad strategy of conflict prevention, which addresses the root causes of armed conflict in a comprehensive manner in order to enhance the protection of civilians on a long-term basis, including by promoting sustainable development, poverty eradication, national reconciliation, good governance, democracy, the rule of law and respect for and protection of human rights,
"Acknowledging the important role that regional and subregional organizations can play in ensuring the protection of journalists, media professionals, and associated personnel in armed conflicts and the importance of effective cooperation between the United Nations and those organizations,
"Further acknowledging the specific risks faced by women journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in conduct of their work, and underlining in this context the importance of considering the gender dimension of measures to address their safety in situations of armed conflict,
"Recognizing that the consideration of the issue of protection of journalists in armed conflict by the Security Council is based on the urgency and importance of this issue, and recognizing the valuable role that the Secretary-General can play in providing more information on this issue,
"1. Condemns all violations and abuses committed against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situations of armed conflict, and calls upon all parties to armed conflict to bring an end to such practices;
"2. Affirms that the work of a free, independent and impartial media constitutes one of the essential foundations of a democratic society, and thereby can contribute to the protection of civilians;
"3. Recalls in this regard that journalists, media professionals and associated personnel engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict shall be considered as civilians and shall be respected and protected as such, provided that they take no action adversely affecting their status as civilians. This is without prejudice to the right of war correspondents accredited to the armed forces to the status of prisoners of war provided for in article 4.A.4 of the Third Geneva Convention;
"4. Strongly condemns the prevailing impunity for violations and abuses committed against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situations of armed conflict, which in turn may contribute to the recurrence of these acts;
"5. Emphasized the responsibility of States to comply with the relevant obligations under international law to end impunity and to prosecute those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law;
"6. Urges Member States to take appropriate steps to ensure accountability for crimes committed against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situations of armed conflict and through the conduct of impartial, independent and effective investigations within their jurisdiction and to bring perpetrators of such crimes to justice;
"7. Recalls its demand that all parties to an armed conflict comply fully with the obligations applicable to them under international law related to the protection of civilians in armed conflict, including journalists, media professionals and associated personnel;
"8. Urges the immediate and unconditional release of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel who have been kidnapped or taken as hostages, in situations of armed conflict;
"9. Urges all parties involved in situations of armed conflict to respect the professional independence and rights of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel as civilians;
"10. Recalls also that media equipment and installations constitute civilian objects, and in this respect shall not be the object of attack or of reprisals, unless they are military objectives;
"11. Recognizes the important role that education and training in international humanitarian law can play in supporting efforts to halt and prevent attacks against civilians affected by armed conflict, including journalists, media professionals and associated personnel;
"12. Affirms that United Nations peacekeeping and special political missions, where appropriate should include in their mandated reporting information on specific acts of violence against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in situation of armed conflict;
"13. Urges all parties to armed conflict to do their utmost to prevent violations of international humanitarian law against civilians, including journalists, media professionals and associated personnel;
"14. Calls upon Member States to create and maintain, in law and in practice, a safe and enabling environment for journalists, media professionals and associated personnel to perform their work independently and without undue interference in situations of armed conflict;
"15. Stresses the need to ensure better cooperation and coordination at the international level, including among the United Nations and relevant international regional and subregional organizations, including through technical assistance and capacity-building, with regard to promoting and ensuring the safety of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in armed conflicts;
"16. Encourages the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations to share expertise on good practices and lessons learned on protection of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel in armed conflict and, in close cooperation, to enhance the coherent and effective implementation of applicable international humanitarian law and relevant Security Council resolutions including those on protection of journalist, media professionals and associated personnel in situations of the armed conflict;
"17. Invites States which have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the additional Protocols I and II of 1977 to the Geneva Conventions at the earliest possible date;
"18. Reaffirms that it will continue to address the issue of protection of journalists in armed conflict;
"19. Requests the Secretary-General to include consistently as a sub-item in his reports on the protection of civilians in armed conflict the issue of the safety and security of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel, including the existence of measures to protect such individuals facing an imminent threat, and to ensure that information on attacks and violence against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel and preventative actions taken to prevent such incidents is included as a specific aspect in relevant country specific reports."
25 may 2015
The Israeli occupation police in occupied Jerusalem on Sunday released six Palestinian young men after arresting them at the Aqsa Mosque, on condition of staying away from the Islamic holy place for seven days.
Photojournalist Mohamed Qazaz, who works for a local media center, was among the young men who were detained and assaulted by policemen at the Aqsa Mosque.
Qazaz said he was covering the events that erupted when scores of Jewish settlers stormed the Mosque's courtyards under police protection.
The journalist suffered several bruises and injuries during the police attack.
The Israeli police also banned the entry of a young man to the Mosque for one day and another for 15 days as punitive measures for their alleged involvement in the events.
Photojournalist Mohamed Qazaz, who works for a local media center, was among the young men who were detained and assaulted by policemen at the Aqsa Mosque.
Qazaz said he was covering the events that erupted when scores of Jewish settlers stormed the Mosque's courtyards under police protection.
The journalist suffered several bruises and injuries during the police attack.
The Israeli police also banned the entry of a young man to the Mosque for one day and another for 15 days as punitive measures for their alleged involvement in the events.
24 may 2015
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, Sunday, six Palestinian Muslim worshipers in the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied East Jerusalem, as groups of Israeli fanatics stormed the area while chanting and carrying Israeli flags.
The soldiers kidnapped the six Palestinians, and violently beat one of them causing various cuts and bruises, the WAFA Palestinian news agency said.
The kidnapped have been identified as camera operator Mohammad al-Qazzaz, Jarrah Abu Saleh, Tamer Shala’ta, Rami al-Fakhoury, Qussai Dandees and one woman who remained unidentified until the time of this report.
The arrests took place after local worshipers prevented groups of Israeli extremists from storming the courtyards of the mosque, before the soldiers invaded the area through the al-Magharba Gate.
Tension was also mounting near the Chain Gate as groups of Israeli fanatics gathered there while chanting, and trying to prevent the Muslim worshipers from entering the mosque.
Earlier on Sunday, the soldiers and police imposed severe restrictions on the local worshipers, and started pushing them away before kidnapping one woman and a young man.
The soldiers kidnapped the six Palestinians, and violently beat one of them causing various cuts and bruises, the WAFA Palestinian news agency said.
The kidnapped have been identified as camera operator Mohammad al-Qazzaz, Jarrah Abu Saleh, Tamer Shala’ta, Rami al-Fakhoury, Qussai Dandees and one woman who remained unidentified until the time of this report.
The arrests took place after local worshipers prevented groups of Israeli extremists from storming the courtyards of the mosque, before the soldiers invaded the area through the al-Magharba Gate.
Tension was also mounting near the Chain Gate as groups of Israeli fanatics gathered there while chanting, and trying to prevent the Muslim worshipers from entering the mosque.
Earlier on Sunday, the soldiers and police imposed severe restrictions on the local worshipers, and started pushing them away before kidnapping one woman and a young man.
20 may 2015
A dozen Palestinian Authority (PA) security agents on Tuesday raided the offices of al-Khalil Satellite TV (or Fadaiyat al Khalil) in the town of Dura and handed its owner Walid Amayreh a written order to close it down.
The force also confiscated computers and other electronic appliances and equipment worth thousands of dollars.
The newly-launched Hebron Satellite station transmits from London and is virtually apolitical.
Walid Amayreh, brother of Palestinian journalist Khalid Amayreh, said the draconian measure was totally justified.
"These people don't seem to have anything to do. What they did this morning is in total violation of the rule of law."
Roqaya Amayreh, Walid's young daughter, called the raiders “very much like gangsters and thieves."
"Instead of fighting crime and protecting Palestinian citizens from the unceasing terror and violence of the settlers, they gang up on us as if we were hard criminals."
A journalist working at the outlet, who wouldn't want his name mentioned, said the raid was another fresh reminder that that press freedom and the PA were an oxymoron.
"It is wishful thinking even to dream of press freedom under the Palestinian Authority. Press freedom and freedom of expression don't seem to exist in the PA lexicon."
It is not certain if the Preventive Security apparatus was acting on instructions from the Israelis.
Israeli officials have repeatedly said that they consider the PA security agency as "security agents working on Israel's behalf."
Interestingly, the targeted TV outlet continued to operate as the PA is powerless to stop it, given the fact that it transmits from London.
The PA routinely detains journalists it accuses of voicing or publishing non-conformist views.
The PA is particularly sensitive to any connections between media outlets and its arch political and ideological foe, the Hamas Islamic movement. The al-Khalil Satellite TV is fiercely independent and has no connections with any political groups.
The force also confiscated computers and other electronic appliances and equipment worth thousands of dollars.
The newly-launched Hebron Satellite station transmits from London and is virtually apolitical.
Walid Amayreh, brother of Palestinian journalist Khalid Amayreh, said the draconian measure was totally justified.
"These people don't seem to have anything to do. What they did this morning is in total violation of the rule of law."
Roqaya Amayreh, Walid's young daughter, called the raiders “very much like gangsters and thieves."
"Instead of fighting crime and protecting Palestinian citizens from the unceasing terror and violence of the settlers, they gang up on us as if we were hard criminals."
A journalist working at the outlet, who wouldn't want his name mentioned, said the raid was another fresh reminder that that press freedom and the PA were an oxymoron.
"It is wishful thinking even to dream of press freedom under the Palestinian Authority. Press freedom and freedom of expression don't seem to exist in the PA lexicon."
It is not certain if the Preventive Security apparatus was acting on instructions from the Israelis.
Israeli officials have repeatedly said that they consider the PA security agency as "security agents working on Israel's behalf."
Interestingly, the targeted TV outlet continued to operate as the PA is powerless to stop it, given the fact that it transmits from London.
The PA routinely detains journalists it accuses of voicing or publishing non-conformist views.
The PA is particularly sensitive to any connections between media outlets and its arch political and ideological foe, the Hamas Islamic movement. The al-Khalil Satellite TV is fiercely independent and has no connections with any political groups.
Media and popular struggle conference activities were launched in Bethlehem on Tuesday, in cooperation with a number of European journalists and popular struggle coordination committees, and will last for a week from now.
A number of international human rights organizations are participating in the event, including Italian, French and Spanish associations. The event is financed by the European Union, according to the Palestinian News Network (PNN).
The conference aims to introduce the Palestinian reality to the European journalists, display and expose Israeli violations and crimes against the Palestinian people.
Munther Ameera, director of the popular struggle higher coordination committee, said that the media was an essential tool which Israel exploited very well to advocate lies and deception to the whole world, through American legislative bills.
And, so, the journalists will tour occupied Palestinian lands threatened with demolitions and displacements, to create awareness of the Palestinian life and to let justice prevail.
The journalists will start in the Jordan Valley with a political, geographic, economic definition of it. The tour will also show how it is being targeted by Israeli forces because of its importance.
The tour will also include trips to South Hebron Hills, including Susiya village, which the Israeli court recently ordered the demolition of to expand the Israeli settlement on its land.
Other villages that are known for popular struggle and resistance, and weekly demonstrations, including Kafr Qaddum, Nabi Saleh and Bil'in will be visited, and the circle will end in Bethlehem refugee camps, including Aida and surrounding villages.
The conference will include workshops, lectures and discussions, ending with recommendations for raising the European awareness of the Palestinian cause.
Popular struggle activist Mahmoud Zawahra said that the message of these workshops was raising the voice of Palestinians to reach out for the world and help to halt the ongoing demolitions, displacements and land theft by Israel, in addition to stopping the daily human rights violations.
Other than that, the experience exchange will enrich Palestinian media to form skills and benefit from internationals, to make it easier to spread.
A number of international human rights organizations are participating in the event, including Italian, French and Spanish associations. The event is financed by the European Union, according to the Palestinian News Network (PNN).
The conference aims to introduce the Palestinian reality to the European journalists, display and expose Israeli violations and crimes against the Palestinian people.
Munther Ameera, director of the popular struggle higher coordination committee, said that the media was an essential tool which Israel exploited very well to advocate lies and deception to the whole world, through American legislative bills.
And, so, the journalists will tour occupied Palestinian lands threatened with demolitions and displacements, to create awareness of the Palestinian life and to let justice prevail.
The journalists will start in the Jordan Valley with a political, geographic, economic definition of it. The tour will also show how it is being targeted by Israeli forces because of its importance.
The tour will also include trips to South Hebron Hills, including Susiya village, which the Israeli court recently ordered the demolition of to expand the Israeli settlement on its land.
Other villages that are known for popular struggle and resistance, and weekly demonstrations, including Kafr Qaddum, Nabi Saleh and Bil'in will be visited, and the circle will end in Bethlehem refugee camps, including Aida and surrounding villages.
The conference will include workshops, lectures and discussions, ending with recommendations for raising the European awareness of the Palestinian cause.
Popular struggle activist Mahmoud Zawahra said that the message of these workshops was raising the voice of Palestinians to reach out for the world and help to halt the ongoing demolitions, displacements and land theft by Israel, in addition to stopping the daily human rights violations.
Other than that, the experience exchange will enrich Palestinian media to form skills and benefit from internationals, to make it easier to spread.
19 may 2015
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A Palestinian media research centre has reported that the past few
days have seen an increase in the number of attacks by Israeli forces
against journalists and press freedoms in Palestine.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Palestinian Centre for Development and Media Freedom (MADA) said that the most recent assaults took place on Friday and Saturday. Israeli forces shot Nidal Ishtayeh from Nablus; he's a photographer who works for China's Xinhua news agency. Journalist Mohamed Yousry Al-Hattab from Gaza, who works for the |
Palestinian Network for Media, was also shot by the Israelis.
According to MADA, a series of attacks were also carried out by settlers and security personnel against a number of journalists in Jerusalem and Hawara while they were covering events over the weekend.
Rami Al-Khatib is a reporter for Jordan television's "An eye on Jerusalem" show. He was injured when settlers attacked him while he was covering a march in the city. According to Al-Khatib, the settlers attacked everyone, including press crews. Although the Israeli police had a presence, they did not intervene, suggesting that they are complicit in such attacks against the media. "They shut down our cameras and used sticks and empty bottles to attack us," the journalist added.
According to MADA, a series of attacks were also carried out by settlers and security personnel against a number of journalists in Jerusalem and Hawara while they were covering events over the weekend.
Rami Al-Khatib is a reporter for Jordan television's "An eye on Jerusalem" show. He was injured when settlers attacked him while he was covering a march in the city. According to Al-Khatib, the settlers attacked everyone, including press crews. Although the Israeli police had a presence, they did not intervene, suggesting that they are complicit in such attacks against the media. "They shut down our cameras and used sticks and empty bottles to attack us," the journalist added.
