15 july 2018
Photo: Journalist Madeline Al-Aqraa after she was wounded in the field, in the town of Khuza’a, east of Khan Younis.
The attacks against media freedoms in Palestine continued to rise during June of 2018, and have experienced a new upsurge. Totalling 62 attacks, they reflect an increase of five cases, as opposed to compromises observed during May.
June witnessed 33 violations from Palestinian authorities, and 29 were committed by Israeli occupation forces, in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. It should be noted that the number of Palestinian violations almost rarely exceeds the number Israeli violations, PNN reported for MADA.
Female journalists were not spared any of these serious and broad assaults. The number of female journalists who were affected by these assaults, during last month, totaled to 13 — 8 of whom were exposed to assaults by Palestinian authorities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Five female journalists were targeted by occupation forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, one of them was taken into custody, while four were injured by rubber-coated metal bullets and gas bombs, while they were covering events in Gaza and the West Bank.
Israeli Violations
During June, the Israeli occupation committed 29 assaults, most of which were classified as serious or even sexual assaults on media freedoms and journalists. A number of these violations fall under the category of collective and “combined assaults”, which affected more than one journalist, with more than one type of assault being committed in the same moment.
Throughout he month, Israel continued to target journalists with live ammunition. It is worth noting that three journalists were injured by live bullets, namely: Mohammad Abdelraziq Albaba, a photographer at Agence France-Presse AFP, who was injured with gunshot in his foot while covering the events of the Great March of Return taking place in Abu Safiya, east of Jabalia refugee camp.
A photographer fromTurkish Agency “Anatolia”, Ali Hassan Musa Jadallah, who was shot in the palm of his right hand while covering the march to east of Khan Younis, and freelance journalist, Haitham Adnan Madoukh (working for the local Sky Press Agency), who was wounded by a gunshot through his left leg, below the knee, as he was covering the events of the march in the east of Gaza, which caused him a severe laceration in the bones.
Furthermore, two other journalists were injured with gas bombs fired directly at them, while a female journalist was injured with a rubber-coated bullet, in addition to the suffocation of dozens of journalists, which resulted in four cases of fainting and severe respiratory distress, and required immediate treatment and hospitalization at health centers, for various periods of time.
Additionally, the Israeli army and occupation intelligence services detained a total of five journalists, in June. An Israeli court prevented the Director of Elia for Media, Mr. Ahmad Hussein Al Safadi, from attending or covering any public event in Jerusalem for one month, after being detained by Israeli police.
Israeli police and intelligence went so far as to raid an Iftar ceremony organized by the Chamber of Commerce, for the journalists, at the Ambassador Hotel in Jerusalem, and dispersed 30 journalists who attended the ceremony.
Palestinian Violations
Palestinian violations have reportedly witnessed a remarkable rise, jumping from four violations, in May, to at least 33, during June, with 10 occurring in the Gaza Strip and 23 in the West Bank.
The largest portion of these violations, which took place during June, are classified as serious violations. On top of this were the widespread violations committed by Palestinian security agents dressed in civilian clothes, against journalists who were covering a peaceful sit-in, in downtown Ramallah, on 13 June, 2018. This is in addition to violations similar in essence and form committed, by members of Hamas and security agents in civilian clothes, against both male and female journalists who were covering the sit-in, which was taking place at Al-Saraya Square, downtown Gaza, on 18 June, 2018.
This included physical assaults, using sticks and hands, against a number of journalists, as well as the seizure of some tools and the destruction others, deleting media recorded by the journalists, in addition to preventing them from media coverage. This is also in addition to the widespread and collective assaults which affected those taking part in both sit-ins (Ramallah and Gaza). It should be noted that these sit-ins were taking place to protest against the failure to pay the salaries of Palestinian Authority staff in the Gaza Strip.
(edited for the IMEMC by c h r i s @ i m e m c . o r g)
The attacks against media freedoms in Palestine continued to rise during June of 2018, and have experienced a new upsurge. Totalling 62 attacks, they reflect an increase of five cases, as opposed to compromises observed during May.
June witnessed 33 violations from Palestinian authorities, and 29 were committed by Israeli occupation forces, in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. It should be noted that the number of Palestinian violations almost rarely exceeds the number Israeli violations, PNN reported for MADA.
Female journalists were not spared any of these serious and broad assaults. The number of female journalists who were affected by these assaults, during last month, totaled to 13 — 8 of whom were exposed to assaults by Palestinian authorities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Five female journalists were targeted by occupation forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, one of them was taken into custody, while four were injured by rubber-coated metal bullets and gas bombs, while they were covering events in Gaza and the West Bank.
Israeli Violations
During June, the Israeli occupation committed 29 assaults, most of which were classified as serious or even sexual assaults on media freedoms and journalists. A number of these violations fall under the category of collective and “combined assaults”, which affected more than one journalist, with more than one type of assault being committed in the same moment.
Throughout he month, Israel continued to target journalists with live ammunition. It is worth noting that three journalists were injured by live bullets, namely: Mohammad Abdelraziq Albaba, a photographer at Agence France-Presse AFP, who was injured with gunshot in his foot while covering the events of the Great March of Return taking place in Abu Safiya, east of Jabalia refugee camp.
A photographer fromTurkish Agency “Anatolia”, Ali Hassan Musa Jadallah, who was shot in the palm of his right hand while covering the march to east of Khan Younis, and freelance journalist, Haitham Adnan Madoukh (working for the local Sky Press Agency), who was wounded by a gunshot through his left leg, below the knee, as he was covering the events of the march in the east of Gaza, which caused him a severe laceration in the bones.
Furthermore, two other journalists were injured with gas bombs fired directly at them, while a female journalist was injured with a rubber-coated bullet, in addition to the suffocation of dozens of journalists, which resulted in four cases of fainting and severe respiratory distress, and required immediate treatment and hospitalization at health centers, for various periods of time.
Additionally, the Israeli army and occupation intelligence services detained a total of five journalists, in June. An Israeli court prevented the Director of Elia for Media, Mr. Ahmad Hussein Al Safadi, from attending or covering any public event in Jerusalem for one month, after being detained by Israeli police.
Israeli police and intelligence went so far as to raid an Iftar ceremony organized by the Chamber of Commerce, for the journalists, at the Ambassador Hotel in Jerusalem, and dispersed 30 journalists who attended the ceremony.
Palestinian Violations
Palestinian violations have reportedly witnessed a remarkable rise, jumping from four violations, in May, to at least 33, during June, with 10 occurring in the Gaza Strip and 23 in the West Bank.
The largest portion of these violations, which took place during June, are classified as serious violations. On top of this were the widespread violations committed by Palestinian security agents dressed in civilian clothes, against journalists who were covering a peaceful sit-in, in downtown Ramallah, on 13 June, 2018. This is in addition to violations similar in essence and form committed, by members of Hamas and security agents in civilian clothes, against both male and female journalists who were covering the sit-in, which was taking place at Al-Saraya Square, downtown Gaza, on 18 June, 2018.
This included physical assaults, using sticks and hands, against a number of journalists, as well as the seizure of some tools and the destruction others, deleting media recorded by the journalists, in addition to preventing them from media coverage. This is also in addition to the widespread and collective assaults which affected those taking part in both sit-ins (Ramallah and Gaza). It should be noted that these sit-ins were taking place to protest against the failure to pay the salaries of Palestinian Authority staff in the Gaza Strip.
(edited for the IMEMC by c h r i s @ i m e m c . o r g)
13 july 2018
Israeli soldiers attacked, Friday, dozens of Palestinians, who nonviolently marched following noon prayers in Hebron city, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
Media sources said the soldiers chased and removed Palestinian journalists, invaded and searched many homes, and occupied several rooftops to use them as firing posts and monitoring towers.
They added that the soldiers also closed the main road in Bab az-Zawiya area, in the center of Hebron city, and fired gas bombs, smoke grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets.
Several Palestinian youngsters hurled stones at the invading soldiers, while the army pushed more troops into the area.
Media sources said the soldiers chased and removed Palestinian journalists, invaded and searched many homes, and occupied several rooftops to use them as firing posts and monitoring towers.
They added that the soldiers also closed the main road in Bab az-Zawiya area, in the center of Hebron city, and fired gas bombs, smoke grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets.
Several Palestinian youngsters hurled stones at the invading soldiers, while the army pushed more troops into the area.
Several Palestinians choked on teargas at noontime Friday in clashes with the Israeli occupation forces in Kafr Qaddum, east of Qalqilya.
Israeli army patrols aggressively attacked a weekly march staged in Kafr Qaddum to protest Israel’s apartheid policies against the Palestinians.
Palestinian photojournalist Nidal Eshtiyeh, working for a Chinese TV Channel, sustained rubber bullet wounds in his leg as he tried to cover the march.
Israeli army patrols aggressively attacked a weekly march staged in Kafr Qaddum to protest Israel’s apartheid policies against the Palestinians.
Palestinian photojournalist Nidal Eshtiyeh, working for a Chinese TV Channel, sustained rubber bullet wounds in his leg as he tried to cover the march.
11 july 2018
A Palestinian media agency that is known for being first on the scene and recording eyewitness videos of Israeli military atrocities against Palestinians has been banned by Israel, as the Israeli Defense Minister and former nightclub bouncer Avigdor Lieberman signed an order declaring Al-Quds TV to be a ‘terrorist’ media organization.
Al-Quds (the Arabic word for Jerusalem) TV is based in Beirut, and has offices in the West Bank, Gaza and Israel. The organization began in 2008, and provides daily news coverage online and on its satellite TV channel.
The idea that a media organization can be declared a ‘terrorist’ organization, while unusual by international standards, is not new to Israel. During their 2004 invasion of Lebanon, Israel declared the Lebanese media agency Al-Manar to be ‘terrorist’ media, due to their affiliation with the Hezbollah political party and resistance group.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate issued a stateme.nt that, “This is just the latest move in Israel’s attack on Palestinian media organizations.”
Emad al-Efranji, the manager of Al-Quds TV in Palestine, said Israel wants to silence the media, as part of its campaign to conceal its crimes against the Palestinian people.
He added that Al-Quds TV broadcasts to every part of occupied Palestine, exposing the Israeli violations, and that is why Israel decided to shut it down, as part of its ongoing campaign against Palestinian media outlets.
“Our mission will always be the same, out TV station is honored to carry the name of Al-Quds (Jerusalem), and will continue its duties,” he said, “Israel constantly targets Palestinian media agencies and journalists, but we will continue our work; despite the sacrifices we have to make, and the ongoing violations against us, we are willing to pay the price for that.”
“Israel realizes the danger our media agency poses to its colonialist ideology; it knows we focus on legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, especially Jerusalem, and our mission to expose Trump’s so-called Deal of the Century,” al-Efranji stated, “We are the first station that has special programming for our people in historic Palestine, and we have various shows that focuses on the detainees and refugees.”
Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli Defense Minister, has in the past openly called for the forced transfer of all Palestinians from their historic land, on which the state of Israel was created in 1948.
In his first move to criminalize the al-Quds news agency, Lieberman sent Israeli security officers to a video production company in northern Israel that edits video for the agency. According to the production company’s attorney, Omar Hamisey, the staff were told by Israeli security that their transmission or production of any footage for al-Quds TV would be considered illegal, and they would be prosecuted under anti-terrorism laws for doing their work as journalists.
Israeli Knesset (Parliament) member said that the listing of al-Quds TV as ‘terrorist media’ is, “the continuation of a silencing crusade by the extreme right-wing government to trample the freedom of speech. Many people in the Arab community as well as Arab lawmakers often give interviews to the channel, and what we say at the Knesset podium we also say there.
The channel exposes the crimes of the occupation and the suffering of the Palestinian people.”
Israeli authorities gave no evidence of any wrongdoing by the news agency, but have vowed to shut down any offices of the agency and its contractors inside Israel. They claim that the news agency has an affiliation with the Hamas party, which is also a spurious claim, according to the owners of the agency.
Most recently, Quds-TV released footage of Israeli soldiers shooting and then dragging the bodies of Palestinian protesters near the border fence in Gaza – footage that directly contradicted the Israeli military’s claims that the young men had tried to cross the border fence and that is why they were shot.
The al-Quds TV footage shows that the soldiers were at least 20 meters inside of the Gaza Strip when they shot the young men, who were at a protest inside the Gaza Strip and not trying to cross the fence as Israeli military officials claimed.
Al-Quds (the Arabic word for Jerusalem) TV is based in Beirut, and has offices in the West Bank, Gaza and Israel. The organization began in 2008, and provides daily news coverage online and on its satellite TV channel.
The idea that a media organization can be declared a ‘terrorist’ organization, while unusual by international standards, is not new to Israel. During their 2004 invasion of Lebanon, Israel declared the Lebanese media agency Al-Manar to be ‘terrorist’ media, due to their affiliation with the Hezbollah political party and resistance group.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate issued a stateme.nt that, “This is just the latest move in Israel’s attack on Palestinian media organizations.”
Emad al-Efranji, the manager of Al-Quds TV in Palestine, said Israel wants to silence the media, as part of its campaign to conceal its crimes against the Palestinian people.
He added that Al-Quds TV broadcasts to every part of occupied Palestine, exposing the Israeli violations, and that is why Israel decided to shut it down, as part of its ongoing campaign against Palestinian media outlets.
“Our mission will always be the same, out TV station is honored to carry the name of Al-Quds (Jerusalem), and will continue its duties,” he said, “Israel constantly targets Palestinian media agencies and journalists, but we will continue our work; despite the sacrifices we have to make, and the ongoing violations against us, we are willing to pay the price for that.”
“Israel realizes the danger our media agency poses to its colonialist ideology; it knows we focus on legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, especially Jerusalem, and our mission to expose Trump’s so-called Deal of the Century,” al-Efranji stated, “We are the first station that has special programming for our people in historic Palestine, and we have various shows that focuses on the detainees and refugees.”
Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli Defense Minister, has in the past openly called for the forced transfer of all Palestinians from their historic land, on which the state of Israel was created in 1948.
In his first move to criminalize the al-Quds news agency, Lieberman sent Israeli security officers to a video production company in northern Israel that edits video for the agency. According to the production company’s attorney, Omar Hamisey, the staff were told by Israeli security that their transmission or production of any footage for al-Quds TV would be considered illegal, and they would be prosecuted under anti-terrorism laws for doing their work as journalists.
Israeli Knesset (Parliament) member said that the listing of al-Quds TV as ‘terrorist media’ is, “the continuation of a silencing crusade by the extreme right-wing government to trample the freedom of speech. Many people in the Arab community as well as Arab lawmakers often give interviews to the channel, and what we say at the Knesset podium we also say there.
The channel exposes the crimes of the occupation and the suffering of the Palestinian people.”
Israeli authorities gave no evidence of any wrongdoing by the news agency, but have vowed to shut down any offices of the agency and its contractors inside Israel. They claim that the news agency has an affiliation with the Hamas party, which is also a spurious claim, according to the owners of the agency.
Most recently, Quds-TV released footage of Israeli soldiers shooting and then dragging the bodies of Palestinian protesters near the border fence in Gaza – footage that directly contradicted the Israeli military’s claims that the young men had tried to cross the border fence and that is why they were shot.
The al-Quds TV footage shows that the soldiers were at least 20 meters inside of the Gaza Strip when they shot the young men, who were at a protest inside the Gaza Strip and not trying to cross the fence as Israeli military officials claimed.
7 july 2018
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested on Saturday the cameraman of Filistin TV, Iyyad al-Hashlamoun, and the activist Badee Duwaik.
IOF soldiers apprehended the two men while dispersing the participants in a demonstration that was held by the inhabitants of Bani Naim town east of al-Khalil city in protest at the Israeli confiscation of the town’s lands adjacent to Bani Hefer settlement.
The IOF declared the area as a closed military zone and banned the residents, activists and journalists from accessing the site.
The protesters carried Palestinian flags and banners with slogans condemning the Israeli confiscation of 20 dunums of the town’s farmlands in al-Hamra region which is located near the settlement.
IOF soldiers apprehended the two men while dispersing the participants in a demonstration that was held by the inhabitants of Bani Naim town east of al-Khalil city in protest at the Israeli confiscation of the town’s lands adjacent to Bani Hefer settlement.
The IOF declared the area as a closed military zone and banned the residents, activists and journalists from accessing the site.
The protesters carried Palestinian flags and banners with slogans condemning the Israeli confiscation of 20 dunums of the town’s farmlands in al-Hamra region which is located near the settlement.
Medical sources have reported, Friday, that dozens of Palestinians suffered the effects of teargas inhalation, one was shot with a rubber-coated steel bullet, and many others sustained cuts and bruises, after Israeli soldiers attacked them while defending their village, Orif, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, when a group of extremist illegal Israeli colonists attacked its farmlands, burnt and cuts dozens of trees.
Adel Omar, an activist with the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B’Tselem), said the attack was carried out by dozens of assailants from Yitzhar illegal Israeli colony, which was built on private Palestinian lands.
He added that the colonists invaded the eastern area of the village and burnt dozens of Dunams planted with olive and almond trees, in addition cutting many trees.
The soldiers then invaded the village, and attacked the Palestinians, before firing many live rounds at them, gas bombs and rubber-coated steel bullets.
One Palestinian was shot with a rubber-coated steel bullet in his head, before he was rushed to Rafidia hospital for treatment.
Dozens suffered the effects of teargas inhalation and received the needed treatment by local medics.
The soldiers also fired live rounds at a press vehicle for Palestine TV.
In a statement, the Committee for Protecting Orif village said the Israeli assailants caused the following damage to the Palestinian lands.
Adel Omar, an activist with the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B’Tselem), said the attack was carried out by dozens of assailants from Yitzhar illegal Israeli colony, which was built on private Palestinian lands.
He added that the colonists invaded the eastern area of the village and burnt dozens of Dunams planted with olive and almond trees, in addition cutting many trees.
The soldiers then invaded the village, and attacked the Palestinians, before firing many live rounds at them, gas bombs and rubber-coated steel bullets.
One Palestinian was shot with a rubber-coated steel bullet in his head, before he was rushed to Rafidia hospital for treatment.
Dozens suffered the effects of teargas inhalation and received the needed treatment by local medics.
The soldiers also fired live rounds at a press vehicle for Palestine TV.
In a statement, the Committee for Protecting Orif village said the Israeli assailants caused the following damage to the Palestinian lands.
- Cut 40 olive saplings owned by Issam Safadi.
- Cut and burnt 62 saplings owned by Mohammad Shehada.
- Burnt and cut 12 olive and almond trees owned by Raed Sabah.
- Cut 14 olive saplings owned by Najeh Shehada.
- Burnt 18 fig and pomegranate trees owned by Shaher Shehada.
5 july 2018
The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate issued a statement, Thursday, strongly denouncing the Israeli army’s assault of journalists while documenting the army‘s invasion into al-Khan Ahmar Bedouin community, east of Jerusalem, in preparation for demolishing it.
The Syndicate said the soldiers attacked many journalists, imposed fines and issued traffic tickets targeting dozens of media vehicles, in addition to illegally confiscating a vehicle owned by the Palestinian News and Info Agency (WAFA).
It added that the soldiers assaulted journalist, Mohammad al-Lahham, who is also a member of its General Secretariat.
The Syndicate said the Israeli attack violates various international resolutions, including Security Council Resolution #2222, which calls for the protection of journalists.
It added that the targeting of journalists is a deliberate illegal policy aiming at concealing crimes and serious violations.
The Syndicate expressed its serious concern regarding the seriously escalating Israeli violations and crimes against the journalists in Palestine and called for the immediate release of all imprisoned reporters.
The Syndicate said the soldiers attacked many journalists, imposed fines and issued traffic tickets targeting dozens of media vehicles, in addition to illegally confiscating a vehicle owned by the Palestinian News and Info Agency (WAFA).
It added that the soldiers assaulted journalist, Mohammad al-Lahham, who is also a member of its General Secretariat.
The Syndicate said the Israeli attack violates various international resolutions, including Security Council Resolution #2222, which calls for the protection of journalists.
It added that the targeting of journalists is a deliberate illegal policy aiming at concealing crimes and serious violations.
The Syndicate expressed its serious concern regarding the seriously escalating Israeli violations and crimes against the journalists in Palestine and called for the immediate release of all imprisoned reporters.
4 july 2018
journalist Thaer Abu Rayyash
About 134 Palestinians were injured Tuesday by live ammunition and teargas when the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) attacked a women march organized by the Higher National Committee for the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege east of Gaza.
According to Gaza's Ministry of Health, most of the injured were women marching peacefully near the eastern border fence.
Thousands of Palestinian women and girls marched Tuesday afternoon near the border east of Gaza city for the Palestinian refugees' right of return.
The IOF soldiers stationed at the border fence heavily fired live ammunition and teargas canisters at the protesters injuring dozens of them.
About 134 Palestinians were injured Tuesday by live ammunition and teargas when the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) attacked a women march organized by the Higher National Committee for the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege east of Gaza.
According to Gaza's Ministry of Health, most of the injured were women marching peacefully near the eastern border fence.
Thousands of Palestinian women and girls marched Tuesday afternoon near the border east of Gaza city for the Palestinian refugees' right of return.
The IOF soldiers stationed at the border fence heavily fired live ammunition and teargas canisters at the protesters injuring dozens of them.
Journalist Zaki Awadallah
The PIC reporter said that the IOF deliberately targeted journalists who were covering the protests. The Palestinian journalist Thaer Abu Rayyash was hit with a teargas canister in the head while his fellow Zaki Awadallah was hit with another one in the neck.
For her part, mother of medic Razan al-Najjar said in a speech that the Israeli crimes and attempts to blur the truth by killing journalists, paramedics and peaceful protesters will not intimidate the Palestinian people who will never stop fighting for their usurped rights.
A spokeswoman for Hamas's women movement affirmed that the right of return is non-negotiable, and called on human rights organizations to intervene to put an end to the Israeli crimes and unjust blockade on Gaza.
Women committee of the Higher National Committee for the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege had invited all women organizations, student groups and unions in Gaza to take part in the march scheduled for Tuesday.
The committee said that the march is aimed at sending a clear message that Palestinian women, "the symbol of sacrifice", have their own role in the Great March of Return against all conspiracies targeting the Palestinian central issues, particularly the right of return.
The PIC reporter said that the IOF deliberately targeted journalists who were covering the protests. The Palestinian journalist Thaer Abu Rayyash was hit with a teargas canister in the head while his fellow Zaki Awadallah was hit with another one in the neck.
For her part, mother of medic Razan al-Najjar said in a speech that the Israeli crimes and attempts to blur the truth by killing journalists, paramedics and peaceful protesters will not intimidate the Palestinian people who will never stop fighting for their usurped rights.
A spokeswoman for Hamas's women movement affirmed that the right of return is non-negotiable, and called on human rights organizations to intervene to put an end to the Israeli crimes and unjust blockade on Gaza.
Women committee of the Higher National Committee for the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege had invited all women organizations, student groups and unions in Gaza to take part in the march scheduled for Tuesday.
The committee said that the march is aimed at sending a clear message that Palestinian women, "the symbol of sacrifice", have their own role in the Great March of Return against all conspiracies targeting the Palestinian central issues, particularly the right of return.
