"MADA": 56 violations against Media freedoms during September
Ramallah- September of 2015 witnessed the highest number of violations against journalists and media freedoms in West Bank and Gaza Strip, since the beginning of 2015. The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms "MADA" monitored 56 violations against media freedoms. However, the Israeli occupation committed the bulk and the most dangerous number of them (41 violations) whiles the various Palestinian sides’ committed 15 violations.
The month of August and June had witnessed the highest number of violations compared to the previous months (it had respectively reached 48 and 50violations). However, September had came to record a new peak due to the expansion of Israeli attacks and targeting the journalists and media crew in West Bank.
Israeli violations
Israeli Occupation Forces "IOF" committed during September series violent violations that had clearly expose its attempt to suppress press, media and to conceal the truth. The most prominent of them was the assault of "AFP" photographer Abbas Momani and Andre Bernardi (Italian); their own cameras were also seized and smashed while they were covering the clashes at the entrance of Biet Furik in Nablus governate, on 25th of September. A series of an extensive and violent attacks had also affected the most of journalists who were covering the events in Jerusalem on 13 th and 14 th of September, which included a destruction of equipment, injuries and the prevent of coverage. This reveals new features of approaches based on an entire exclusion of media from the places of events, which was through the suppression of all journalists who had arrived to cover them.
Israeli Soldiers attacked Palestine TV correspondent Ali Dar Ali, they detained and prevented him as well as three of his colleagues of Palestine TV crew from preparing a report in Nabi Saleh village North West of Ramallah, on 4th of September.
On 5th of September, the occupation forces prevented a group of journalists from covering a peaceful march that was organized to protest against the outage of water in Jab'a area, south of Bethlehem. On 7th of September, the occupation police also prevented three female journalists (a freelance photographer and a volunteer in "Hema News" foundation Samah Aladdin Dweik, Qudes network cameraman Sabreen Ibaidat(25 years old) and Quds Media Center correspondent Bayan Ragab Ju'ba) from entry al-Aqsa Mosque to cover the events there. On 8th of September, they also detained "Bait Maqdes" agency and "Hema News" Journalist foundation correspondent Lwa' Wa'el Abu Rumaila (23years old) and they hindered her entry to al-Aqsa Mousque.
On 10th of September, the Israeli occupation authorities renewed the administrative detention for the journalist Nidal Abu Aker for the third time in a row. And on the same day, a force of the occupation army had also detained Palestine TV crew in Jericho as they were preparing a report on the devastating village of Aerynat; they prevented them from doing so. On 13th of September, at least 10 female and male journalists had exposed to a series of violent attacks carried out by Israeli police as well as Israeli security during their covering the raid actions of Jewish settlers to al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. On 14th of September, Palestine TV correspondent Kristin Kaled Rinawi was injured by stun grenades thrown by Israeli police during their assaults of a group of journalists, while the journalists were covering events in Jerusalem. And on the same day, the occupation police attacked “ Ariz company for production" cameraman Ayman Hassan Abu Rmouz while he was covering events in Jerusalem, they also destroyed some of his own photography equipment. Israeli police also assaulted "Q-Press" agency cameraman Mustafa Yasser Karoof, they detained him and deleted the content of his camera after taking him to the police station.
They also attacked "Ariz company" cameraman Ayman Abu Rmouz, "Reuters" cameraman Sennan Abu Mayzer and Abed Kareem Darwish from Quds TV while covering events in Jerusalem.
On 13th of September, Yammamah Radio presenter Annas Jehad Abu Rumaila was injured by severe suffocations because the Israeli soldiers shot gas bomb at him while he was covering events in Hebron. Israeli soldiers also attacked three journalists: "Maan" TV correspondent Muhammad Issa Sayyad in Jerusalem, photographer Rami Khatib and "Russian Today" channel cameraman Muhammad Isho and prevented them from covering events in Jerusalem on 29th of September.
Palestinians violations:
The month of September witnessed 15 violations against media freedoms, which was slightly more than the number of violations that were recorded during June and August (in June and August, it had reached respectively 12 and 13 violations). The violations, which had recorded during September, focused in the West Bank (12 violations) compared to 3 violations in Gaza Strip.
On 15th of September, Palestinian security forces prevented "Palestine Today" TV crew from covering events in Jenin. They also detained them in police station. Moreover, they cut their live broadcast from the field in addition to watching the materials that the crew had filmed. On 16th of September, Palestinian intelligence arrested in Ramallah Al-Aqsa channel cameraman Ahmad Fathi Khatib for 16 days. This happened after they summoned him via phone call.
On 18th of September, the Preventive Security forces raided the office of "RAMSAT" agency for production services. They had also taken three of journalists to the headquarters of the service that were: two of Al-Aqsa TV correspondents in Nablus and the north of Palestine Tariq Abdul-Razzaq Abu Zeid and Mujahid Mohammed Assadi as well as a cameraman and Monterrey of "Ramssat" agency Samir Deik. They also detained them for about 6 hours in addition to interrogate them about their coverage of a march that was organized in Nabuls on that day.
On 20th of September, Preventive Security detained "TRANS Media" cameraman Moaz Ibrahim Amarna and a freelance photographer Muheisen Ammarin in the headquarter of the service for several hours, they had also summoned them after stopped them during their covering the march in Bethlehem. They also seized as well as inspected their own cameras' memory.
On 21 of September, an unknown side created a page on "Facebook" and it attacked by using this page Chinese news agency "Xinhua” cameraman Fadi Arouri, and had posted photos of his family due to his criticism of broadcasting a program by "Mussawa" TV. This occurred after hosting an Israeli singer. Moreover, a large number of policemen and citizens from Gaza assaulted several times a Sport Newspaper cameraman Saab Taysser Eid as well as injured and arrested him because of his covering a match on 20th of September as well.
Details of violations during September:
(4/9)- The occupation forces assaulted Palestinian Public TV correspondent Ali Dar Ali (31years old).They also detained and prevented him and his colleagues from covering events in the village of Nabi Saleh, northwest Ramallah. Dar Ali reported to Mada “I was with my collogues of Palestine TV cameramen crew: Fadi Jayyousi (32 years old), Shamek Aljagub (33 years old) and Raafat Abu Awwad (26years old) in Nabi Saleh village to prepare a report. Meanwhile, a soldier came and asked me 'what you are doing? I said: it is clear that I am preparing a report, and then he asked me why? I asked him don’t ask me because I replied.’ Then, another officer came and told me 'when the officer asked you, you had to replay. I told him that I would answer neither you nor him. Then, he pushed me while another soldier came and hit me.’ After that they had arrested me and took me to the tower that is away from the place about 150 meters. I had exposed there to beating in addition to assaults. I was detained there about 2 hours before the Palestinian Liaison intervened to release me”.
(5/9)- The occupation forces prevented a group of journalists from covering a peaceful march, which was organized to protest the outage of water in Jaba’, south of Bethlehem. Palestinian Public TV correspondent in Bethlehem Hani Ahmad Fnoun reported to “MADA”: “At 10 o’clock, we were invited to cover a peaceful protest march because of water crisis in Jaba’, the southern west of Bethlehem. When citizens went out to protest, the occupation army had mobilized his forces despite of a few numbers of citizens. At the beginning, there was no one prevented us to film or cover events. However, we were prevented from covering events after an Israeli Civil administrative Officer came. He also suppressed us and asked for press cards for some journalists. While I had an interview with one of citizens, a female soldier came near a child to give him water, which is in an attempt to show a humanitarian image of them. At that moment, I myself had stopped filming, so the officer was annoyed and he asked me why you do that even though you are not thirsty. So, I withdraw from the place after a debate among us.”
MAAN networks cameraman in Bethlehem Mohammed Khalil Hamamrah (25 years old) also reported to MADA: “on 5th of September, I and my colleague MAAN network correspondent Myrna Gamal al-Atrash, (30 years old) were covering a peaceful march for citizens in Jaba’ area, that was to protest against the continuous cut of water. When Israeli army came, they were trying to hamper our work for 10 minutes. However, they allowed us to cover again after they had checked our press cards.
(7/9)- the occupation police prevented a freelance photographer and a volunteer in "HEMA News" foundation Samah Aladdin Dweik (24 years old) from preparing a report about persecutions that citizens continually exposed to. Dweik reported to MADA: "an Israeli policeman had stopped me near Remission Gate and asked me for my ID. After he had checked it, he found that my name was in a list of who were not allow to enter al-Aqsa mosque, so he asked me to go away from the place. When I know that, I went back and entered from another gate after 15 minutes."
She added "I had known that my colleagues, Quds network cameraman Sabreen Ibaidat (25 years old) and Quds Media Center correspondent Bayan Ragab Ju'ba (21 years old) were also forbidden from entry al-Aqsa mosque. However, they had tried to enter in the next day, but they were prevented. This forbiddance was usually determined from 7 o'clock in the morning till two thirty in the noon. But it was not specified or limited to certain number of days."
(8/9)- The occupation forces had detained "Bait Maqdas" and "Hema News" foundation correspondent Lawa' Wa'el Abu Rumaila (23 years old), they had hampered her entry to al-Aqsa mosque. Abu Rumaila reported to MAD: "during my attempt to cover the raids of settlers to al-Aqsa mosque on this day, 8th of September. When I had arrived the Gate of Cotton Merchants, the occupation police had prevented me from entry. So, I had gone to Council Gate, where I handed my ID and then I entered. The first checkpoint of the occupation police had stopped me for 15 minutes, and then I was allowed to enter. At the second checkpoint at the entrance of al-Aqsa, I was stopped and I was prevented from entry. However, they had allowed me to enter after an altercation among us lasted for about 5 minutes."
She added: “the police had stopped me every time when I wanted to enter al-Aqsa mosque or to get out from it. They had also re-asked me the same questions; they had tried to harass me and prevented me from covering. At one point, a policeman had told me to publicize all journalists that any journalist would film settlers in al-Aqsa, they would be arrested.
(9/10)- A force of the occupation army detained Palestinian Public TV crew while they had tried to prepare a report about the devastating village of Aerynat. They had also prevented them from doing that. The head TV office in Jerich Fathi Khalil Brahmin (53 years old) reported to MADA: " on 9th of September, Omar Ahmad Abu Awwad (theTV cameraman in Jerich, 29 years old), some of the owners of lands of Aerynat village, which is a devastated village on Palestinian-Jordanian borders in the north of Auja in Jericho, Palestinian military liaison officer and I had went to prepare a report about the lands of Ghor. An Israeli civil administration had announced its intention to give the lands back to their owners who had Tabou documents, where settlers had cultivated palm trees. While we were there, Israeli Army had come and asked us about the reasons of being in that place. They also had told us that it was a closed military place. So, the press was preventing from entry. They had detained us there for two hours and a half (from 10:30 to 1:00 in afternoon); they had tried to confiscate the camera unless the Palestinian liaison had intervened and prevented from doing that. We were released after the intervention of the Military Liasion- the office of the Brigade Jehad Jayyousi- and the office of the Liaison in Jericho. We had also continued our report in another area in the southern of Jericho."
(10/9)- The Israeli Occupation Authorities renewed the administrative detention of the journalist and the presenter of the program of prisoners on "Wehda Radio" Nidal Naim Abu Akkar, who lives in Dheisheh camp in the southern of Bethlehem. His son, Muhammad Abu Akkar, reported to the center: "Thursday, 10th of September, it was renewed the administration detention of my father, Nidal Abu Akkar, for three months for the fifth time in a row. We had known that his health was bad, where he had lost 10 KG from his weight". Abu Akkar was arrested last time on 28 th of June 2014. He had administratively arrested before that date many times.
(13/9)- A group of journalists (at least 10 journalists) exposed to a series of violations in Jerusalem. These violations were carried out against them by the occupation policemen and Israeli Security, while they were covering the raids of Israeli Jewish settlers to al-Aqsa mosque. The photographer Diala Jowayhan reported to MADA: “we were at the Chain Gate in order to cover the raids of settlers to al-Aqsa mosque, which usually accompanied by the protests and clashes with Jerusalemites. However, these violations were sharply in this day. Israeli policemen prevented us from entry through the gate, after they closed the road by metal barriers. The policemen intentionally attacked us more than one time. They also assaulted some of us by beating, kicking by legs and pushing by hands. Moreover, they had intentionally prevented us to be in all places, so as not to cover the events.”
She added:" I had received a blow on my right leg and my back, while my colleague AFP photographer Mou'men Shabaneh (30 years old) had also received a bang on his neck from the policemen. However, all of them were simple and they didn't require a treatment."
Jowayhan also said: “after this violent by about half an hour, I was exposed to another assault, which was very scary and brutal, where I was inside a shop in the old city in the area of “Wad” road, as I was filming the escaping of citizens from the violations of police. However, I had shocked when soldiers were running toward me, and they attacked me, where they had beaten my left hand and twisted it on my back. I had also received blows on my neck, back and shoulders in addition to the scratches of my left hand. My colleague “ROYA” TV cameraman Jehad Muhtasseb had also exposed to spry suffocating gas at his face by the soldiers. We had both received a medical aid at the place by the Medical Relief crew, where it was found light bruises in my neck.”nt,er assoultion after thatshing by hands. the road by owen it at he, wh
“Al-Ghad al-Arabi” TV correspondent, which is broadcasting from London, Diya Houshia, who was also exposed to another assault by soldiers, also reported: “Munther al-Khatib, Ethar Abu Gharbia , Jihad Muhtasseb, Diyala Jwehan, Mahfouz Abu Turk and I were at Chine Gate to cover the events, when members of Special Israeli Units suddenly approached me. They had begun beating me while they were shouting “Go away from there”. A little later, one of them returned, he had started to threaten me that they would break my legs if they came back and found us on the place.”
“ROYA” TV cameraman Jehad Aladdin Muhtasseb (26 years old) also reported to MAD: “I had stood at the Chain Gate, near the police station (Bait el Yaho) to film the events of preventing the worshipers from entry al-Aqsa mosque. An Israeli officer came and gave us only five minutes to vacate the place. After almost one minute, they had started to push everyone away from the place. My colleague “Al-Ghad al-Arabi” TV cameraman Ethar Ebrahim Abu Gharbia was near me when they had brutally beaten him. However, I moved away, I had stood in a remote location to film what was going on. Then, they had came and begun to push and beat me. After that, they had dragged me from Chain Gate to the Council Gate, while they were beating and kicking me. During that, they had sprayed suffocated gas at my face (pepper spray). This had continued till I arrived the Council Gate, then I was able to open my eyes. However, I had received a medical aid there, but my condition didn’t get better except after about two hours.”
Palestinian Public TV cameraman Ali Sami Mousa Yassen (23 years old) also reported to MADA : “in the early hours of the morning of yesterday, 13th of September, at almost 7 o’clock, I was at Chain Gate to cover the raids of settlers to al Aqsa mosque. The Israeli occupation police had attacked everyone. They had especially targeted journalists and their cameras. I was beaten, pushed and my camera’s mike was broken.”
Al Quds News Network correspondent Laiali Ziad Khaled Eid (27 years old) reported from her side: “there was an occupation police force had prevented her from filming in old Jerusalem. It had also detained her ID on 13th of September.” She also said:” about 8 o’clock in the morning, I was at Council Gate in old Jerusalem, while I was conducting some interviews, where there was an Israeli officer provoked the citizens. He came and prevented me from filming. He also took my ID and gave me a requisition to immediately review Qishleh police station. However, I could get back my ID from him. So, a lawyer advised me to not go for the investigation because my ID was with me."
(14/9)- the Israeli occupation policemen assaulted Ariz company for production cameraman Hassan Abo Rmouz (25 years old), while he was covering events in Jerusalem. They also smashed some of his filming equipment. Abu Ramouz reported to MADA: “I was filming at Chain Gate in old Jerusalem at about 9 o’clock in the morning. A policeman had threatened me to impose a contravention of one thousand NIS on an accusation that I was hampering the work of policemen. However, I didn’t care for that. He also told me that I didn’t have a press card, so I had to leave the place. I told him that my card is an Israeli, and it was issued from his government, which is an assault on me. So, he gave me back my ID and ordered me to leave. Therefore, a member of special Israeli Forces had came and held the turaeybod (my own camera holder) and he was hitting it to the ground till broking it.”
Abu Rmouze added: “after that, I had entered one of shops to drink water, a Druze officer from the occupation police had followed me, and he had beaten me by punches on my chest and shoulders. He also completely destroyed the turaeybod as well as the mike."
(14/9)- Palestinian Public TV correspondent Christine Khaled Renawe (26 years old) was injured by a stun grenade, when a member of the occupation police thrown it at her, while she was covering clashes between citizens and IOF in Jerusalem. Renawe reported to MADA: “while I was covering the continuing clashes at Chain Gate yesterday, at almost ten thirty in the morning, the occupation Israeli policemen directly attacked who were there and journalists as well. A stun grenade injured my left eye.”
(14/9)- The Israeli occupation police assaulted “Q-press” cameraman Mustafa Yasser Kharoof (28 years old). They also detained him, and they deleted the content of his camera after they taking him to the police station. Moreover, they assaulted a group of his colleagues, while they were covering events in the city of Jerusalem. Kharrof reported to MADA: “At eight o’clock in the morning, I and a group of journalists (Ariz company photographer Ayyman Abu Rmouz, Rouiters cameraman Sinan Abu Mazer and Al QUDS TV cameraman Abdul Karim Darwish) were at Chain Gate in the Old city of Jerusalem to be ready for filming the preventing of the worshipers from entry al-Aqsa mosque. We had stood in a corner of the road after the citizens began to gather. At that moment, a group of a special Israeli forces came, they attacked and beaten cameramen before protesters. What led us to escape and leave the place as well. ”
He added: “I was filming this violent assault of the journalists especially the assault of my colleague Ayyman Abu Rmouz. When a member of policemen had seen me, I tried to escape from him. But he ran behind me, while I was hearing an officer told him to slay me, then to arrest me. However, I gave up for the arrest. What made the policeman immediately began to brutally beat me with a stick. Then, they headed me to the police station “Bait Al Yahoo”, where the inspection and the bad treatment were. They also strongly tied my hands, and they continued assaulting me by beating from time to time. Moreover, they took my own video cameras and they made a format of them in addition to delete their all content. Then, I was transferred to the Qishleh investigation center, where I stayed there for about six hours in bad conditions till I went to the Investigator, who told me that I was accused of assaulting a policeman and impeding his work as well as cursing hem.However, I asked for recovering the deleted material from the camera. That had documented what was going on as well as showing the false accusations against me. I also asked them to watch their own videos deployed in that place to make sure of the sincerity of my sayings. After detaining me for almost 8 hours, I was released at four o’clock in the afternoon.”
(15/9)- Palestinian security forces had prevented "Palestine Today" TV crew from covering events that occurred in the city of Jenin. They also had detained them in the police station, they had cut their live broadcast from the field, and they had seen the materials that the crew had filmed. "Palestine Today" correspondent Jehad Ebrahim Barrakat (26 years old) reported to MADA : " at 10 o'clock in the evening, we were in the city of Jenin to cover a conference for military groups, there were an intervention from Palestinian Security forces, where was punctuated by mutual shooting operations. I was within the crew of the TV in a live coverage about what was going on, while the security had forced the broadcast car to stop the live broadcasting. When we were getting out from the city of Jenin, I and my collegue Ebrahim Jaradat, the administrative assistant of the office of "Palestine Today" TV in Ramallah, 29 years old, were arrested at the checkpoint, where Palestinian Security had established at the entrance of the city. They had headed us to the police station in Jenin to see the filmed material. After they had seen the material in the Criminal Investigation, we had also phoned the governor and many officials’ sides, they finally had released us after one hour of the detention."
(16/9)- Palestinian Intelligence service had arrested Al-Aqsa TV cameraman Ahmad Fathi Khatib (28 years old). His wife, Erssal Khatib reported to MADA center:" in the morning of Wednesday, at nine thirty o'clock, Ahmad was arrested after he had received a call from Palestinian Intelligence in Ramallah. They had asked him via the call to go to the intelligence office to talk for 5 minutes. They had arrested him after he arrived.”
She also added;" we had known from the lawyer, Muhhanad Karraja, that his accusation was awakening sectarian feuds in addition to contact with individuals from Gaza, although there was no evidence for that."
Katib also reported to MADA center; "on 1/10, I was released by a paid bail of 300 JD until the holding of a trail session. However, they didn’t sit any date for that or even for review.”
He also explained: “I was interrogated 13 times, which the most resent one was on Tuesday, 22/9.The investigation focused on accusing me that I received money from an Israeli side, which was estimated 11000 NIS. However, I had denied that I had not received any money from any side. They also interrogated me about my press work with Al-Aqsa TV, and to whom I was covering. During my detention, I had a hunger strike for three days from 16th and 19th of September. My detention conditions were very bad, with respects to the place, foods and cleanliness level. At the last day, I was threatened by an officer to take me back to the cell if I didn’t confess that I had received the money.”
(18/9)- Some members of Preventive Security service raided the office of "RAMSAT" agency for production services, in the city of Nablus. They also headed three of the journalists of al- Aqsa Channel and the agency to headquarter of the service. They also detained them for about 6 hours, and they interrogated them about their covering a march, which was organized in Nablus on that day. Al-Aqsa channel correspondent in Jenin Mujahid Mohammed Assadi reported to MADA: “after the march finished, which was organized to support Al- Aqsa on Friday, 18th of September. Where was at the main roundabout in the city of Nablus. When we finished some special interviews that were related to the march, I and two of my colleagues Tariq Abu Zaid and Al-Muthanna Samir Diek went to the office of RAMSAT agency. After 15 minutes, some members of Preventive Security Services had attacked the office and they asked us for our press cards. Although we told them that we are journalists, they asked us to close our mobiles. They also headed us to headquarter of the Preventive Security in the city of Nablus. And there were an interrogation with each one of us separately."
Assadi added:" the interrogation with me was about accusing me that I filmed members of security services during the march. They also asked me some questions: to whom you filmed/ and what did you filmed, were you arrested in security services before that? However, they released me after 6 hours of detonation."
RAMASSAT Agency cameraman and Monterrey al Mouthana Samir Deik also reported to MADA: "the Preventative Security had suspected that we were filming an arrested operation of some guys in the march by security services. After they had inspected our mobiles, they had carried me the complete responsibility, in the case of publishing photos, which improved that incident, as I am the cameraman and Monterrey of the agency, I and my colleagues were released after 6 hours."
Al-Aqsa correspondent in the northern of West Bank Tariq Abed Razaq Abu Zaid (39 years old) also reported to MADA: “the interrogation with me was about my journalistic work, monthly salary, and my social and journalistic relationships. It was also about who provides news to me, with whom I contact to have news, in addition to the editorial policy of the channel. They also inspected the photos that were on my mobile in addition the massages as well."
(20/9)- the Preventive Security Service detained "Trans Media" company cameraman Moaz Ibrahim el-Amarna (28 years old) and the freelance photographer Muheisen Ammarin in the headquarters of the service for several hours, in Bethlehem. This came after PS stopped them while they were covering a march in Bethlehem. They also seized their own cameras' memory in addition to inspect them. Moaz Amarna reported to MADA:" at about six o'clock of the evening of this day (20/9), I was covering a march that began in the city of Bethlehem, which was to protest against the assaults of security services and asking to change them as well. When I arrived the President headquarter, and after citizens began to throw stones, the Preventive Security came and arrested me and my colleague , who was the freelance photographer Muheisen Ammarin (30 years old), where we were the nearest to the President headquarter.
(20/9)- Members of Gaza police and citizens assaulted several times the photojournalist of "Sport" newspaper Sa'ab Taysser Eid (20 years old). They injured and arrested him because of his covering a sport match. Eid reported to MADA center: “Sunday, September 20, one of players was injured during the final basketball match among Maghazi Services and Bureij Services teams. After he had a medical help by a nurse, I went to film what happened in an attempt to prepare a report about the care service in the stadiums, where there neither medical staff nor first aids."
He also added: "while I was filming the injured player. I was assaulted by his father. He took my camera and he smashed it. There were also another members of the player attacked me and they violently beaten me, they verbally cursed me as well, despite of the existence of the policemen, which was supposed to protect me. However, one of the members of the policemen took me away without trying to protect me. So, I didn't have anything expect escaping from the place. While I was trying to escape, 20 members of policemen attacked me, they also assaulted me by using sticks and legs kicking, which was resulted in having a bleeding in my head. There was also another one beaten me on my face, who was wearing civilian black clothes."
He also said: "after that, they detained me in the Civil Defense headquarter. They continually had beaten me before transferring me to the police station. In the police station, I was bleeding for about 3 hours without taking me to a hospital. However, I was transferred to the hospital only when my father and some of my friends from influential people attended. When I was transferred to the hospital with guard, my head was stitched 5 stitches , two stitches at the front of my head, and another three were down at the back of my head. Then they took me back to the cell. They detained me until the next day, when my father signed a non financial personal guarantee for one week. So, I was released after 18 hours of detention."
(25/9)- The Israeli occupation forces assaulted by beating the journalists of AFP Andrea Bernard (his nationality is Italian) and the photographer Abbas Abdul Wahab Al-Momani (40 years old). IOF intentionally smashed their cameras. These journalists suffered injuries and varying traumas as well. A third journalist filmed a video that disgraced the assaults which they exposed to, while they were covering events in Beit Furik town, south of Nablus. Al-Momani reported to MADA: “yesterday, 25/9, I and my colleague Italian video journalist Andrea Bernardi (34 years old) went to Beit Furik to cover the clashes happened after the funeral of a young man. He died from injuries that he had before 9 days. Once we got to the entrance of the town, an occupation patrol checked out our ID, although we were wearing our special clothes as journalists."
Al-Momani also added "when we had walked forward few meters to arrive the place of the clashes, there were another occupation portal at the entrance of the town, and about 10 soldiers. They were beaten us without directing any questions or words. They also smashed our cameras and they violently beaten us. Bernard was injured. What necessitated treating him in Rafidia Hospital (in Nablus city) for 2 hours after that incident. He exposed to a violent assault at the same time I went back to my car to bring my mobile. I also injured and suffered bruises in different parts of my body."
He also said “it is not only this. But the official spokesman for the Israeli Army accused us later that we (journalists) throw stones at them, though there was a video prove that we were violently beaten. This video made them in the next morning to declare the responsibility of one soldier about this assault, and he is implicated in that."
(21/9)- An unknown person created a page on Facebook on 21 of September. It attacked Chinese news agency "Xinhua” cameraman Fadi Arouri. It also posted photos of his family due to his criticism of the program that was broadcasted by "MUSSAWA TV". Arouri reported to MADA: “I posted a video on my own Facebook page, this video from a TV episode that hosted an Israeli singer, which MUSSAWA TV broadcasted (it is the same channel of "Palestine 48” earlier)."
He added: “after 5 hours from posting this critical video, a new Facebook page appeared, entitled “stop to incite Fadi Arouri". This page is used to attack me because of my criticism of that channel. Moreover, three photos related to me and my wife and my children were posted on that page. And it was written under the photos " Halla (my wife's name), hushed your husband, because the subject is related to livelihoods."
(29/9)- In Hebron city, the presenter of Yammamah Radio Annas Jehad Abu Rumaillah (28 years old) was suffered severe suffocation. This happened when the occupation forces shot several gas bombs at him, while he was covering events in Hebron city. Abu Rumaillah reported to MADA:" in the evening, nine thirty, I went to cover the clashes between citizens and IOF, near Tariq Ben Ziad crossroad, in the southern of Hebron city. Once I equipped my camera, there were six gas bombs were thrown besides me. So, I suffered severe suffocation. Where I myself went to Muhammad Ali Hospital, 300 meters away from the place, because there was any aid in the place where I injured.
(29/9)- The Israeli occupation forces assaulted three journalists during their covering events in Jerusalem. MAAN TV correspondent in Jerusalem Muhammad Issa Sayyad (27 years old) reported to MADA: "while I was covering events occurring at the gate of Council in Jerusalem, one of "almrabotat" was attacked there. While I was filming what happened, we were assaulted as journalists, where some members of a Special Unit had assaulted us by beating with hands, legs kicking, and forced us to leave the place, in addition to throw stun grenades towards us. So that, my colleagues: the photojournalist Rami Katib and "Russian Today" cameraman Muhammad Esho were slightly injured."
