Ramallah- 11/05/2016- April 2016 witnessed a decline in total number of violations against media freedoms in West Bank and Gaza Strip compared to what was monitored in March, numbers of violations declined from 40 in March to 29 violations in April.  

Israeli Occupation forces committed the majority of all violations as monitored in April (22 violations), conversely, to violations committed by Palestinian apparatuses in West Bank and Gaza Strip (7 violations).

  

 

 

Despite the slight decrease in the number of Israeli violations monitored in April , yet several of these violations considered to be gave, notably the arrestment of a member of the General Secretariat of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate Omar Nazzal, while traveling to participate in a conference for Journalists organized by the European Journalist Union ,  in addition to arresting two other journalists (female and male) this month as well as the detention and interrogation of Palestinian Journalists Syndicate head, rather than all other abuses and physical assaults against four journalists.

 

On 05/04 Israeli Occupation Forces banned the correspondent of “WAFA” Agency in Gaza Strip, Sami Mohammed Abu Salem, from travelling to the West Bank for medical treatment and to attend the Board of Director’s meeting, Israeli occupation intelligence summoned the correspondent of “Pelest” news site, Osamah Shaheen twice for interrogation after raiding his house in Hebron on 09/04. 

On 10/04 Israeli intelligence “Shin Bet” summoned and interrogated Diala Jwehan, correspondent of “Alhayat al Jadeda” newspaper in Jerusalem, after raiding her house on 05/04, on 10/04 Israeli Occupation Police arrested the journalist at Al Quds Network Samah Dweik and confiscated her cell-phone and laptop after raiding her house in Jerusalem. 

 

On 11/04 IOF arrested the photographer of Transmedia Company and the cameraman of Al Najah Broadcast channel while crossing a military checkpoint near Nablus City; they also detained the car of the company for few hours, the same day on 11/04 Israeli occupation Intelligence detained the head of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate Naser Abed Abu Baker on Al-Karamah crossing on his way back from travelling and interrogated him, On 18/04 afternoon IOF raided the headquarter of Al-Quds newspaper and its offices in Jerusalem under the Pretext of searching for young men claimed they had " smuggled " through the separation wall, on 18/04 the Israeli Occupation Intelligence summoned Adeeb Barakat Al Atrash on his way back after earning his master’s degree in media from Cyprus University. 

 

On 23/04 the IOF arrested member of the General Secretariat of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate Omar Naji Nazzal, while traveling to participate in a conference organized by the European Journalists Union.

 

On 26/04 the vice-head of the Palestinian journalists syndicate Tahseen Al Astal, and the videographer Saed Hawari got injured with shrapnel of stun grenades and tear gas bomb, after IOF oppressed a demonstration for solidarity with the journalist Omar Nazzal protesting his arrestment, a freelance journalist and photographer  Saeed Abdelnasser Alrukon was exposed to two different physical assaults and two interrogations by by the Israeli Occupation Police in Jerusalem while covering events in Jerusalem on 30/04.

 

 

During April 2016, 7 violations were committed by different Palestinian Apparatuses against media freedoms in West Bank and Gaza Strip from which one violation was monitored in Gaza Strip and 6 violations in the West Bank.

On 10/04 Internal Security Agency in Gaza summoned the correspondent of Al-Monitor /American Site, and Alarabi TV Network (broadcast from London) and the journalist Mohammad Ahmad Othman and interrogated him regarding a press report he was intending to conduct.  

On 18/04 the Palestinian Intelligence summoned Adeeb Barakat Attyieh Al Atrash on his way back after earning his master’s degree in media from Cyprus University on Al Karameh crossing, moreover he was summoned three times respectively, in addition anonymous party published a statement that included direct accusations against the owner and editor in chief of “Alhadath” online newspaper Rula Sami Sarhan Concerning the sources of funding and questioning its loyalty, demanding  the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to shut it down.

 

 

(05/04)- Israeli Occupation intelligence “Shin Bet” raided correspondent of “Alhayat al Jadeda” newspaer, Diala Nayef Jwehan’s house in Jerusalem, summoned her for interrogation on 10/04, she reported to MADA” on Tuesday 05/04  Shin Bet raided my house in Jerusalem between (10:30pm – 11:00pm), in the presence of “Captain Ishaq” the responsible of the region, the mentioned captain entered our house and asked my father about me while I was sitting right next to him, I responded confirming that I am Diala, he introduced himself as the area captain, and handed me a summons for interrogation, on Sunday 10/04, in Al-Maskoubieh room number 4, when I asked about the reasons he said you’ll know upon arrival, they didn’t search the house, and no one was hurt or assaulted”.

 

She also added ”on 10/04 I headed to Al- Maskoubieh Interrogation center and after half an hour I was escorted to the interrogation room, at first the detective asked me about the place and the nature of my work, the main subject was the invitation I forwarded through watsapp, a call to Cover the event , which was organized on the occasion of Earth Day in the Ras al-Amud area, hence I assured the detective that I am a journalist and this is the nature of my work that doesn’t include any incitement, I also showed them my Press Card, and the International Federation of Journalists card, what I did was distributing the invitation for media coverage, and not organizing the event, I am a journalist not an activist, the officer gave me back the badges warning me to perform any activity that is out of my daily tasks as a journalist, the interrogation ended after one hour”.

 

(05/04)- Israeli Occupation Forces banned the correspondent of “WAFA” Agency in Gaza Strip, Sami Mohammed Abu Salem (45 years) , from travelling to the West Bank for medical treatment and to attend the Board of Director’s meeting, Abu Salem reported to MADA” I was supposed to go to Al Ahli Hospital in Hebron- West Bank for medical treatment, while I was informed by the abroad treatment department in Ministry of Health, that I am banned from travelling without revealing the reasons”.

He also added” it happened that I already applied twice before for a permit, one on the 8th of March and the other on the 14th of  February, and I was returned from Erez Checkpoint, I tried to contact the journalists syndicate and the International Federation of Journalists and Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and none of them provided me with convenient solution, notably that IOF rejected 4 previous permit applications to move between West Bank and Gaza Strip and participate in the board of directors meeting for WAFA Agency as a board member”.

 

(09/04)- Israeli occupation forces summoned the correspondent of “Pelest” news site, Osamah Shaheen (34 years) and handed him a summon for interrogation by the Israeli Intelligence in  Attsyoun settlements compound, as Shaheen reported to MADA ”On 09/04, 8 Israeli Jeeps raided my house in Hebron, and the Israeli Officer handed me a summon for interrogation by the Israeli occupation Intelligence on Wednesday 13/04 at Attsyoun Detention Center (inside Israeli Settlement),  when I replied that I will not attend as it involves a significant risk (as IOF executed several Palestinians there under suspicions of carrying out stabbings) the officer threatened me to raid my house once again on Thursday and cracking my house and killing me”. 

He added”  upon their request I headed to Attsyoun Detention Center, whence I was informed that the interrogation  was postponed for the next day, I complied and headed there the next day where after half an hour one of the soldiers informed me that it was postponed till Sunday 17/04 but I didn’t comply”.

 

(10/04)- Israeli Occupation Police arrested the journalist at Al Quds Network Samah Dweik (25 years) after raiding her house in Silwan – Ras Al Amud area/ East Jerusalem. Israeli Occupation Police also confiscated her cell-phone and laptop; on 15/04 they extended her arrest till Monday 18/04 under the pretext of incitement on social media/ Facebook, currently she is in Al Ramleh Detention Center, IOF also listed Samah as people banned from entering Al Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem since few months ago”. 

 

(10/04)- Internal Security Agency in Gaza summoned the correspondent of Al-Monitor /American Site, and Alarabi TV Network/ Mohammad Ahmad Othman (29years) and interrogated him regarding a press report he was preparing toconduct, Othman reported to MADA” On 10/04 around 09:00am I received a phone call from a private number, the caller introduced himself as an officer at the Internal Security Agency, he requested to meet me in a /friendly/ way, on schedule which is 12:00pm same day, I headed to the ISA center in Al- Amal Hotel in Gaza, after half an hour I was escorted to the office where I was treated respectfully and the officer assured that the meeting will be friendly”.

 

He also added, “The interrogation mostly focused on a press report I was intending to conduct for one well- known Arab channel on the topic of (religious doctrines), but the channel fell back after a short period, thus I didn’t conduct the report, the officer wanted to attain more info about the report, and in case I was intending to accomplish it, and the resources I relied on to conduct it, without expressing his reaction whether approval or rejection of the whole idea, the interrogation lasted for half an hour, afterwards I left”.  

 

(11/04)- IOF arrested the cameraman of Transmedia Company and the cameraman of Al Najah TV Hazem Emad Naser while crossing a military checkpoint near Nablus City; they also detained the car of the company for few hours, as his cousin Mohammed Nasser reported to MADA on 11/04, yesterday’s afternoon IOF arrested my cousin from a flying checkpoint, near Nablus City, after detaining him and the company’s car for half an hour, afterwards he was deported to the Qadumim military camp (inside the settlement)”.

He also added” we received a phone call on 10:00pm from an Israeli occupation officer in Qadumim requesting us to go to the settlement and take the car”.

In another affidavit on 28/04 he reported to MADA” at first they extended his arrest for 11 days; till the 24/04, on 24/04 they extended his arrest for more 9 days, claiming that his file is confidential and secret, with no charges or accusations against him”.

 

(11/04)- Israeli occupation Intelligence detained the head of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate Naser Abed Abu Baker (48 years) on his way back from a trip and interrogated him, as he reported to MADA” on my way back from Egypt and around 10:00am of 11/04, I was detained at Al Karameh crossing, when I handed them my passport as usual to pass, I waited for a whole hour, an IO soldier / female showed up with several passports for other Palestinians who were also detained, and asked me to join her to the interrogation room, where the detective was waiting for me, when I entered I wasn’t asked to sit, and he promptly started the interrogation process, and asked me questions, where have you been? You travel a lot and you have lots of activities, when I asked him do you know what I work? He replied: he knows what I eat, he wanted to know me and meet me in person and that he always follows up all my work”.

He also added” the detective asked lots of questions about my activities and work as a journalist not as a syndicalist, where I work, and from who I earn my salary? He also informed me that Israeli Intelligence is following me, and that this detention and interrogation is a massage to Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas/ Palestinian president), I replied that I am not a messenger, afterwards he tackled other political subjects, at the end he handed me the passport and I left the place after an hour of waiting and half an hour interrogation”.

(18/04)- a force of IOF raided on Monday’s afternoon the headquarter and offices of “Al-Quds” newspaper in East Jerusalem, under the Pretext of searching for young men claimed they had “smuggled “through the separation wall (the headquarter is located near the annexation wall).

Employees of Al Quds newspaper who refused to disclose their identities reported that a troop of IOF suddenly raided the headquarters of Al-Quds newspaper in “Attarot” under the pretext of searching for young men who smuggled through the wall, IOF assaulted with insults and improper words on some of the newspaper's staff. 

 

(18/04)- the Israeli Intelligence summoned Adeeb Barakat Attyieh Al Atrash (26years) on his way back  after earning his master’s degree in media from Cyprus University on Al Karameh crossing, as he reported to MADA” while on my way back home through Al-Karameh bridge on 18/04 (after the completion of my master’s in media from Cyprus) Israeli Occupation Intelligence summoned me for interrogation on 24/04, and when I presented myself on time they did not meet me because of the (Passover Holiday) and they did not set any other time for the interrogation”.

 

(18/04)- the Palestinian Intelligence detained Adeeb Barakat Attyieh Al Atrash (26 years) on his way back after earning his master’s degree in media from Cyprus University on Al Karameh Bridge, moreover he was summoned and interrogated several times, as he reported to MADA”on the same day 18/04, on my way back from studying master’s in media abroad-Cyrus- Palestinian Intelligence stopped me and interrogated me for two hours, meanwhile they searched my luggage and belongings and questioned me about my income, before interrogating my travel, countries I visited, people I met, they also asked me about my family, and in case I was arrested before, and where I spent my absence period for the last three years(while studying abroad).”

 

After they finished the interrogation process an officer of the Palestinian Intelligence handed me a summon for interrogation, in Hebron on the next day (19/04), the other day when I presented myself on time, without being interviewed I was informed that it was postponed till 25/04, again I presented myself on time they postponed the interrogation till the 28/04,  I presented myself on 28/04 they interrogated me for two hours about my travel; where and how I spent it, and asked about previous arrestment and general questions, afterwards I was astonished that they asked me to present myself once again on 02/05 and I also complied”. 

 

(21/04)- anonymous party published a statement that included direct accusations against the owner and editor in chief “Alhadath” online newspaper Rula Sami Sarhan (37 years) Concerning the sources of funding and questioning its loyalty, demanding the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to shut it down as Rula Sarhan reported to MADA” anonymous party published a statement on Facebook, undersigned by the Palestinian “Military Intelligence” to President Mahmoud Abbas demanding to shut down (Al Hadath ) newspaper, through the statement that accused me personally, and the newpaper financing by anonymous sources, and that we are funded by Zionist sides”.

She also added” the statement also mentioned the following: Mohammad Mustafa, Salam Fayyad, and they also hinted that we receive our funding from Hamas, and that I receive a monthly salary of 10,000$, they also accused me of stealing videotapes from the legislative council during my work there, and that Al Hadath newspaper should be shut due to their illegal and anonymous funding”.

Sarhan also added to MADA “the statement was circulated and shared (by anonymous party on my page on Facebook), but with the letterhead of the Palestinian Military Intelligence, I suppose that they intended to convince us to shut down the journal in future”. 

 

(23/04)- IOF arrested member of the General Secretariat of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate Omar Naji Nazzal (54 years), while traveling to participate in a conference organized by the European Journalists Union, as his wife Madeline Al- Rabadi reported to MADA ”on Saturday (23/04) around 02:00pm IOF arrested Omar on Al-Karameh crossing while heading to participate in a conference organized by the European Journalists Union in Bosnia, he was detained for 5 hours before being arrested and deported to Attsyoun Detention center, as he informed me”.

She also added “on Monday (25/04) they held a hearing before military court in Ofar, they informed us that his file is confidential and no one is allowed to review it, hence no clear accusation or charges against him, another hearing before the court will take place on Tuesday 26/04 at Ofar, but it was postponed till Wednesday (27/04) during the session they extended his detention 72 hours to check the possibility of sentencing him with administrative detention.”

 

(26/04)- IOF oppressed a demonstration organized near Ofar detention center near Ramallah City, protesting the arrestment of Omar Nazzal a member of the general secretariat of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, in conjunction with brining him before the military court, IOF dispersed them with tear gas and stun grenades, as Reuters videographer Saed Fathi Hawari (39 years) reported to MADA” I headed to the demonstration that was organized by the Palestinian Syndicate  near Ofar detention center to demand the immediate release of Omar Nazzal , when IOF started on shooting and targeting all journalists in the area with stun grenades and gas bombs, when one of the bombs was shot right near my camera and I got injured with shrapnel from stun grenades (one in the Chest and the other om my arm),  it was an external wound, also Tahseen Al Astal got injured with a shrapnel from gas bomb”.

 

(30/04)- Saeed Abdelnasser Alrukon (27 years) a photographer who supplies several agencies with photos including (Al Quds network, Al Quds media center and Al Shehab news agency) was exposed to a series of systematic violations by Israeli Occupation Police as he reported to MADA” around 14:15pm on Saturday (30/04) and while covering funerals for three former Palestinian prisoners in Israel, in the old city of East Jerusalem, IOP brutally assaulted all participants by attacking them physically and spraying pepper gas on them.

He also added” I was covering the events from a far distance, where one of the Israeli Occupation Police attacked me from behind and started spraying pepper gas, thus I fainted immediately it lasted for an hour before I could wake up”. 

 

He also added “ while I was at the (corner gate) to Offer my condolences, I got attacked by a troop of Israeli Occupation Police ( around 12member) they started hitting me without any reason, I was deported to the Postal police center without checking my ID, thinking that I am a family member ; that was attacked during the funeral, after showing my press card for a news agencies I work at, they apologized alleging they did not know I am a journalist, and after I rejected their apology I was deported to Al Qashlah Prison with prisoners transport vehicle, I was interrogated their about my work as a journalist, and the reasons of my presence in the old city, and why I was covering the events , claiming that I was filming in a (prevented zone )  they confiscated two of my camera, they added I will be contacted later to restore them, I was released at 07:00pm”.