Ramallah- 16/1/2017  December 2016 witnessed a decrease in total number of violations against media freedoms in Palestine, compared to violations recorded in November, The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) monitored a total number of 25 violations during December, including 20 violations committed by Israeli Occupation authorities, whilst, Palestinian parties committed in total 5 violations both in West Bank and Gaza Strip, noting that last month (November) witnessed a total of 31 violations including 27 violations committed by Israeli Occupation authorities.

 

 

Despite the slight decline in total numbers of Israeli violations from November to December, 27 to 20 respectively, yet Israeli occupation forces continued their attack against media outlets, during December 2016 IOF raided 3 different institutions, and confiscated several belongings and equipment, including the shutdown of an institution for a period of 40 days (noting that during the past month IOF raided 4institutions, confiscated its equipment causing sabotage of contents).

 

MADA, also monitored 7 cases of arrest, renewal of administrative detention against prisoners for different periods, additionally to 3 cases of injuring ranged from burnings to suffocation due to shooting and targeting journalists with stun grenade and tear gas bombs during a demonstration organized in Bethlehem during Christmas, rather than, exiling a journalist for 15 days from East Jerusalem for a period of 15 days, and the continuation of prosecuting two journalists and hold a hearing alleging their work in a restricted channel.

 

This coincided with a grave escalation against media freedom, and freedom of expression as the Israeli Knesset(parlement) adopted in a preliminary reading on 03/01/2017 “Facebook law” that was presented by Ayelet Shaked Minister of Justice and Gilad Erdan Minister of Public Security.

 According to the bill (in reference to the Israeli Newspaper /Israel Hayom) Israeli courts can issue an order for social media giants similar to Facebook and Google to remove any publications that are considered as “Inciting” from the network, under filed requests by the state. 

 

 

 

December witnessed 5 Palestinian violations in total, including (4 in Gaza Strip, and one violation in the West bank), almost same number of violations to what was recorded in November; 4 Palestinian violations in total against media freedoms in West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Palestinian violations this month are: summon and interrogation and a case of arrest and confiscating equipment, and another case of forcing a journalist to remove a report he published.

On the contrary Hebron Magistrate Court in a hearing on 01/12/2016 issued a decision to acquit Ramsat agency cameraman Nidal Asmar Ishtayeh (28years) accused of “Lengthening tongue and mug” after being arrested by the Palestinian preventive security on 13/10/2016, based on posts on Facebook criticizing the Palestinian government.

In this regard, MADA center welcomes the decision of the Palestinian court of acquitting journalist Natsheh and as this decision represents an important basis for freedom of expression.

 

 

(02/12)- Israeli Occupation Police arrested “Aljazeera Net” photographer Iyad Salman Altawil (27 years) and transferred him from Jerusalem old city, for 15 days as he reported to MADA” after the Friday prayer on 02/12, I was arrested by Israeli Police at Al Qattaneen gate, it seemed that they were waiting for me, as it happened before that I was arrested and exiled from Al Aqsa mosque more than once”.

He also added “I was informed by the Israeli police that they are attempting to exile me from Al Aqsa mosque, and I was taken to Beit al-Yaho police station in the Old City, after three hours I was transferred to Al- Qashleh  interrogation center, and there I was interrogated for about three hours, on my work as a journalist and photographing in Jerusalem, afterwards I was informed that based on the material they have I will be exiled from the Old City of East Jerusalem for a period of 15 days, I was detained there till the next day around 15:00pm, as the prosecutor ratified the decision of exiling me of the Old City/ East Jerusalem for 15 days”.

 

(04/12)- Israeli Occupation Authorities renewed the detention of journalist Adeeb Barakat Al Atrash (26 years) for the third time in a row, as his brother reported to MADA “on 14/12 a decision of renewing the administrative detention of Adeeb for the third time for a period of three months, on 13/12 he was presented before the Supreme court of Jerusalem, which decided the renewing of his administrative detention will be  for the last time a period of 3 months, on 17/12 a hearing took place to confirm the decision, another court date for the appeal has not yet been determined, and once Adeeb completes this period of detention, it is supposed that he will be released on 18/03”.

 

(05/12)- Israeli Occupation Police summoned the videographer and producer of “Elia media press office” Yasmin Mohammad Adeily (22years) and interrogated her regarding her work, and the media institution she works at, as she reported to MADA” I received a phone call by the Israeli Occupation Police, on 05/12 afternoon, requesting me to present myself after one hour at Al Masqubieh (room 4) police station in Jerusalem, I went and waited till an officer showed and started interrogating me and directed question regarding the institution I work at, and nature of it workof, if the institution is affiliated to any political party, and if they have any relations with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and who is our general manager, they displayed a photo of the General Manager Ahmad Al Safady, where the officer asked me to sign on it, and to sign my testimony before I left the place”.

 

(08/12)- Israeli Occupation police and intelligence raided “Elia media press office”, that is located in Salah Al Deen St. in East Jerusalem, in the morning of 08/12, searched and confiscated equipment, files, and detained the photojournalist Lama Hani Abu Ghousheh (24 years) interrogated and detained her al Al Maskubieh police station till noon, besides, they interrogated her colleague Yasmin Adeily (22 years), as the general manager Ahmad Safady (44 years) reported to MADA” an Israeli officer at the Israeli intelligence called and asked me to present myself at Elia Office to open the front door, as both journalists Lama Abu Ghosheh and Yasmin Edeily were in the field covering a media activity near the office headquarter as the office was closed, but they (Israeli police, and Intelligence) found both journalists (Yasmin and Lama) and took them to the office, they smashed the front door, stormed the office, searched the it and confiscated three personal computer and several new and old administrative and financial folders and reports, and the checks and the institution stamp in addition to several brochures and reports of the institution, they arrested Lama after they finished searching and confiscating the office and left”.

He also added” in the same day I received a phone call by the Israeli Intelligence informing me that I am requested to present myself for interrogation, I refuted to oblige unless they sent me an official warrant”.

Lama Abu Ghosheh stated to MADA that a troop of Israeli Police were presented near the Institution that is located in Salah Al Deen St. in East Jerusalem, at the afternoon of 08/12, while me and my colleague Yasmin Eidely were covering events near the place, once Israeli intelligence noticed us near the place and took us to the office to witness the search operation,  the smashed the front door and searched the institution and confiscated  personal computers, in addition to other official documents relating to the internal policy of the institution and other financial documents and budgets of the projects and the institution stamp, after an hour they returned Yasmin’s ID and released her, and took me to Al Maskubieh, and there I was interrogated regarding the institution and if it has any political affiliation, and who determines the work we do, I remained under detention till 17:00pm”.

 

(08/12)- Israeli Occupation Authorities renewed the detention of Hasan Ghassan Safady (4years) media officer at Al-Dameer (Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association); for 6 months as reported by his sister Ghadeer Al Safady to MADA center “It was supposed that Hassan will be released on 08/12 as he finished his administrative detention decision a period of six months, but it was renewed for another six months, noting that a hearing court was set to confirm the decision during 48 hours but it was postponed till Wednesday 21/12” 

 

(13/12)-  A troop of Israeli Occupation Forces raided “Zuwar for advertising” printing house, in Hebron after smashing its front door and confiscating several equipment and contents, as the owner of the printing house Sameh Walid Al Ju’beh (26 years) reported to MADA” a troop of Israeli Occupation forces stormed the headquarters of Zuwar printing house that is located in the University neighborhood in Hebron city, and smashed the front door and confiscated 6 personal computers and 8 USB’s in addition to all official documents, the value of the material losses is estimated by 35000 shekels ( about 9,162$)”.

He added “we didn’t learn about the storm until the next day Tuesday in the morning, whence we headed to the printing house as usual and found a paper hanged on the door saying that (the army was here and confiscated computers) and according to the camera records it appeared that they stayed at the printing house for around half an hour”.

 

(13/12)- Israeli Occupation Authorities continued the prosecution of reporters of Al Aqsa Channel  Alaa’ Jaber Al Titi (34 years) and Mustafa Khawaja (31 years) under the allegation that they are working in a prohibited channel, as a hearing was held on 13/12 for them both, as Al Titi reported to MADA “ on 13/12 at 14:00pm a hearing was held for both me and my colleague Mustafa Khawaja in Ofer prison court, and they postponed the hearing till 14/02/2017 to listen to the witnesses who were the investigating officers who interrogated us previously, and the court was about to open a file on the grounds that we provide services for a hostile party (Al Aqsa Channel) but we refused it as the prohibition order against Al Aqsa Channel was issued after we were arrested”.

 

 

(15/12)- Israeli Occupation Authorities renewed the administrative detention of Omar Nazzal (54 years) general secretariat member of Palestinian Journalist Syndicate for the fourth time in a row, for three months as his wife Marylin Rabadi reported to MADA” on 15/12 a decision was issued to extend the administrative detention of Omar for another 3 months for the fourth time respectively, through a military order yet  the order was supposed to be ratified through the court on 25/12, but it was postponed till 02/01/2017, supposedly to install the administrative detention order for a period of two months till 20/02/2017 a final essential non-extended order”. 

 

(15/12)- Palestinian police in Gaza Strip summoned freelance journalist Hani Ashraf Abu Rezeq (23 years) and detained and interrogated him in regards to a report he conducted for Al -Hayat Al-Jadidah newspaper, and forced him to remove it from his Facebook account, as Abu Rezeq reported to MADA “I received a phone call by the general director of the investigative unit in the police in Gaza Strip, on 16:30pm of 15/12 asking me to head directly to Al Zaytoun police station, when I told him I want oblige unless I received an official warrant, he said he can send an official warrant with a police petrol to take me from the house, hence, I preferred to go by myself, and I headed to Al-Zaytoun police station, after I informed the newspaper I work at and the Palestinian journalists syndicate, and when I arrived and asked about the person who called me earlier I was informed that he wasn’t there by that time, I was located in the prisoners hall, and then locked me in a room similar to a cage, when I objected he said/ come before I punch you in the face and press your eye glasses in your face, later an hour or so and after confiscating my cellphone, they took me by a military jeep from the Arafat police city formerly and currently is the passport center, and there I met him, he was checking my page on Facebook and asked me about the last report I wrote entitled / killed Al- Sahlab vendor /, he said that in the report I accused the police of killing Al Sahlab vendor  I told him, I've prepared the report based on interviews and testimonies of the people, and I also included the police opinion in the report, but Al- Hayat newspaper removed this part for matters concerning their policy where they don’t recognize Hamas authority”.

He also added “after an hour of interrogation he informed me that I won’t be arrested in case I removed the report from my account on Facebook, and publishing a clarification, afterwards he received a phone call and I was asked to leave the room, and then he came and informed me to just remove the report without posting a clarification, I removed the report from my page on Facebook, and was released at 19:00pm, generally their treatment was bad and interspersed cursing but without any physical abuse”.

 

(15/12)- The internal security in Gaza Strip, arrested Yousef Mohammad Hussein Fares (30 years), teacher and freelance journalist (working with the Lebanese news journal, and the chef editor in Naba’ press agency) and confiscated several devices, after raiding his house in Jebalia/ Gaza Strip, on the back of posts on Facebook, as he reported to MADA ”I received several uncovered threats regarding my posts on Facebook, on 15/12 afternoon I was arrested after I finished my work at school, as two personnel were presented at the entrance of the school, and once they saw me, one of them asked me to sit in the car to talk, and when I entered the car he informed me that I am under arrest by the north internal security in Gaza Strip, he responded my inquiry to arrest me after the students leave and far from the school”.

He added ”they headed to my house in the eastern of Jabalia, where I was detained in the car and they search my house, and confiscated my car, and my laptop and cellphone, passport and personal camera, and other books and articles, and then they took me to the internal security center in the north of Gaza, where they interrogated me regarding my political views in Syrian events, and the sources of funding I receive, I responded that it’s the monthly salary I receive on my work as a journalist, they also asked me about my travels where and with who I met ( I clarified that all were related figures of my work in media), they asked me to provide them my Facebook and e-mail password, when I refused they threatened me to use violence, although my accounts where accessible on my cellphone, but the officer wasn’t convinced until I gave him the passwords and changed it, (later I managed to obtain it with the help of some friends), I left the headquarters around 17:00pm without any guarantees, but they didn’t return any of my confiscated belongings, and was supposed to be back to return them in Sunday 18/12, but so far I didn’t”.

 

(23/12)- Three journalists were injured and suffocated, by IOF targeting and shooting stun grenade and tear gas bombs, during a peaceful march in Bethlehem during Christmas eve, as Mohammad Radi Shusheh (34 years), the cameraman and director in Roya Jordanian TV, reported to MADA “I headed to cover the march of Santa Clause, that started after Friday prayer near Karitas hospital in Bethlehem on Christmas, right near the check point (300) on the way to Jerusalem, which Palestinians are banned to enter without a permit, where IOF started shooting stun grenade and tear gas bombs, to separate the demonstration which ended with the injury of 4 journalists including a foreigner journalists who I don’t know”.

He added” while I was interviewing a citizen at around 14:00 pm, I didn’t notice a stun grenade (it contained metal), that targeted me and fell between my legs, it caused me burns / second level/ I received the needed medical treatment in the field then  I was transferred to Al Hussein Hospital”.

Iyad Nemer Hamad (58 years) AP photographer, reported to MADA “that while he was covering the same demonstration with the slogan of “Freedom of belief”, IOF started shooting stun grenade and tear gas bombs, against the civilians and journalists indiscriminately, that led of me suffocating after shooting two tear gas bombs both on the left and right, where I didn’t have any other place to run, I received field medical treatment for a small period”.

Cameraman of Japanese TV channel, and AFP Mousa Ahmad Al Shae’r (57 years) reported to MADA” while I was covering events, at around 14:00pm we were exposed to an excessive shoot of stun grenade and tear gas bombs, I was injured with a fragment in a sensitive area of my body, which forced me to move from the place and after relaxing for a while I headed to Beit Jala Al Hussein Hospital, it appeared that I had a simple wound yet it was painful, and left the hospital, after an hour”.

 

(23/12)- IOF arrested the owner of  Asayel Yafa printing house, Saber Mohammad Ali, from his house in Qalqilieh, and stormed the headquarters of the printing house and confiscated equipment and materials that costs approximately (800,000 shekels) and shut down the printing house as Saleh Mohammad Ali, Saber’s brother reported to MADA ”a troop of Israeli Intelligence forces stormed our house in Qalqilieh and arrested my brother Saber, who is the owner of Asayel Yafa printing house for advertisement, and then headed to the printing house and stormed it, at around midnight, they smashed the front door, and confiscated all equipment, including (12 machines, and two computer that approximately cost 800,000 shekels), and left around 05:00 am after hanging a paper that the printing house is closed with an order by the Israeli armycomander, till 27/01/2017, under the allegations of printing and distributing inciting materials, and the court hearing of Saber will take place on Thursday”.

 

 

Photo By (Shadi Hatem) shows the cameraman and director in Roya Jordanian TV

Mohammad Shusheh injured

(28/12)- Palestinian preventive security service in Ramallah, summoned reporter of “Hebron News Agency” Musab Ibrahim Saeed (26 years) and interrogated him regarding his work. Saeed reported to MADA “I received a phone call by the Palestinian preventive Security service on 28/12 and informed me that they will come to hand me a summon, and asked me not to photograph them, and within ten minutes they arrived to my place in Birzeit (north of Ramallah), and handed me a summon to go next daym morning, Thursday 29/12 to their HQ, but I called the preventive security service head in Ramallah and informed him that I can’t come  of Thursday hence, they postponed it to Saturday, and while I was heading, I received a new call to postpone it till Sunday, and on Sunday around 10:00am I headed there and I was interrogated for two hours and a half, regarding my work as a journalist, and how I conduct reports, and where from I receive my monthly salary, and with who I communicate, and to who the agency I work for belong, and why I left my work at Palestine today TV, and Aneen al qayed agency”.

He added” the officer informed me that the summon and interrogation is something normal (routine) due to the reports they receives, I wasn’t exposed to any bad treatment, and I left the place at around 12:30 pm”.

(28/12)- Israeli Occupation Authorities renewed the administrative detention of the reporter of Pelest. and the head of Palestinian Prisoner Center for researches Ossama Shaheen (34 years) for a period of four months as his wife Shayma’ reported to MADA “it was supposed that Osama will be released on 29/12, after he spent 3 months in administrative detention, yet one day before he was released, he was informed the his administrative detention was extended for the second time, in a period of 4 months”.