Ramallah- 06/02/2017- January 2017 witnessed an increase in total number of violations against media freedoms in Palestine compared to December 2016.

The Palestinian center for development and media freedoms “MADA” monitored a total of 30 violations against media freedoms that included (20 violations committed by Israeli Occupation and 10 violations by Palestinian sides both in Gaza Strip and West Bank).  Noting that, December 2016 witnessed 25 in total violations against media freedoms.

Israeli Violations:

January 2017 did not witness any remarkable change in Israeli violations, as MADA recorded 20 Israeli violations against media freedoms. Similar amount recorded in December 2016

Israeli Occupation forces continued their systematic operations in targeting media institutions; as in January IOF raided two printing houses, destructing and confiscating contents and equipment of one noting that total loss is approximately five hundred thousand shekels. Similar attacks also targeted three other media institutions during December 2016, and other 4 media institutions were attacked during November 2016.

Most prominent of Israeli violations was the arrest of Mohammad Al-Qiq after few months of releasing him, a freelance journalist. (Al-Qiq was detained for few months and released after started a hunger strike that lasted more than three months protesting his administrative detention).]

Palestinian Violations

Total numbers of Palestinian violations against media freedoms monitored in January doubled than total number recorded in previous month. A total of 10 violations were monitored (including 9 violations in Gaza Strip and 1 in West Bank). However, December witnessed a total of 5 Palestinian violations against media freedoms in West Bank and Gaza Strip.

This increase of total violations against media freedoms in Gaza Strip was mainly due to the demonstrations that erupted in Gaza strip, protesting electricity poor services. Throughout these demonstrations many journalists were prevented from coverage and summoned besides being assaulted while performing their jobs.

 

Palestinian violations monitored in Gaza Strip ranged between 3 Physical assaults, 2 confiscation of equipment, 2 cases of detention accompanied with abuses, 2 cases of summon and interrogation. Whereas, in West Bank one case of arrest was monitored.

 

Violations in details:

(05/01)- IOF attacked a group of journalists, while covering events of peaceful demonstration against settlements in Jordan Valley, as reported to MADA by the videographer of trans-media company Almuthana Sameer Al-Deek (26 years) “on 12:00 pm we headed to the northern Jordan Valley following a demand by Tubas Governorate. Following the fact that an Israeli settler placed a caravan in the area, while covering the peaceful demonstration we were attacked by IOF, targeting us with tear gas bombs, besides, myself and a colleague of mine Amoun Alsheikh were attacked after being held, we were hit. Noting that, Palestine TV crew was banned from entering the area, and was detained at Tayaseer check point”.

He added” I got injured with a gas bomb in my right foot, and an Israeli soldier punched me in the stomach with a gas bomb, I was transferred in an ambulance to the Turkish Hospital in Tubas, and there I was transferred to the Specialized Arab Hospital where I stayed till 06:00pm”.

Amoun Saleh Alsheikh (27 years) a reporter of media-port company, reported to MADA” while we were covering the incidents in northern Jordan Valley on Thursday 05/01/2017, IOF banned us from entering the area through targeting us with tear gas bombs, as an Israeli soldier deliberately targeted us with a tear gas bomb, while standing right near the broadcasting car, were we had to escape all the gas through getting inside the car”.

She also added” afterwards, I left the car to start covering the events, an Israeli soldier attacked us, punched Almuthana in his stomach, then he attacked me pushed me and punched me in the stomach but it was not a critical hit as I was wearing the journalist vest, but I received a field treatment due to gas inhalation”.

(09/01)- Troop of IOF raided the house of reporter of Al-Mahd TV located in Bethlehem, Amer Omar Hijazy, to collect personal data, same incident also happened three weeks ago, Hijazy reported to MADA ”a troop of Israeli occupations forces and officers raided my house that is located in the area of Rachel’s tomb near Attsyoun settlements near Bethlehem, at 10:30 pm of 09/01, throughout the raid they demanded few personal data that included (my name, age, a copy of ID, phone number, where I am working, for whose favor, and by who it is being supported, they photographed me and left the house after 20 minutes, without any further action, noting that I was exposed to similar violation back in 23/12/2016”.

He also added” First time on 23/12/2016 a total of 4 Israeli occupation officers, entered my house at around 11:00pm. Once I tried to ban them from entering the dog inside the house, they started searching and inspecting the house, meanwhile I was photographing the raid, one of the officers took my mobile and erased all photos, after registering personal data and left the house”.

(11/01)- Palestinian intelligence service in Ramallah arrested program editor “the Zionist scene” at Al Quds channel Imad Manhmoud Abu Awwad (33 years), for a period of 5 days, as he reported to MADA “on Wednesday 11/01, I headed to the intelligence headquarters, in Ramallah, after I learned by my family that they headed previously to my house in Al-Bireh and informed my family that they want to talk to me for half an hour”.

He also added “once I reached the headquarters I was presented for a medical examination, and around midnight of the same night, an interrogator showed up and opened a general discussion, (it is hardly possible for the session to be considered as interrogation). Afterwards I informed them that I will start a hunger strike. Despite the fact that I was informed that I will be released in the morning (12/01). But in the morning I was surprised that I was presented before the court, and they extended my detention for 5 days, till Sunday 15/01/2017. He also added “during the next interrogation by the intelligence I was accused of receiving funds from illegal parties and they have evidence; which I refuted, once I was interrogated by the legal consultant, he kept on repeating / that media is what led me to that point/ I remained on a hunger strike till Friday to release me. On Sunday afternoon I was summoned by the Legal consultant with the presence of the attorney provided by the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate and the officer, where they informed me that I will be released only under a personal custody of my brother Karam”.

He also added” in regards to the treatment I received it was very civilized where I was not detained in a cell, yet I was detained in the interrogators room, and the whole period of interrogation did not last more than an hour”. 

 

(12/01)- Police personnel in Gaza Strip, attacked the photographer of AFP Mohammad abdelraziq Albaba (47 year), he was beaten, while covering a demonstration erupted in Jabalya refugee camp Strip, protesting against the bad service of electricity in Gaza, as he reported to MADA “we headed to Jabalya refugee camp, to cover a demonstration organized by the popular movement at 16:00pm on Wednesday 12/01, to protest the bad service of electricity and the consistent cut off, we covered the peaceful demonstration that wandered the refugee camp’s streets, without any presence of security services, but when the demonstration reached the electricity company there erupted a confrontation between the demonstrators and the police. Police personnel attacked the demonstrators and prosecuted them, after I covered the event, I was stopped by the police they tried to confiscate my cameras”.

He added “when I told them that I am a journalist, and I was only doing my job, yet they did not respond and they kept on insisting pulling my camera, they did not manage to take it so they hit me with a cudgel on the head right above my left eye, it started to bleed, then they confiscate the cameras”. He also added I was transferred to Kamal Odwan Hospital, they stitched the injury; three stitches, then I was transferred to the Indonesian hospital to continue the medical examination, and an x ray for my head. After the calls from the AFP to the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Iyad El-Buzom the representative of the ministry came to the hospital to check on me, where they returned my confiscated cameras, and apologized. I left the hospital the same day in the afternoon”.

 

(12/01)- In the same demonstration, internal security in Gaza confiscated equipment of the journalist Fares Akram Alghoul (33years) reporter of “Associated Press Agency” under weapons threat, as he reported to MADA “they confiscated my cellphone and other devices under weapons threat, and they were returned after an hour, but I was not exposed to any physical assault, and it was just threats when I refused to hand them my cellphone because they did not disclose their identity (as they were dressed civil), I refused to hand them the cellphone until I was informed that they were personnel from internal security”.

 

(12/01)- Internal security service in Gaza summoned freelance journalist and blogger Salah Abdalah Salah (37 years) from Khansyounis, and interrogated him on grounds of his posts on Facebook regarding electricity services in Gaza Strip, as he reported to MADA “I was summoned by the internal security on Thursday 12/01, through a phone call, where I headed to the internal security service headquarters in Khanyounis around 12:30pm, and was interrogated regarding my posts on Facebook on electricity services and its continued cut off”.

He also added “once I reached the internal security headquarters I was blindfolded and detained in a cell, and interrogated for 4 hours regarding the same topic, afterwards I was released with no custody, and without signing my testimony”.

 

(14/01)- Palestinian Police in Gaza Strip, affiliated to Hamas, detained in their headquarters the videographer of National Media Agency Jivara Talal Al-Safadi (31 years), and his assistant Yacoub Saqer (21 years) for few hours, they were interrogated and hit, as Al-Safadi reported to MADA at around 16:00pm of 14/01 I headed to cover a demonstration organized by “people with disabilities due to wars in Gaza” against the continued cut off electricity, in Jabalya refugee camp, while we were waiting to start covering the demonstration, at around (16:10) police jeep stopped and asked me what am I doing in the area? I informed him that I am a journalist and attempting to cover the events, he order me to get in the jeep, and ordered the forces with his t carry and throw me inside the jeep, me and my assistant, Yacoub Saqer (21years). That happened in a brutal way, and once I told him that I want to contact the agency I am working at to inform them that I am arrested, they refused and confiscated my cellphone”.

He also added, “After we reached the police station in Jabalya, they dropped us out of the jeep while hitting and cursing us, when we entered the police station, they forced us to take off our belts, strip our pants, and to raise our shirts, they confiscated our IDs and cameras, and refused for the second time, to contact the agency’s office”.

He added “we were detained in the center for 3 hours, 7 officers shifted to interrogate us, all directed me the same question, where we work, and in favor of who we work, they treated us in a very brutal and inhuman way, as they demanded me to stand close to the wall with one of my legs up, all included threats of detention in cells, although I asked them to search our cameras to assure them that I did not capture any photo. After our director was informed by the driver who accompanied us earlier, that we were detained, he presented himself to the police station, they released us after signing a testimony not to capture or cover any events in Gaza against Hamas”.

 

(15/01)- Internal security service in Gaza summoned presenter at “Saw’t Elsha’b” radio station, Ahmad Saeed Mohamad (35years) as he reported to MADA” I received an official summon/written to my house located in Der Albalah issued by the internal security service on Sunday 15/01, by that time I was not home, I was still at work in Gaza”.

He also added” I did not comply to their request, as during this period Gaza Strip witnessed many calls and protests against electricity service and the consistent cut off the service; as many civilians were summon, but it was agreed amongst all protestors not to oblige. After one day of receiving the summon a session for all factions with the security services officer in Gaza, and resulted in stopping all demonstrations, and dropping summon calls that was directed to protestors, and to release all detained protestors”.

(15/01)- IOF arrested freelance journalist “Mohammad Adeeb ahmad Al-Qiq (33 years), while passing across DCO checkpoint in Ramallah, as his wife Fayhaa’ Shalash reported to MADA” IOF arrested Mohamad Al-Qiq while crossing through DCO check point in West Bank, at around 22:00pm, that took place after detaining him for an hour at the checkpoint that is located, in West Bank near Beit-Eil settlement. He was also detained for more than half an hour the same day earlier around noon near khan Alahmar / Jericho. IOF informed him that he is under arrest but after a while they released him”.

She also added”on 11/01 Mohamad was brought before Ofer military court, through which they extended his arrest on Monday 23/01 until he is convicted”.

She also added in a separate report to MADA on 26/01: “till present Mohamad is still under interrogations and no progress regarding his arrest”. Adding that herself received a summon by Israeli occupation intelligence for interrogation after raiding her house in Abu Qash, searching and pampering its contents, on Wednesday 19/01 she said “I headed to Ofer detention center (near Ramallah) as scheduled and I was interrogated from 10:00am till 15:00pm, all interrogations focused on demanding me to disclose my password on Facebook, although I do not have a personal account”.

 

(19/01)- Israeli Occupation Forces and police detained 6 journalists, working at the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation, and WAFA agency, that took place while conducting a report on Palestinian family /house that is exposed to settlers systematic attacks in Hebron city, as the head of the PBC, in Hebron Jihad Ali Qawasmi (46 years) reported to MADA “ crew of PBC and Palestine TV, including Sari Al-Ewewe / reporter(29 years), Thaer Faquseh/ videographer (38 years), Alaa Al-Hadad (29 years) and the photographer of WAFA agency Mashhour Hasan Wahwah (33years), and myself. All headed to the Ja’bary family house, that is located between two Israeli settlements –Keryat arba’, and Keryat Hamesh- as this house was systematically exposed to almost daily attacks by Israeli illegal settlers. Noting that the owner of the house was forced recently to pay the Israeli Tax known as arnona, accordingly he filled a suit in an Israeli court against that but still pending”.

 

He added “the whole crew headed there to conduct a report regarding the case, during the presence of Israeli Occupation Forces and Police, and banned us from covering and conducting the report, until an illegal Israeli settler his name is –Mosheh- showed up and started inciting against us and demands the Israeli forces to detain us and search our cameras, and delete photos we captured. He also demanded Israeli police to take our IDs. He accused us of taking photos to provide them for terrorist to carry out terrorist attacks in the place. After Israeli police check all photos we took the released us after an hour of detention.

(20/01)- IOF and Israeli special units, prevents a group of journalists from covering an event organized in Nazareth, attacking some journalists and expelled others from the area, as the director and photographer of Ro’ya TV Mohammad Radi Shusheh (34 years) reported to MADA” at around 11:00 am on 20/01, we headed to cover an event organized by the popular resistance at Bab-Alshams in Nazareth near Ma’aleh Adomim Israeli settlements, after a while of arriving there IOF, and special petrol Israel unit known as YASAM arrived in order to repress and ban the event”.

He also added” Israeli Occupation police and forces, prevented us from coverage, and gave us five minutes to evacuate the area, we withdrew precipitately from the place, hence, after reaching the street they banned us from taking the streets and informed us that anyone takes the paved road will be fined, as what happened to our colleague Hisham Abu Shaqra he was fined with 250 ILS. All journalists with cars parked in the area were also fined with a specific amount of money. After we headed to our car, YASAM special unite headed toward us and started attacking us through pushing and hitting including photographer of Raya FM, reporter and cameraman of Arab News Iranian TV Khalid Sabarneh, Shadi Hatem AP cameraman, Iyad Hamad and Mahmoud Ellyan), noting that all were simple assaults with no severe consequences that did not need medical treatment or remedy”.

(25/01)- Israeli Occupation Police, prevented cameraman of AP agency Mahmoud Ibrahim Ellyan (44 years) from covering an incident that took place in Mukhmas village, detained him and confiscated his camera and erased all photos as he reported to MADA” during the coverage of events that erupted following the martyrdom of Hussein Abu Ghosh in Mukhmas village around 20:00pm, a police officer headed towards me and demanded me to stop from covering the events allegedly of hindering him of doing his duty, he demanded to confiscate my camera, as I refused to oblige until informing the agency I work in favor, he asked me to delete all photos captured for the incident, and again tried to confiscate my camera, suddenly the captain in charge headed towards us confiscated my camera, and informed me that I am under arrest, under the pretext of hindering the Israeli Police from undertaking their duties; yet this was only me doing my job, I got my mobile and camera returned after erasing all photos”.

(29/01)- IOF stormed Kobar printing and Publishing house in Ramallah, after destructing its doors and shut it down; noting that the owner already closed it two months ago and they stopped from operating as his father reported to MADA Ahmad Saleh (57 years) to MADA center “IOF stormed on 29/01 Kobar printing house located in Al-Masah center in Ramallah city, they stormed the printing house after exploding the doors although it was empty as my son Loay owner of the printing house has shut it down since two months they stopped operating, yet IOF stormed it and welded its doors”.

 

(30/01)- IOF stormed Al-Noor printing house in Ramallah city, destructed and pampered most of its contents, as the owner Ibrahim Hassan Khalid Musafar (42 years) reported to MADA “a troop of IOF, stormed Al-Noor printing house that is located in Al-Nahdah street, Ramallah city, at around 13:00am on 30/01, in conjunction with the raid of my house located in Mazare’ Alnubani noting that I was not home by that time”.

He also added ”one of the staff members was there by that time, IOF called me and threatened me that they will destruct the printing house if I do not turned myself. Although I informed them that now I am far and I cannot show up. In the morning I headed to the printing house, I found out that they destructed most of the contents total amount of loss is estimated with at least 400-500 thousands shekels, they left at 04:00am, after they shut down the printing house and welded its doors, yet our neighbors opened it in the morning”.