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MADA: “the Occupying Forces continue their bloody targeting of journalists during May”

Ramallah – (25 June 2018) – the assaults against media freedoms in Palestine have continued to rise during May 2018 as opposed to observed compromises during April. There were 57 reported assaults, 53 of which were committed by the Israeli Occupation, while only 4 were committed by the Palestinian authorities in the West Bank & Gaza Strip.

A total of 55 violations were reported during April, 46 of which were committed by the Occupation, while 11 were committed by the Palestinian authorities.

In addition to the increased number of violations reported during May, the number and seriousness of the Israeli assaults continued to rise. The Israeli Occupying Army went ahead in targeting the journalists with live bullets which has resulted, last month (April), in the murder of the journalists, Yasser Abdelrahman Murtaja, and Ahmad Abu Hussein, by the occupation snipers, while they were covering the peaceful return marches at the separation fence in Gaza Strip.

 

The Israeli Violations:

The number of Israeli violations during May has increased where the occupying forces have committed no less than 53 assaults against female/male journalists and the media. It should be noted that a total of 46 Israeli violations were reported in April, most of which were physical assaults and causalities, which reflects the gravity of assaults against journalists and that the occupation intends to further escalate targeting the journalists physically as a means of preventing them from covering the occupation’s violations, by excluding, intimidating, and forcing them out with the most violent and bloodiest means.

 

 

Most of the Israeli violations monitored and documented by “MADA” Center during May are physical assaults, not to mention the suffocation injuries of many dozens of other journalists due to gas bombs, which have become a “customary” practice by the occupying army to suppress any Palestinian assembly or demonstration or to force out the journalists. This has not been included in these statistics and figures.

At least 14 journalists were injured with live and explosive bullets, namely: the photojournalist of Palestine Newspaper, Yasser Fathi Qdaih, who has been critically wounded in the abdomen as a result of the deliberate targeting by an Israeli sniper with explosive gunshot, while he was covering the return march events in the east of Gaza Strip (It is worth mentioning that this injury is similar in terms of seriousness and manner to that of Yasser Mortaja and Ahmad Abu Hussein, who have been killed last month), the Director of Al-Jazeera in Gaza Strip, the journalist, Wael Hamdan Al-Dahdouh, who was shot in his right hand while he was getting ready to report directly to Al-Jazeera from the field in the east of Gaza Strip where he was covering the events, the photographer of Zain Media Center, Mohammad Ismail Abu Dahrouj, who was injured with live bullet in his right thigh, the freelance photojournalist, Majdi Fathi Sulaiman (38 years old), who was shot in his right leg while he was covering the return march events in the east of Gaza, the photographer of Reuters, Ahmed Abdel Fattah Zaqout, who was injured by explosive gunshot fragments in the thigh and armpits, his camera lens was also damaged by the fragments, the photographer of “Palestine Today”, Daoud Nimr Abu Al-Kas, who was injured by the explosive gunshot fragments in the palm of his left hand, the photojournalist of “Wafa” News Agency, Rafi Khatam Mohammad Al-Mileh, who was shot in his right hand in addition to an injury in his elbow by a bullet fragment, the journalist, Abdullah Al-Shurbaji, who was shot in the pelvis and the bullet came out from the thigh, the photojournalist, Yahya Fuad Timraz, who suffered a wound caused by a bullet through his left thigh (the bullet entered through the back and exited through the front) while he was covering the return march events in the east of Gaza, the Technician at Amwaj Sport, Mahmoud Salman Ibrahim Al-Arini, who suffered a wound caused by a bullet through his right hand while he was covering the return march events in Malka to the east of Gaza, the Reporter of Itehad Press, the journalist Mohammad Wael Abdeljawad Al-Dweik, who suffered a wound caused by explosive bullet fragments in his hand while he was covering the return march events in the east of Gaza, the freelance photographer, Yasmin Akram Al-Na'ouq, who suffered a gunshot in the back and a gas bomb while she was covering the return march events in the east of Jabalia, the photographer of Al-Aqsa TV, Sami Jamal Taleb Matran, who suffered a rubber bullet in his shoulder while he was covering the peaceful return march in the east of Bureij Camp, the journalist of Safad Press, Farhan Hashem Abu Hadayed, who suffered a gunshot through his left leg while he was covering the return march events in the east of Rafah, all of them from Gaza Strip. In addition to the injury of Palestine Post reporter, Nisreen Abdelkareem Shami (28 years old) with two rubber bullets in her hand and shoulder, and the injury of An-Najah University photographer, Omair Jamal Isteita, with a rubber bullet in his leg, both of them are from Nablus, and they were injured while they were covering a demonstration at Hawara Military barrier. Furthermore, the injury of Al-Jazeera photographer, Wael Mahmoud Daoud Al-Salayma, with a rubber bullet in the upper thigh while he was covering events in Al-Isawiya in Jerusalem, in addition to the injuries of no less than 8 other journalists caused by direct gas bombs and resulting in burns or suffocation as in the case of the videographer of Reuters, Bassam Mohammad Masoud (40 years old) in Gaza, who suffered two injuries caused by gas bombs, within a time interval not exceeding twenty minutes, where the second injury was in his ear, causing him burns and laceration which required 12 stitches.

Moreover, the occupying forces has arrested and detained four journalists from the West Bank during this month.

The Palestinian Violations:

The Palestinian violations have decreased during May as opposed to observed compromises during April from 9 violations to only 4, two of which have taken place in the West Bank (the arrest of a journalist and banning another from covering events), and two of which have taken place in Gaza Strip, detaining Palestine TV staff while shooting a report in the street by the security personnel in Gaza, and confiscating the media material prepared by the staff about the citizens’ views on the Palestinian National Council meeting held in Ramallah.

 

Details of Violations:

(1-5) the videographer of Al-Jazeera, Wael “Mahmoud Daoud” Al-Salaimeh (53 years old), was injured with rubber bullets by the occupation soldiers while he was covering events in Al-Issawiya in Jerusalem. Al-Salaimeh has reported to MADA “on the 1st of May 2018, I went to Al-Issawiya in Jerusalem to cover a demolition far away from the main street, after it was completed; the Israeli forces which executed the demolition have withdrawn at around 12:00PM. The forces were far from the place where the demonstrators gathered to protest against the demolition”.

Al-Salaimeh added “meanwhile, the demonstrators began throwing stones at soldiers, who in turn began throwing stun grenades against the demonstrators. While I was shooting these events, standing behind the demonstrators at least 150 meters away from the Israeli soldiers, I was shot with two rubber bullets in my upper right thigh in a sensitive area. The first aid was provided to me immediately in the Red Crescent ambulance. Then I was taken to the Emergency Work Injuries Center in Jerusalem and stayed there for two hours where I received the necessary treatment. The medical staff has made certain that my body was free from any fractions, but the doctor requested that I run an MRA without any deadline being set”.

 

(3/5) The Israeli occupying forces have arrested the media student at Al-Quds University, Khaleel Mustafa Khaleel Kanaan, (20 years old), after raiding one of the dorm rooms in Al-Sawahra, Jerusalem. Omar Kanaan, Khaleel’s brother, has reported to MADA Center “around 3:30 AM, on 3rd May 2018, an occupying force has raided the dorm room of one of Khaleel’s friends in Al-Sawahra where Khaleel was at that night. The force brought police dogs, a number of which surrounded the nearby buildings of the dorm room. An eye-witness has also reported that the soldiers have bombed the entrance of the building and went up to the dorm room, raided it and arrested Khaleel. The Complaints Unit informed us that currently he is at Moscobiya prison ”.

 

(4/5) the photographer of Al-Aqsa TV, Sami Jamal Taleb Matran, (34 years old), was shot with a rubber bullet in his shoulder while he was covering the events of the peaceful return march, to the east of Bureij Camp, Gaza Strip, on Friday, corresponding 4 May 2018.

According to MADA field researcher, Sami Matran, along with his colleagues from Al-Aqsa TV, after Friday prayer, (around 1:30 PM), began preparing their imaging equipment to cover the demonstrators at the separating fence. Only few moments later, the Israeli soldiers shot a barrage of gas bombs against the demonstrators. The clashes began to escalate when the demonstrators approached the separating fence. After that, Matran started reporting these events live and directly using his “phone” camera. It was only a matter of moment before he was shot with a rubber bullet in his left shoulder, even though he was 300 meters away from the Israeli soldiers. After he was shot, he fell to the ground, the emergency personnel took him to the medical point of Palestine Red Crescent, where first aid was provided to him and then he was taken to Al- Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Der Al-Balah, to follow up his condition. The medical report stated that the bullet was a rubber bullet that has caused a hole in his left shoulder. An x-ray was taken for him for fear that the bullet might have caused fractures in the shoulder. After receiving the treatment, he was taken home.

 

(4/5) Gaza Strip, Friday, corresponding 4th May 2018, the security elements have detained Palestine TV staff: the programs producer, Sameer Rafiq Adam Iskaik (38 years old), and his colleague, the TV cameraman in Gaza, Shaheer Mueen Shaheer Al-Hilo, while they were interviewing citizens about their views on the Palestinian National Council meeting. They have also confiscated the video material they prepared before being released after about three hours of detention in the street.

According to the investigations of MADA field researcher in Gaza, both: the programs producer, Sameer Rafiq Adam Iskaik, and the photojournalist, Shaheer Mueen Shaheer Al-Hilo, were assigned to interview the citizens about their views on the outputs of the Palestinian National Council meeting and the speech of the president, Mahmoud Abbas, on Friday, corresponding 4 May 2018.

Accordingly, around 11:00 AM, on Friday, corresponding 4 May 2018, the staff interviewed some citizens from various areas in Gaza Strip, and while working, the staff was holding the logo of Palestine TV. After interviewing one of the citizens against the Italian Tower, in Al-Nassir St., a man wearing a white robe, has approached them and asked them to show their “authorization for interviewing citizens”. When Sameer Iskaik asked the man to identify himself, he replied that he works in the Ministry of Interior, and asked him more than once to show his ID or any identification, but he refused.

Soon, the situation escalated, and the man in the white robe asked the TV staff to remain in the same place until security elements arrive to arrest them and take them to a security headquarters. Then there was altercation between the man and the staff, he called several persons, and indeed 3 civilians have showed up to the place within moments. In half an hour of this incident, Iskaik called the Media Relations and Publishing Officer at the Ministry of Interior in Gaza Strip, Bader Bader, and told him what has happened. Bader was surprised by the man’s dress, and he spoke to the civilian (who interfered with the TV staff). Bader has confirmed to the staff that they should have obtained a prior authorization to interview the citizens. Subsequently, a black Jeep, marked “Central Operations”, has arrived, 3 persons with black military dress got off the vehicle. Iskaik tried to speak with them to understand what is happening. Two and a half hours later, Bader Badder arrived to the place, as well as the Public Relations Director at Palestine TV, Mueen Al-Hilo. Both journalists have explained what has happened, after negotiations, they agreed not to arrest the TV staff and to take them to one of the centers in return for confiscating the video material. Indeed, they took the video material and asked the staff, orally and officially, to obtain an authorization before interviewing any of the citizens. By that time, it was 4:00 PM.

 According to the documentation of MADA researcher, the Director of Public Relations in Palestine TV has emphasized that the Ministry of Interior in Gaza had officially requested him to obtain a prior authorization in the event of outdoor shooting by Palestine TV staff. He also pointed out that the Ministry of Interior, on the 9th of May, 2018, has returned the confiscated material.

 

(5/5) denying access of the Palestinian political security officer in Jenin, the reporter of “Altra Palestine”, the journalist Mohammad Ali Ateeq (26 years old), to Jenin Shopping Festival. Ateeq reported to MADA “around 10:00AM, on Saturday 5 May 2018, I went to cover Jenin Shopping Festival, and even though I was holding an authorization to cover this event, I was denied access. I tried to enter for the first time, but was surprised to be denied access by the Political Security Officer in Jenin (Maher Jaradat), not to mention that he asked the police components to frisk me and inspect my vehicle. After the inspection, the police components allowed me to enter, but Jaradat refused and prevented me to enter. He asked what I was doing and why I was there, and who the person in charge of me is.

“The photographer, Alaa Badarnah (in charge of the media coverage of the festival), has arrived after I called him, and when he came Maher told him that I, in particular, cannot enter, otherwise I will arrested” he added.

For what I can see, Jaradat denied my access for personal reasons, especially he had investigated with me during my arrest in prior period while I was in the custody of the Palestinian Security Services”. 

 

(11/5) the Israeli occupation police have assaulted five journalists while they were covering a demonstration in Silwan, following Friday prayer, on 11 May 2018, to protest at the Israeli excavations and graves exhumation carried out by the Israeli Ministry of Antiquities and Nature in Al-Rahma cemetery adjacent to the wall of the Old City of Jerusalem, to establish a garden on parts of the Islamic cemetery to serve the Israeli settlers.

According to the investigations and documentation of the field researcher of "MADA" in Jerusalem, the Israeli police and security forces attacked the demonstrators violently and assaulted the journalists who were present to cover the protest, resulting in the seven injured journalists listed below:

  1. The photographer of Al-Arz Media Production Company, Firas Fayez Abdullah Hindawi (27 years old), who was assaulted by being beaten and pushed by the Israeli special units while recording a video report for Palestine TV, around 02:00PM. He was accompanied by the reporter, Christine Al-Renawi, in addition to his injury; damage was caused to his camera when the occupying forces withdrew the “microphone” which destroyed its portal.
  2. Palestine TV reporter, Christine Khaled Waleed Al-Renawi (29 years old), who had been bruised as a result of being pushed and forced out from the place by the Israeli special units while she was directly reporting to Palestine TV at 02:00 PM about the ongoing protest at Al-Rahma Cemetry, where she was pushed by one of the Israeli security components to force her out from Al-Asbat Gate, while they were dispersing the demonstrators.
  3. Al-Kufiya TV photographer, Ghassan Khader Abu Eid (35 years old), who was pushed and forced out while he was documenting the assaults of the occupying forces against Al-Rahma Gate cemetery at 02:00.
  4. Al-Kufiya Reporter, Nawal Imad Ibrahim Hijazi (32 years old), who was pushed and forced out by the occupying forces which obstructed her work and prevented her from completing the media coverage.
  5. Palestine Today reporter, Liwa’ Abu Rumailah (27 years old), who had been bruised in her left hand as a result of falling to the ground after being pushed by the special units components while she was shooting the assaults of the special units against the demonstrators and journalists on her cell phone.

 

(11/5) The Middle East Monitor reporter, Motasem Ahmad Ibrahim Daloul (38 years old) shot with an explosive bullet in his back while he was covering the return march events, on Friday, corresponding 11 May 2018, in Malka, to the east of Gaza Strip.

Daloul has reported in his statement to MADA field researcher “while I was with a group of journalists 50 meters away from the border fence, in Malka, to the east of Gaza Strip, on Friday, corresponding 11 May 2018, I was shot with an explosive bullet in my back, and I was not wearing my press shield and helmet. The ambulance immediately came and took me to Dar Al-Shifa’ Hospital. The nurses found that the injury was caused by an explosive bullet (I heard them talking about it while I was still conscious). As soon as I arrived at the hospital, the doctors immediately took me to the surgical operations room and performed a surgery to me. It showed that the bullet fragments have injured the kidney, lungs and liver. Then they took me to the intensive care unit, where I stayed for five consecutive days. After my state of health improved, I was transferred to the surgery department for 10 days. After that, I left the hospital, but I continued reviewing my state of health with the doctors in the hospital every week given the pain and fatigue I kept feeling”.

 

(11/5) the freelance photojournalist, Mahmoud Bassam Ahmad Al-Jamal (24 years old), from Rafah, injured with a gas bomb in his right thigh while he was covering the events of the return march to the east of Khuza’a in Gaza Strip on Friday, corresponding 11 May 2018.

According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, Mahmoud Al-Jamal went to the east of Khuza'a, at about 1:15, where he and a number of journalists moved towards the fence, noting that he was wearing a shield and a helmet with the press badge on them. He stopped at a distance of about 250 meters away from the demonstrators to take pictures of the events in that area, and at about 3:30, he was shot with a gas bomb in the thigh. One of the journalists took him on a motorcycle (since there was no ambulance) to the Field Hospital, about 500 meters away from the separation fence. (There, he noticed that the journalists, Mohammed Al-Thalathini, a photographer at the Turkish Anatolia Agency and Yasser Qadih, a photographer at Palestine newspaper, were injured at the same time with gas bombs in their legs). The doctors have given him the necessary treatment, five minutes later he left the hospital and resumed work. When he returned to the house at 6:30 PM, he felt pain and went to Abu Yousef Al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah to receive treatment, which indeed he received, and went back home. He continued his treatment for a week until he stopped feeling any pain.

 

(13/5) The Israeli occupation forces have threatened a number of journalists and prevented them from covering an attack by the settlers against the Palestinian citizens while they were planting olive seedlings in a land threatened with confiscation in Turmosaya on the anniversary of Al-Nakba. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida photographer, Issam Al-Rimawi reported: "At 11:00 AM, on 13 May 2018, while a number of citizens were actively planting olive seedlings in the territories of Turmosaya, they were attacked by 10 Israeli settlers who have rooted out the olive seedlings which were planted and assaulted those who have participated in the event, in sight of the Israeli occupying forces, which were present to prevent the Palestinian journalists from covering the event. They threatened and prevented the journalists, Mohammad Turkman, a photographer at Reuters, Hisham abu Shaqra, a Photographer at the Turkish Anatolia Agency, and Issam Al-Rimawi, a photographer at Al-Hayat Al-Jadida newspaper, to cover this event”.

 

“There were no clashes, the event was very peaceful, and we were carrying our imaging equipment. We did not wear the press uniform since the event was peaceful. The soldiers, who were border guards (wearing dark green uniforms), forced us out, pushed us and threatened to destroy our cameras. Without any warning, they violently pushed our cameras (whenever any of us carried his camera to shoot), and they pushed us very hard. This has happened to me and my colleagues, Hisham abu Shaqra and Mohammad Turkman”, Al-Rimawi added.

 

(13/5) Israeli security components have attacked a reporter of “Palestine Voice” Radio in Jerusalem, the journalist, Mohammed Khalil Abed Rabbo Fasfous (56 years old), when he was at Al-Misrarah Market entrance in Jerusalem to cover a march of the Israeli settlers. He was pushed very hard by the security components and fell to the ground resulting in bruises in his back which caused him to stay at home for one week under the recommendation of doctors. Fasfous has reported to MADA “me, and a group of my colleagues, were at the main entrance of Al-Misrarah Market, in Jerusalem, to cover the march of Israeli settlers organized annually. We were forced out and pushed more than five meters away from the main street. Prior to that, I had put my phone to be charged in one of the cell phone stores. Subsequently, the Israeli soldiers of the border guards forces came and ordered the owner to close the store, but he refused to respond to their orders and requested them to bring into view a court order that obligates him to close the store. Meanwhile I tried to take back my phone from the owner of the store, one of the soldiers rushed from behind and pushed me very hard, and when I turned round to him, he pushed me again more violently, I heavily fell on my back to the ground”.

“When I fell to the ground, I felt my back was broken in halves. I tried to stand up, but I couldn’t. A woman saw me and helped me to stand up; I walked slowly and crawled until I reached Al-Natshah Butchery. There I sat on a chair, but given the severe pain I felt in my back, I could not sit down, so I laid down on the floor for half an hour until the ambulance of Nouran Association arrived after it was called upon by the butchery owner. The ambulance took me to Al-Maqased Hospital where I underwent medical examination, the place of injury was x-rayed, and I was heavily bruised. I left the hospital around one hour later, and the doctor recommended that I rest at home for one week without work” he added.

"After I fell to the ground, I suffered from intense nausea and sweating. When I was in the butchery, I suffered slurred speech and inability to speak. Today, about 10 days after my injury, I still suffer severe pain due to the trauma and bruises caused by the injury” Abderabbo added.

 

(14/5) the freelance photographer, Yasmin Akram Al-Na’ouq (24 years old), shot with a bullet in her back and a gas bomb while she was covering the return march events, to the east of Jabalia, on 14 May 2018.

Based on the investigations of MADA field researcher, Al-Na’ouq was wearing her press uniform, and she approached a distance of about 200 meters towards the border fence to cover the events of the return march, but as she continued to approach, she was unaware that she was about 50 meters away, while shooting dozens of demonstrators in that area. In the meantime, the soldiers stationed near the border fence fired a brutal barrage of live bullets. One of the bullets hit her in the back while she was shooting using a “tablet”. Shortly thereafter, the tablet fell from her hand and crashed. She hardly asked for help until a small drone fired about 30 gas bombs, two of which hit her in the back, (one in the back and the other in her side).

Al-Na'ouq reported that she lost consciousness and did not wake up until she reached the field medical point in the eastern part of Jabalia and heard the doctor saying that she needs to be taken to Al-Awda Hospital, but she soon lost consciousness and could not regain her consciousness until late at night in Al-Awda Hospital, where she found herself on the bed with her family surrounding her.

Al-Na’ouq was discharged from the hospital at 3:30 PM, on the following day, corresponding 15 May 2018, under the doctor’s warning to avoid movement for fear that her injury in the back may aggravate. The doctor also asked her to make CT Scan for fear that there might be laceration in the bones. However, until 7 June 2018, she did not run the scan given the overcrowding at Al-Shifa Hospital with those wounded in the peaceful return marches. Yasmin Al-Na’ouq stated that she is still suffering from suffocation and headache due to gas inhalation, exhaustion, and back pain.

 

(14/5) In Rafah, to the south of Gaza Strip, the journalist, Farhan Hashem Abu Hadayd, 26 years old, was wounded by a live bullet in his left leg while he was covering the events of the return march to the east of Rafah in Gaza Strip on 14 May 2018.

According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, the journalist, Abu Hadayed, at around 11:30 AM, on 14 May 2018, was in the east of Rafah, 300 meters away from the separating fence to cover the events of the peaceful return march. He was there with four other journalists, who were all wearing shields marked (Press). While he was trying to shoot some photos for demonstrators, he was shot by the Israeli snipers with a bullet that caused a hole in his left leg, and he fell to the ground. He was immediately taken to the Field Hospital established by the Ministry of Health. He was then transferred to Abu Yousef Al-Najjar Governmental Hospital in Rafah, where he underwent several operations to remove the bullet fragments from his injured leg. It was found that the bullet which injured him caused nerve damage, and he stayed nine days in the hospital. He still suffers from the effects of the injury, and cannot walk on his feet, except with a crutch. He needs another operation to remove other fragments which still in his leg. The doctors recommend him not to remove the fragments of the bullet at the present time for fear he might lose the ability to walk on feet, since they are lodged in a sensitive area.

 

(14/5) the occupation soldiers have assaulted no less than 8 journalists (one of them was injured with two metal bullets) while they were covering a demonstration that was launched from Ramallah to Qalandya crossing at the entrance of Jerusalem City to protest to the opening of the American Consulate in Jerusalem City on the occasion of Al-Nakba annual anniversary.

According to the investigation of the field researcher of MADA, the peaceful march was launched from the center of Ramallah to Qalandya crossing around 1:30 PM, on Monday, corresponding 14 May 2018. At the same time the march reached the crossing, the soldiers approached towards the entrance of Qalandia refugee camp adjacent to the mentioned crossing (where the march was passing). In the mean time, the border guards soldiers started to attack and assault the journalists who were covering the march, with the bayonets pointed at them and by kicking them with their legs. One of the journalists was not injured due to the beating as he was wearing a vest. The soldiers threw many stun grenades and tear-gas to force the journalists at gunpoint to leave the area.   

 

These assaults and the attempts to prevent media coverage have affected: the freelance journalist, Iyad Salah Jadallah, (34 years old), was pushed and kicked, the photographer of Noor Photo Agency, Ahmad Hassan Tala’t, (24 years old), the reporter of Arab Al-Ghad TV, Ahmad Saleh Housheya (34 years old), Al-Ghad TV photographer, Monther Mohammad Shehadeh Al-Khateeb (33 years old), the reporter of Al-Hurra American TV, Fatin Aref Abdullah Alwan (37 years old), and the Turkish Anatoli Agency photographer, Hisham Kamel Abu Shakra, (29 years old).

At the same time, the German TV photographer, Rajae Mahfouth Al-Khateeb, (37 years old), was injured with two metal bullets covered with rubber, one of them injured his left leg, and the other injured his left hand. He also fainted and suffered suffocation during his coverage of the clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers following the Israeli soldiers’ suppression of the demonstration with tear gas, rubber and metal bullets. He was taken by the ambulance to the Palestinian Medical Complex. After his health stabilized, he was discharged from the hospital.

The reporter of Palestine TV, Khaled Salman Mutawea, (30 years old), was also suffocated due to inhaling tear gas and he received field aid following his injury.

 

(14/5) 11 journalists were suffocated and wounded by live bullets by Israeli occupation forces during their coverage of the return marches at the separating fence to the east of Gaza Strip on Monday, corresponding 14 May 2018, which is the day on which the opening of the US Consulate in Jerusalem was taking place, on the annual anniversary of Al-Nakba, 15 May 2018, even though all of them (the journalists) were wearing the press uniform (the shield and helmet) when they were injured.

According to the investigations and documentation of the field researcher of MADA, no less than 11 of the journalists, on that day, were injured by the Israeli occupation soldiers in the east of Gaza Strip, namely:

  1. The photojournalist at Palestine Newspaper, Yassir Fathi Abdullah Qdaih, (35 years old), injured with an explosive bullet in the abdomen, shot by the occupation snipers while he was covering the events of the Return March which was taking place in Malka, to the east of Gaza. Qdaih was taken in the ambulance to Al-Shifa’ Medical Complex, his state of health was diagnosed as critical, he immediately underwent a lifesaving operation, in which part of the spleen was removed, then he was taken to the intensive care unit, where he stayed until dawn of Tuesday, corresponding 15 May 2018. After that, he was taken to Al-Maqased Hospital in Jerusalem as his injury was very serious.
  2. Al-Jazeera Office Director in Gaza, the journalist Wael Hamdan Ibrahim Al-Dahdouh, (48 years old), shot in his right hand, while he was getting ready to report directly to Al-Jazeera from the field in Malka, in the east of Gaza Strip where he was covering the events, he was 500 meters away from the separating border fence, he was in his press uniform (the shield and helmet), he was shot with live bullet in his right hand, which caused bleeding, and was treated in the field by the medical staff.
  3. Al-Kufiya TV reporter, the journalist, Suad Mohammad Kamel Akilah, (30 years old), suffered severe suffocation when Israeli drones fired a barrage of tear gas bombs, while Akilah was covering the events 500 meters away from the separating fence, and when she attempted to escape from the gas bombs, she fell to the ground, and twisted her ankle, she received field treatment by the medical staff where she was.
  4. The photojournalist at Zain Media, Mohammad Ismail Ateeq Abu Dahrouj, (29 years old), shot with live bullet in his right thigh around 10:00 AM, while he was in an area called “Jakar”, 300 meters away from the separating fence, in Malka to the east of Gaza, he was standing, at that moment, between two ambulances wearing the press uniform (] the shield and helmet). Abu Dahrouj was transferred to Shifa Hospital, where the bullet was removed from his thigh and he received the appropriate medical treatment. He was discharged from the hospital on the same day, due to the great number of injuries that were transferred to the hospital and the lack of space for him to stay.
  5. The photojournalist at Reuters, Ahmad Abdelfattah Atiyah Zaqout, (34 years old), injured with fragments of an explosive bullet in his thigh and armpit, his camera lens was also damaged because of the bullet fragments, while he was covering the return march events in Malka to the east of Gaza. He was taken directly by an ambulance to Al-Shifa Medical Complex. The doctors removed the bullet fragment from his lower right armpit, but they could not remove the fragment that injured him in the thigh. They took medical images for him, after making certain of his safety; he was discharged from the hospital with some medications. He is still following up his state of health with the hospital to remove the fragment that injured him in the thigh.
  6. The photojournalist at Palestine Today News Agency, Daoud Nimr Abu Al-Kas, (26 years old), who was injured by explosive gunshot fragments in the palm of his left hand, while he was covering the events of the return march in the area of Malka to the East of Gaza City, where he received first aid at the field medical point of the Palestinian Red Crescent, he was then taken by the ambulance to Al-Quds hospital in Tel Al-Hawa to the south of Gaza City, where he received the treatment and the fragments were removed from the palm of his hand, his wounds were cleansed and then he was discharged, the doctors recommended him to follow up with the orthopedic and neurology department.
  7. The photojournalist at Wafa News Agency, Rafi Khatam Mohammad Al-Mileh, (41 years old), who was shot in his right hand in addition to an injury in his elbow by a bullet fragment, while he was covering the events of the return march in Malka to the east of Gaza City, he was transferred to Dar Al-Shifa Hospital, where the fragment was removed from his elbow while the bullet remained in his right hand, he needs a surgery to remove the bullet, he is still following up with the doctors to set a date for the required surgery to remove the bullet from his hand.
  8. The editor-in-chief of Naba News Agency, the journalist Yousef Mohammad Hassan Fares, (29 years old), he fainted when the Israeli drones fired a barrage of tear gas bombs on the demonstrators in Abu Safia, in the east of Jabalia, to the north of Gaza Strip on Monday, corresponding 14 May 2018, where a gas bomb fell between his feet, which made him suffer severe suffocation. First aid was given to him in the field. The journalist Youssef Faris was not in the press uniform, and was about 400 meters away from the separating fence.
  9. A reporter of Itehad Press, the journalist Mohammad Wael Abdeljawad Al-Dweik, from Sheikh Al-Radwan, suffered a wound caused by an explosive bullet fragments while he was covering the events of the return march on the occasion of Al-Nakba anniversary on Monday, corresponding 14 May 2018, in Malka to the east of Gaza City, the first aid was given to him in field, fragments has injured his hands as a result of the injury of another citizen who was standing next to him, even though Al-Dweik was wearing the press uniform and was about 100-150 meters away from the border fence.
  10. Palestine Newspaper reporter, the journalist Rabee Ahmad Sulaiman Abu Naqera, (29 years old), suffered severe suffocation, because of the gas bombs thrown by the Israeli occupation, he was given the first aid in the field by the medical staff there, he was in his press uniform among the demonstrators, about 50 meters away from the border fence east of Rafah to the south of Gaza, to cover the events of the return march in that area.

 

(14-5) Two journalists were wounded by Israeli occupation forces during their coverage of the events of the return march and demonstrations to protest against the move of the American Consulate to Jerusalem on 14 May 2018, while they were in an area known as "Abu Raida Gate" southeast of Khuza'a in Khan Younis.

According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, the field reporter of Khan Younes Media Network, the journalist, Abdullah Al-Shorbagi (how old is he …) was injured with a gunshot that exited his thigh, shot by the Israeli soldiers positioned at the separating fence while Al-Shorbagi was shooting “live” from "Abu Raida Gate" via his cell phone, to the east of Kuza’a (east of Khan Younes), on 14 May 2018, even though he was 300 meters away from the separating fence (where the Israeli soldiers were) and he was in his press uniform.

The doctors have reported (who are the doctors… a name or source …) that the gunshot which injured Al-Shorbagi who is still lying in Gaza Europe Hospital (3 June 2018), has wounded him in the colon and the femur and he needs a treatment that will last for several months.

On the same day, 14 May 2018, the photojournalist at Khan Younes Media Network, Khaled Jihad Hajjaj Shubair, was also injured with a gas bomb in his back, even though he was 350 meters away from the separating fence, in the east of Khuza’a, Khan Younes, and he was in his press shield and holding his camera. The bomb which injured him in the back has cut off part of the shield and caused burns to his back. He received treatment in the Field Hospital at the Al-Awda camp, and his injury was described as slight.

 

(14/5) the Technician at Amwaj Sport, Mahmoud Salman Ibrahim Al-Arini, (26 years old), who suffered a wound caused by a bullet through his right hand, on Friday corresponding 14 May 2018, while he was covering the return march events on the occasion of Al-Nakba anniversary in Malka to the east of Gaza.

Al-Arini reported to MADA field researcher, that on Friday, corresponding 14 May, 2018, he was in Malka to the east Gaza City, he went to cover the events of Al-Nakba anniversary, about 300 meters away from the border fence, he reported “I felt something has injured my right hand, in a moment, I saw the blood coming out from my hand, and I began to feel pain, so I lift my hand to the paramedics who came and took me to the ambulance and found that I was shot with a live bullet that entered and exited, first aid was given to me in the ambulance, I was then transferred to Al-Quds Hospital, to the south of Gaza, the wound was cleansed and my hand was imaged, I was discharged on the same day”. It should be noted that Al-Arini was not in his press shield at the moment he was injured.

 

(14/5) the photojournalist, Yahya Fuad Timraz, (30 years old), shot in his left thigh, the bullet injured him through the back and exited through the front, while he was covering the events of the return march east of Al-Buraij Camp.

According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, and the statements of Timraz, the photojournalist, Yahya Fuad Timraz, around 10:00AM, on Monday (14 May 2018), went to the east of Al-Buraij Camp, in the centre of Gaza Strip, to cover the events of the Return March, around 12:00PM, the demonstrators began approaching the separating fence, and stopped at 150 meters away from the fence, at that moment, the Israeli occupation forces heavily fired gas bombs and tear gas against them, which increased the number of injured demonstrators. At around 02:30, the journalist Timraz decided to withdraw from the site, he was accompanied by a number of journalists and photographers, at that moment, the occupying forces randomly fired and shot him with a bullet that entered and exited his left thigh, he was taken to the field medical point by some demonstrators, there was no ambulance available at site when he was injured, he was given the first aid in the field, the bullet entered his left thigh through the back and exited through the front, given the growing number of the injured, he had to wait at the medical point about 20 minutes, he was then transferred to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital (every seven wounded persons were taken in one ambulance), in the hospital he received the treatment and his wound was dressed, it was found that there were 3 bullet fragments in his wound, which caused infection. On 20 May 2018, he underwent a surgery at Al-Shifa Medical Complex, the wound was cleansed, and one of the fragments was removed, while the other two fragments remained, one of them lodged in the pelvis, while the other in the thigh, until 7 June 2018, Timraz was still laying in bed, and he could not move except with a crutch, he suffered severe pain.

 

(15/5) Two photojournalists were injured with bullets by the occupying soldiers while they were covering a demonstration at Huwara Barrier, at the entrance of Nablus City, on the occasion of the 70 anniversary of Al-Nakba and to protest against the move of the American consulate from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem City. 

According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, a group of journalists were dressed as journalists, while they were leaving the site; the Israeli occupation forces fired a barrage of gas bombs and rubber bullets, wounding two journalists:

  1. Palestine Post reporter (A news site on social networks in Turkey), Nisreen Abdelkareem Shami, (28 years old), who suffered suffocation, as she was trying to escape, to get away and reach the ambulance, one of the soldiers shot and wounded her with two rubber bullets, one in the elbow of her left hand and the other in her shoulder.
  2. An-Najah University TV Photographer, the journalist, Omair Jamal Lutfi Istaita, (24 years old), who was shot with a rubber bullet in his leg muscle ten minutes after the injury of the journalist, Nisreen, even though he was close to the soldiers and at their sight.

 

(15/5) On Tuesday, corresponding 15 May 2018, three journalists were injured while they were covering the return march demonstrations on the occasion of the 70 anniversary of Al-Nakba in the east of Khan Younes.

According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, the journalists listed below were injured by the Israeli occupying forces:

  1. The photojournalist at Reuters, Ibrahim Sulaiman Abdullah Abu Mostafa, (35 years old), who was injured with a gas bomb in his left hand while he was covering the Palestinian demonstrations on 15 May 2018, which caused him burns. Abu Mostafa was injured while he was shooting an Israeli drone throwing gas bombs on the Palestinian demonstrators, in the east of Khuza’a, Khan Younes, even though he was 350 meters away from the separating fence, wearing a helmet and a shield marked “Press”.
  2. The photographer at Quds News Network, Omar Adel Abu Khater, (26 years old), who was injured with gas bomb in his right leg while he was shooting live through his cell phone to the News Network he is working with, he was 350 meters away from the separating fence, he was in his “Press” shield, he was shooting some demonstrators while they were burning rubber tires in the area, and he was treated in the Field Hospital, which was established by the Ministry of Health.
  3. The photographer at APA Local Agency, Ashraf Mohammad Nassar Abu Amra, (33 years old), he was injured by a gas grenade in his hand (which hand…), which caused him surface burns, while he was shooting a drone which was throwing gas bombs on the demonstrators, even though he was in his “Press” shield and helmet. In the meantime, he was about 350 meters away from the separating fence (next to his colleague, Ibrahim Abu Mostafa, who was also injured, as mentioned above). He received field treatment from Palestinian Red Crescent paramedics who were in the area

 

(18/5) The videographer at Reuters, Bassam Mahmoud Masoud, (40 years old), who was injured twice while he was covering the return march events and the Palestinian demonstrations, in the east of Khuza’a, Khan Younes. 

According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, Bassam Masoud was injured on Friday, corresponding 18 May 2018, with a gas bomb that was directly shot at his abdomen, which broke his phone, while he was near “Jakar” street, in the east of Khan Younes, 350 meters away from the separating fence, even though he was wearing a helmet and shield marked “Press”.

About 20 minutes later, and few meters away from the same site, (even though he was 350 meters away from the separating fence where the Israeli soldiers were), Bassam Masoud was injured again with a gas bomb in the ear, which causes wounds and laceration (his wound needed 12 stitches), he received the treatment at the Field Hospital of the Palestinian Red Crescent (established in that area), he was later transferred to Al-Amal Hospital of the Red Crescent in Khan Younes, where he stayed for one day, until 3 June 2018, he was still suffering from the injury.

 

(18-5) The freelance photojournalist, Majdi Fathi Sulaiman (38 years old), was shot with a bullet through his right leg while he was covering the events of the return march, to the east of Gaza, on 18 May 2018, even though he was far away from the separating fence where the soldiers were, and he was in his press shield.

According to the investigations of MADA filed researcher, the freelance photographer, Majdi Fathi Sulaiman (who was working at BURPHOTO Italian agency), on 18 May 2018, went with a number of journalists and photographers to cover the return march events in east Malka, to the east of Gaza City, and around 06:00 PM, noting that he was wearing his “Press” shield, and a muzzle to protect himself from the tear-gas, he moved towards the demonstrators who were 150-200 meters away from the separating fence, he was standing behind them 300 meters away from the separating fence, when he moved towards them, he was injured in the right leg with a live bullet fired by the soldiers deployed at the separating fence, even though, at that moment, he was far away from the demonstrators, the photojournalist Sulaiman approached an ambulance and it took him to the Field Hospital. According to the paramedics, he was shot with a bullet in his right leg, it entered through one side and exited through the other. The journalist Fathi was taken to Al-Shifa Medical Complex after he received field first aid, in the hospital, he received the necessary treatment and stayed for three hours, and then he was taken to home after the doctors were determined that the bullet did not reach the bones.

 

(22/5) The Palestinian Public Prosecution has detained the Programs Producer of Palestine TV, Hassan Al-Najjar, under the charge of slandering employees, destroying the public authority’s instruments, defamation and contempt of the public authorities and bodies, on the basis of a complaint filed against him by the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation and one of the investigation committee members.

According to MADA’s advocate, first of all, Al-Najjar was arrested on 22 May 2018, for 48 hours, and later an investigative file was referred to him. The Public Prosecution has sent a request for the extension of his arrest to Ramallah Magistrate Court on 24 May 2018. In the hearing (attended by MADA’s advocate), his arrest was extended for a period of 15 days, but MADA’s advocate has presented, on Sunday corresponding 27 May 2018, a request for release to Ramallah Magistrate Court judge. Al-Najjar release decision was issued on 30 May 2018, on a bail of an amount of 1000 JD in cash. The execution of the decision was delayed (since the bail was not paid), until Sunday corresponding 3 May 2018, the day on which he was supposed to be released, he was re-arrested for a period of 15 days based on another (new) complaint, filed against him, this time, by the Chief of the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation. As a result, MADA’s lawyer presented again a request for his release. The court decided to release him on Wednesday 6 June 2018 on bail of 100 JD.

 

(25/5) The photographer at the Turkish Anatolia Agency, Ali Hassan Mousa Jadallah, (28 years old), was injured on Friday, corresponding 25 May 2018, with a gas bomb that was shot straight to his chest which caused him surface wounds even though he was in his shield.

According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, the journalist Ali Hassan Mousa Jadallah, on Friday afternoon, corresponding 25 May 2018, was in Malka to the east of Gaza, 70 meters away from the separating fence where the Israeli soldiers were deployed, he went there to cover the return march events in that area. The soldiers heavily shot a barrage of gas bombs and bullets against the demonstrators, and he was injured with a gas bomb in his chest, it penetrated the shield he was wearing (he was wearing a shield and helmet marked “Press”), which caused him wounds in the spot of injury. He was taken by an ambulance to Dar Al-Shifa Medical Hospital, to the west of Gaza City, where he underwent examinations and medical images which showed that the wound was superficial and did not affect the internal organs. The following day he went to Al-Quds Hospital to follow up his state of health, and it was found that the wound was infected and needs therapeutic follow up. 

 

(25/5) The photographer for the New York Times, Wissam Nassar, injured on Friday 25 May 2018 by gas bombs while he was covering the events of the peaceful return march in Malka to the east Gaza.

According to MADA field researcher, the photographer Wissam Nassar went to Malka to cover the events of the return march at about 1:00 pm on Friday 25 May 2018. He was wearing the press (shield and helmet). When he arrived, he noticed the large number of demonstrators about 50 meters away from the separation fence. He joined the crowd to take photos of the events; the Israeli occupying soldiers fired a barrage of live bullets and gas bombs. Two hours later, the Israeli soldiers fired live, explosive and rubber bullets and gas grenades at demonstrators, medical personnel and journalists. Then he tried to get away quickly, but his foot hit a gas bomb that fell next to him. He fell to the ground next to several other gas bombs, smoke was everywhere around him, the paramedic called Ali Housh “whom I already know, to help me after I felt that I was about to faint, after seeing him running towards me, I was not aware of what happened later and did not feel what he did to me. I woke up after I fainted for 40 minutes while I was asleep on my back inside an ambulance and the voices of children surrounded me screaming from the gas bombs”. After he was treated by the paramedics, he went home but his condition remained poor for several days. He was still suffering from difficulty in breathing, suffocation, pain and burn in the chest like the “pepper”. Two days later, he went to the hospital for further examinations, but the doctors told him that his state of health was due to heavy gas inhalation. They assured him that anyone exposed to gas bombs will suffer the same symptoms for several days.

 

(30/5) The Israeli occupying forces have arrested the freelance journalist, a media student at Hebron University, Musab Abdel Khalek Qafisha, at dawn on Thursday 30 May 2018 from his home in Hebron “for incitement on his Facebook Page”. “The Israeli soldiers broke into our house in Hebron at 2:30 AM, at dawn on Thursday, after they blew up the four doors of the house and searched the house, without damaging or confiscating anything, but they assaulted Musab’s brothers,” his father Khamis Qafisha reported.

“After about half an hour they arrested Musab and took him to Etzion Center. From there, he was transferred to Ofer Prison. As we learned later, the Prisoner Club’s lawyer told us that a trial session was held for Musaab in Ofer Prison on 3 June 2018 and was postponed to next Wednesday, corresponding 6 June 2018 and they accused him of incitement through his Facebook page”.

(30/5) The Israeli occupying forces have arrested the Palestinian Prisoners Director, and the reporter at “You Free” and “In the mind” in Britain, Osama Hassan Shaheen, 36 years old, after breaking into his house in Dura, Hebron, and transferring him to administrative arrest. His wife, Shaima Halaiqa reported to MADA “the Israeli occupation forces broke into our house in Dura, Hebron, at around 3:00 AM, at dawn on Thursday. They arrested Osama and took him to Ofer Prison where we received a call from him the same day. He stayed there until Sunday, 3 June 2018 when his trail session was held in Ofer. The judge told him that there was nothing against him and he was released. But the Shabak demanded his arrest, so his arrest was extended, and on 4 June 2018 a trail in absentia was held for him and Osama was sentenced to administrative prison for 4 months”.

 

(31-5) The Israeli occupation police assaulted the freelance photographer, Wahba Kamel Taher Makiya, (34 years old), by beating. They took him to the Police Center and arrested him for four hours.

According to investigations conducted by MADA field researcher, the photographer Wahba Makiya, at around 4:00 PM, on Thursday corresponding 31 May, 2018, was exposed to assault (he was pushed, beaten, punched, and kicked) by the Israeli police components, while he was at the stairs of Al-Amoud Gate in Jerusalem shooting a show about the city under the Hashtag #Quds Resistance, for the Fourth Dimension Media Production Corporation, which he works with as a freelance photographer. Makiya was assaulted and searched in the site, then he was taken to the Police investigation center, at Salah Al-Deen Street, in Jerusalem, where he was cursed and threatened to imprisonment by the investigation officer who said to him “you want resistance!, do you think you’re in Gaza, you will rot in jail!”. Wahba Makiya remained arrested for four hours in the investigation room with no one of the occupation forces, before he was released at around 08:00 PM. 

 

Journalist Farhan Abu Hadayd a member of the Safad Press network staff during his transfer to Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital after he was wounded by a live bullet fired by an Israeli sniper east of Rafah