Ramallah – (16th Oct. 2018) – September, 2018 has witnessed a rise in the number of violations committed against media freedoms in Palestine compared to those committed in the previous month, August. During September, the Palestinian Center for Development & Media Freedoms “MADA” has monitored a total of 48 attacks committed against media freedoms in Palestine, 39 of which were committed by the Israeli Occupation while various Palestinian authorities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have committed a total of nine violations. It should be noted that the preceding month, August has registered 47 attacks.
The Israeli Occupation has committed most of the attacks against media freedoms registered in September totaled to 39 attacks, while various Palestinian authorities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have committed a total of nine attacks.
Most of the attacks of September, especially those committed by the Israeli Occupation, were mainly registered as the most serious attacks against the lives of journalists and media freedoms.
The Israeli Violations:
During September 2018, the Israeli Occupation Forces have committed 39 attacks against media freedoms in Palestine, which is a greater number of Israeli attacks compared to those committed during August (totaled to 36 attacks). It should be noted that most of the Israeli violations during both months fall under the serious physical attacks against the lives and jobs of journalists.
The Israeli occupation attacks registered during September were distributed to 24 attacks committed by the occupation authorities and forces in the West Bank and fifteen attacks committed in Gaza Strip.
Most of the 39 Israeli attacks fall under the extremely serious types of attacks. It is worth to mention that 25 of these attacks were mostly physical injuries caused to female and male journalists while covering field events in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, sixteen of these injuries were caused by live, explosive, and rubber bullets as well as gas bombs fired directly at the bodies of the female and male journalists.
Notable among the Israeli attacks monitored and documented during September, was the injury of the photographer of Safad Press, Mahmoud Mohammad Saed Shata, by a gunshot (causing an entry and exit) while he was covering a demonstration close to the separating fence to the east of Gaza Strip, the injury of the photojournalist of Al-Manara Agency, Attia Nassir Ahmad Hijazi, by a gunshot above the knee (causing an entry and exit) which lodged fragments in his knee, while he was covering a demonstration taking place at Zikim Beach to the northwest of Beit Lahia in Gaza Strip, the injury of the freelance photographer, Bilal Loay Abdelaziz Alabadsa, by a gunshot in his right foot and a fragment in his left foot while he was covering a demonstration taking place as part of the peaceful return marches at Khuza’a to the east of Khan Younes, the injury of the Chinese News Agency photographer, Nidal Shafeq Taher Ishtaya, by a rubber bullet deliberately fired at him by the occupation soldiers while he was covering the weekly demonstration protesting against the settlements activities in Kafr Qaddum in the West Bank, the injury of Sawt Al-Ribat Radio photographer, Mazin Sulaiman Mahmoud Qudaih, by a gunshot in the palm of his hand while he was covering a demonstration taking place in Abasan Al-Kabira, east of Khan Younes in Gaza Strip, the injury of the photographer, Thaer Khalid Fahmi Abu Rayash, by a gas bomb in his head, fired by one of the occupation soldiers while he was covering a demonstration taking place to the east of Gaza Strip, the injury of the photographer and reporter of the Iranian TV, Khalid Ali Sabarna, by a rubber-coated metal bullet in his right leg while he was covering a demonstration protesting against the settlement activities at Al-Risan Mountain in the villages located to the west of Ramallah in the West Bank, the injury of the photographer of Shamal Online Network and Al-Aqsa TV Facebook Page, Anas Jamal Mahmoud Al-Sharif, by a fragment of an explosive bullet in his abdomen while he was covering events east of Jabalia, the injury of the photographer of Nour News Network and Palestine Breaking News Network (two local platforms on the social media), Akram Ramadan Anas Shaber, by a gunshot in his left foot, the injury of the volunteering photographer of Al-Risala Newspaper in Gaza, Ismail Maher Khamees Al-Ghoul, by gunshot fragments in his right hand fingers, while he was covering a demonstration as part of the peaceful return marches taking place to the east of Gaza Strip, the injury of the videographer of Anatolia Turkish Agency, Montaser Mustafa Husni Al-Sawaf, by a gas bomb in his left foot while he was covering a demonstration to the east of Gaza Strip, the injury of the freelance photographer, Mahmoud Fawzi Abdelghani, by two rubber bullets below the knee and on the face (below his eye), the injury of An-Najah TV photographer, Omair Jamal Lutfi Istaita, by rubber bullets in the left thigh while they were covering the clashes triggered due to invading Balata Camp in Nablus by the occupation soldiers and the settlers, the injury of Al-Hayat Al-Jadida Newspaper and Anatolia Agency photographer, Issam Huda Al-Rimawi, by metal gunshot in his right leg (below the knee), the injury of the French Press Agency AFP, Abbas Abdelwahab Al-Momani, by metal bullet in his left leg, while they both were covering a demonstration against settlement activities at Al-Risan Mountain in the villages located to the west of Ramallah in the West Bank, the injury of the photojournalist, Mueen Tayseer Al-Dabba, by a fragment of an explosive bullet in his shoulder, while he was covering the demonstration taking place in Malka east of Gaza Strip, the injury of Reuters Agency photographer, Mohammad Turkman, by a rubber-coated metal bullet in his leg while he was covering the invasion by one of the occupation army forces to Batn Al-Hawa area in Ramallah under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, the injury of the photographer, Hanin Mahmoud Salman Baroud, by a gas bomb in her head fired directly at her while she was covering events taking place to the east of Gaza Strip, which caused her wounds stitched with eight stitches. This is in addition to arresting the author and blogger, Isra Khader Ahmad, from her house located in Souref in the West Bank.
The Palestinian Violations:
The number of Palestinian violations has dropped slightly from eleven attacks committed during August to nine committed during September. Three of which were committed in Gaza Strip while nine in the West Bank. These attacks included: issuing subpoenas by the Public Prosecution Office in Khan Younes, Gaza Strip, against three of Palestine TV staff members, namely: the Director of Palestine TV in Gaza Strip, Rafat Hammad Abdelmajeed Al-Qidra, the producer, Yousef Mohammad Ahmad Abu Maghsib, and the journalist, Momen Al-Shobaki, to complete their investigation against the backdrop of broadcasting a report on 22nd August 2018 about a child named Mohammad Abu Anza from Absan, who was extremely beaten by some of Hamas members in Gaza Strip, the arrest of the television presenter of Marah Radio in Hebron and the reporter of the British Newspaper “Arab Weekly”, Mohammad Saed Khalil Jahaysha, in front of his house, by the Palestinian intelligence officers, as well as the arrest of the journalist of Al-Hadath Newspaper, Musab Abdelsamad Shawer Al-Tamimi, (27 years old), from Hebron, after being summoned through the phone, invading the headquarters of the photographic studio of the freelance photographer, Nidal Mahmoud Al-Natsheh in Hebron by a force of the Palestinian Intelligence Services, and summoning the freelance journalist, Musab Khamees Qufaisha, by the Palestinian Intelligence Services to force him to shut down and delete a newsgroup, in addition to summoning the journalist, Thaer Ziad Al-Fakhouri, by the Palestinian Intelligence Services and questioning him.
Details of the Violations:
(2nd September) The Public Prosecution Office in Khan Younes, located to the north of Gaza Strip, has again summoned the director of Palestine TV in Gaza Strip, the journalist, Rafat Hammad Abdelmajeed Al-Qidra (50 years old), to complete his questioning, against the backdrop of broadcasting a report on 22nd August 2018 about a child named Mohammad Abu Anza from Absan, who was extremely beaten by some of Hamas members in Gaza Strip, at one of the mosques.
According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, the Public Prosecution Office in Khan Younes, north of Gaza Strip, has summoned again Palestine TV Director in Gaza, the journalist, Rafat Rafat Hammad Abdelmajeed Al-Qidra, (50 years old), from Al-Qarara area in Khan Younis, on Sunday, corresponding 2nd September 2018, to complete his questioning, against the backdrop of broadcasting a report on 22nd August 2018 about a child named Mohammad Abu Anza, from Absan, who was extremely beaten by some of Hamas members at one of the mosques. This was followed by filing a complaint by Hamas against the TV Office accusing it of counterfeiting and fabrication. Based on this complaint, Palestine TV Director was prosecuted as well as some of the staff members at the office. This has happened again on 2nd September 2018 as Rafat Al-Qidra has arrived to Khan Younes Prosecution Office alone at around 10:00AM on that day. Upon the request of the public prosecutor, Ibrahim Dabari, who has asked him in a former questioning session that took place on Tuesday, corresponding 28 August 2018, to come and see him again in person (for a cup of coffee), along with the producer, Yousef Abu Maghsib, and the photographer, Momen Al-Shobaki, who have attended with him three questionings, at the police, the public prosecution office, and the general investigation department. When Al-Qidra arrived to Khan Younes Prosecution Office, he waited for half an hour outside the prosecutor’s office, until he was allowed to enter the office, he stayed for five minutes without any questioning, but he was asked about his colleagues, Momen and Yousef, and why they did not show up with him. He replied that they were at work and that he expected the entire relevant matter was about to end, which is why he came alone. The prosecutor asked him to inform Yousef to come on Monday, corresponding 3rd September 2018. He left at 10:35AM, and informed his colleagues, Yousef Mohammad Abu Maghsib (38 years old), from Der Al-Balah, to go to Khan Younes Prosecution Office, along with the Legal Adviser of the TV, Hazem Abu Shaban, at 10:00AM, on 3rd September 2018. Abu Maghsib went along with the Adviser to the prosecutor’s office, and he was questioned in the presence of Abu Anza’s father (the child who was assaulted). The prosecutor asked him whether he has introduced himself as a journalist to the child’s father and whether he showed his Palestine TV Card. He replied that he contacted the child’s father on phone, and arrived to a mosque close to his place of residence. He sent two persons to his house to take him and interviewed him/the TV logo was very visible on the microphone. The prosecutor asked the child’s father whether he could recognize the journalist’s face or not, but he answered “No”, justifying that he could not remember very well, since so many people have come to his house after the incident of his son. He was not in a state where he could focus, he declared that the TV staff has interviewed him about the incident, and the questioning ended with this. The prosecutor asked the presence of the journalist, Momen Al-Shobaki, on the following day, corresponding 4 September 2018, and they left at 10:20AM. The journalist, Al-Shobaki did not come on the following day due to family circumstances, until the end of September, and he was summoned again. Through its researcher in Khan Younes, and lawyer in Gaza Strip, Ihsan Abu Sharkh, MADA Center has followed up with the TV staff that was summoned to be questioned, as it was summoned three times by the General Administration of the Investigation, Police and the Public Prosecution, and the statements of the journalists were taken.
(4th September) Near Ofer Prison located in Betunia/seven kilometers away from Ramallah city center, the Palestinians frequently organize protests and demonstrations against the Israeli occupation practices, especially that the Prison includes a military court (Ofer Court) where the trail sessions are held for Palestinian detainees before being detained and arrested in Ofer Prison or other Israeli prisons.
On the same day (4th September 2018), the occupation forces have suppressed a peaceful sit-in of journalists by gas bombs and sound bombs which led to the injury of six female and male journalists at least with severe suffocation.
According to MADA field researcher, the Journalists Syndicate and the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation have called to organize a stand in solidarity in front of Ofer Prison, at 11:00AM, on Monday, corresponding 4 September 2018, in conjunction with holding a trial session for Palestine TV reporter, the journalist, Ali Dar Ali, who was arrested by the Occupation Army from his house located in Burham, Ramallah, at dawn, on 15 August 2018 for incitement through the social media. More than 30 of the journalists and the staff of فاث Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation have responded to the sit-in and attended it in front of Ofer Prison and Court, where they raised the Palestinian flags and the photographs of the journalist, Ali Dar Ali. At 11:25, around eight soldiers of the Israeli Border Police and two military vehicles of the occupation soldiers have approached the metal gate of Ofer Prison and Camp. One of the soldiers addressed those in the sit-in in Arabic and threatened them with the use of force if they do not leave the place. Less than ten minutes later, the Israeli soldiers began throwing sound bombs and tear gas bombs at the protesters which led to the injury of the Anatolia Agency photographer, Hisham Kamel Abu Shaqra, (29 years old), with severe suffocation. Furthermore, the journalist, Loren Tareq Zeidan, (30 years old), who works for WAFA News Agency, has suffered suffocation and received necessary field aid. This is in addition to Palestine TV reporter, the journalist, Maysa Ayed Ayad, (28 years old), who stated “the soldiers have suppressed the peaceful sit-in of journalists and attacked them with suffocating gas bombs even though there were no clashes in the area”. Moreover, the photographer of Palestine TV, Oday Nimr Harbeyat, (28 years old), and Palestine Today TV reporter, Jihad Barakat, (29 years old), have stated that the intensive shooting of gas bombs at the protesters has pushed them to move back and prevented them from covering the event. The photographer of Al-Hayat Al-Jadida Newspaper, Issam Al-Rimawi, (35 years old), has stated that he has suffered suffocation and that “the army knew he was a journalist standing in the peaceful sit-and covering what was happening, especially that there were no clashes, but the soldiers suppressed the journalists and dispersed them at around 11:50”.
(5th September) Some Palestinian intelligence officers have arrested Mohammad Saed Khalil Jahaysha, (32 years old), the presenter of Marah Radio in Hebron and the reporter of Arab Weekly Newspaper, on the morning of 5 September 2018, in front of his house in Hebron. Jahaysha stated to MADA “the intelligence services has called me by phone on 29 August 2018, but I did not respond, and at 09:20AM on 5 September 2018, after I left my house, I saw four persons in civil clothing standing in front of the house and they immediately approached and arrested me. They took me to the intelligence services headquarters in Hebron. When I arrived, I was surprised that the matter was related to a dream (an actual dream I saw in my sleep) and published it as a post on my Facebook page. The post was as follows/I dreamt that the National Security has placed artillery near Bab al-Zawiyya, and fired missiles at the settlers/. The officer asked me about the first time I was summoned and did not respond, and I replied that the summons was illegal. Most of the questions were about the dream. The officer said to me /not all dreams have to be posted or published/. In general, they were respectful with me, and they took me back home after about an hour and a half, at around 11:00AM”.
(7th September) The photographer of Safad Press Website, Mahmoud Mohammad Saed Shatta, (25 years old), from Rafah, south of Gaza Strip, was injured by a gunshot in his thigh while he was covering a demonstration east of Rafah.
According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, the photographer, Mahmoud Mohammad Shatta, went along with some of his coworkers, at around 4:00PM, on 7 September 2018, to one of the tents set up east of Rafah, around 500 meters away from the separating fence, waiting the events of Friday to begin. At around 5:00PM, Shatta approached the fence and stopped at a distance of 50 meters against an Israeli military tower. He was wearing the Press shield and was taking photos of the demonstrators who started setting the rubber tires in fire, while the soldiers were firing gunshots and gas bombs at them. After around one hour, (06:15PM), he was injured by a gunshot in the anterior part of his left thigh “causing an entry and exit”, he fell to the ground, and three minutes later, some volunteer paramedics took him in the ambulance to the medical point established 700 meters away from the separating fence. He stayed there for 40 minutes where he received the first aid and treatment. Then he was taken to Abu Yousef An-Najar Hospital, where he arrived at 7:30. In the hospital, he was imaged, and his wound was stitched ten stitches. Fifteen minutes later, he started bleeding and was two blood units.
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Mohammad Shatta the photographer of "Safad Press" after injuring in his thigh east of Rafah
(10th September) the photojournalist of Al-Manara Agency, Attia Nassir Ahmad Hijazi, (28 years old) was iin njured by a gunshot above the knee (causing an entry and exit) and by fragments in his knee, while he was covering a demonstration organized at Zikim Beach, northwest of Beit Lahia, to the north of Gaza Strip as part of the return peaceful marches which first erupted in Gaza Strip in March.
According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, the photographer, Hijazi, arrived at 6:00PM, on Monday, corresponding 10 September 2018, to Zikim Beach, to the north of Beit Lahia, to cover a demonstration organized as part of the return peaceful marches. While he was standing on the beach at a distance of 200 meters away from the separating fence where the Israeli soldiers were stationed, wearing the Press uniform, he was injured by a bullet (that caused an entry and exit) above his right knee. He was also injured by a gunshot fragment in his knee which the doctors refused to remove as it lodged in a very serious part. The moment he arrived, he was taken by the paramedics to the closest medical point established in the area. He was given the first aid, and transferred by an ambulance to the Indonesian Hospital, to the north of Gaza Strip, where he received the necessary treatment and his wound was dressed. He was discharged on the same day due to the great number of injuries which exceeded the capacity of the hospital. During the night, his wound started bleeding, and as a result, he went to Al-Karama Hospital (a private hospital), where his wound was cleaned, stitched, and dressed again. His foot was wrapped, and he left the hospital even though he needed a surgery to remove the fragment that lodged in the joint of his right knee.
(14th September) The freelance photographer, Bilal Loay Abdelaziz Al-Abadsa, was injured by a gunshot in his right foot and by a fragment in his left foot, while he was covering a demonstration as part of the return marches taking place in Khuza’a, east of Khan Younes, on 14 September 2018.
According to the investigations conducted by MADA researcher, the freelance photographer, Bilal Loay Abdelaziz Al-Abadsa, (23 years old), from Al-Amal Camp in Khan Younes, has arrived at around 4:00PM, on Friday, corresponding 14 September 2018, to east of Khuza’a, to cover a demonstration taking place there. At around 6:10PM, and while he was taking pictures of the demonstrators at a distance of 50 meters away from the separating fence, he was injured by a gunshot in his foot. He was taken by the paramedics in the ambulance to the medical tent of the Ministry of Health pitched in that area. When he arrived, it was found that he was injured by an explosive bullet which shattered the bone of his foot. Fragments from the same bullet have injured his left foot, and fractured his big toe, not to mention that another fragment went through his other foot. Around twenty minutes after he received the first aid in the medical tent, he was taken at around 6:30 in the ambulance to Nasser Medical Complex, to the west of Khan Younes. When he arrived, he was admitted in the Operating Room, his wound was cleaned and more first aid was given to him at around 9:00PM. He was discharged at 12:00 midnight after he underwent an operation of reassembling the bone in his right foot operated by a medical team, chaired by Dr. Abdelrahman Al-Farra. A platinum plate was inserted in his foot, and his feet were placed in casts. He stayed in the hospital until Wednesday, corresponding 19 September 2018, but he continued to follow up with the hospital.
(14th September) According to the investigations conducted by MADA field researcher, the photographer of the Chinese News Agency, Shafiq Taher Ishtaya, (49 years old), on Friday, corresponding 14th September 2018, was in Kafr Qaddum to cover the protests. When the families launched the usual march after Friday prayer in the town’s mosque, towards the closed gate separating Kafr Qaddum fom Kedumim settlement, at around 1:15PM, clashes erupted in the main street of the town, and about eight or nine Israeli soldiers started firing gas bombs, tear gas bombs, and rubber bullets at the demonstrators who in turn were throwing stones at them. While the journalists were visible by the Israeli occupation soldiers, far from the demonstrators, the journalist Ishtaya was standing with three coworkers, all wearing the press uniform and the helmet. They were about 10 meters to the right side of the soldiers, while the demonstrators were on the other side of the street at a similar distance. However, the journalists, demonstrators and soldiers were standing in the shape of a triangle and they were watching each other. At about 2:00 PM (half an hour after the demonstration began), and while Ishtaya was filming the demonstrators and soldiers, he was injured by a rubber bullet in the chest. However, since he was wearing the press shield, he was slightly injured (trauma and minor wound). Right after his injury, he shouted to the soldiers that he was a journalist; his coworkers gathered around him ten minutes later and took him to the ambulance away from the clashes where he received field treatment.
It is worth to mention that almost since seven years ago, Kafr Qaddum town, located 16 km to the west of Nablus, has been witnessing weekly rallies (every Friday) protesting against settlements and the closure of the town street by the Israeli army 15 years ago for the favor of the settlers living in Kedumim settlement established in Kafr Qaddum lands which attracts the attention of the media constantly.
(15th September) the Israeli Occupation soldiers have detained a volunteer who works for Quds Net Network, named Omar Ahmad Amour, (23 years old), and the freelance photographer, Imad Issa Jabareen, (38 years old), while they went to the city on the evening of 15 September 2018. Amour stated to MADA “me, and my coworker, the freelance photographer, Imad Issa Jabareen, at around 6:30PM, went to Hebron, when we arrived the entrance of Ras Al Jora, there was a barrier by the occupation army. They stopped our vehicle out of all the vehicles on the barrier. They held us for half an hour inside the vehicle after they seized our personal identity cards. After that, they asked my coworker, Imad, to step out of the vehicle and searched him thoroughly. They forced him to lift his shirt several times to search underneath it. He was forced to stand for half an hour. Then they asked me to step out of the vehicle and searched me in the same manner. I was held for fifteen minutes outside the vehicle. After that, the soldier told us that they were waiting the completion of checking our names with the Intelligence Services which lasted until 8:30PM, then they released us”.
(15th September) On 15 September 2018, one of the Israeli Special Units members has attacked the photographer of Alarz Production Company, the journalist, Mohammad Shukri Akram Asho, (32 years old), while he was covering the ongoing sit-in at Al-Khan Al-Ahmar, the town threatened with demolition and population deportation.
According to the investigations of MADA researcher, the protesters at Al-Khan Al-Ahmar, against which Israel has issued a decision of demolition and population deportation have attempted on 15 September 2018 to get in the way of the Israeli bulldozers, with their bodies, to prevent them from destroying the town within the preparations of Israel to execute the demolition decision. The photographer of Alarz Production Company, which provides media services to several TVs, including Palestine TV, Mohammad Shukri Akram Asho, (32 years old from Jerusalem), was at Al-Khan Al-Ahmar to cover the events, and while he was filming the attempt of some protesters to get in the way of the Israeli bulldozers with their bodies, he was attacked, beaten, and pushed by an Israeli police from the special units which caused him bruises in his hand not to mention crashing the viewfinder. He was also chased by other police officers to keep him away from the location and prevent him from covering the event.
(16th September) The photographer of Sawt Al-Ribat Radio, Mazin Sulaiman Mahmoud Qudaih, (25 years old), from Abasan Al-Kabira town, east of Khan Younes, to the south of Gaza Strip, was injured by a gunshot fragment.
According to the investigations of MADA researcher, the photographer, Qudaih, at around 9:00PM, on 16th September 2018, arrived to east of KhanYounes, to cover some events there, where dozens of demonstrators (around eighty) were letting off fireworks at the separating fence where the Israeli soldiers were deployed. At around 9:40PM, he received a phone call from the radio, and while he was on the phone a gunshot was fired at him and the fragment hit his phone while he was holding it to his ear. His index finger in the left hand was injured. Immediately after that, Qudaih was transferred by an ambulance of the Palestinian Red Crescent to the Algerian Hospital in Abasan Al-Kabira, where he stayed for two hours and received the necessary treatment at the Emergency Reception Ward. It was found through a CT scan taken for his hand in the hospital that a fragment has lodged in his injured index finger. He was discharged at 12:00 midnight, and the doctors advised him to follow up with his condition on 25 September 2018.
(18th September) The Israeli Occupation police has called the journalist, Diala Jwehan, and questioned her claiming that she obstructed the police work, while the later has prevented a number of journalists to cover the invasion of Al-Aqsa mosque by hundreds of settlers on the Sukkot Day (Feast of Tabernacles) corresponding 18 September 2018.
According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, and in conjunction with the “Feast of Tabernacles”, corresponding 18 September 2018, hundreds of settlers invaded the squares of Al-Aqsa Mosque from the Dung Gate (Mughrabi Gate) with tight police guard, which obstructed the entrance of the Islamic Waqf Department staff to the mosque, and prevented journalists from covering the settlers’ violations. Furthermore, the journalist, Diala Nayef Jwehan, the reporter of Al-Hayat Al-Jadida Newspaper received summons for questioning at Al-Kashla Center in Hebron. Indeed, Jwehan went at 9:00AM, on the following morning, corresponding 19 September 2018 to Al-Kashla Police Center where she was detained for six hours and a half (from 9:00AM until 3:30PM) claiming that she has “disrupted the public order and obstructed the police work”. However, Jwehan denied the claim. She explained that she was doing her job and she showed her press card to the police officer to be allowed to film the event. But he took her card and threw it on the ground, and addressed her saying “beat it” (in other words, he expelled her from the place). After completing the investigation, the fingerprints of Diala Jwehan were collected and she was released after they checked the security camera tapes which confirmed Jwehan’s version of the story.
(19th September) The photographer of the Turkish Agency (HIA), Thaer Khaled Fahmi Abu Rayash, (24 years old), was injured by a gas bomb in his head, fired by one of the occupation soldiers while he was covering a demonstration taking place east of Gaza Strip, on the afternoon of 19 September 2018.
According to MADA field researcher, the Turkish Agency photographer, Thaer Khaled Fahmi Abu Rayash, (24 years old), from Beit Lahia, located to the north of Gaza Strip, has arrived around 5:15PM, on Tuesday, corresponding 19 September 2018, to Beit Hanoun Barrier “Erez Crossing” to cover a demonstration under the title “together towards protecting the rights of refugees and breaking the siege”, called for by the Supreme Committee for the Return Marches and Breaking the Siege in Gaza Strip, to protest against the decisions of the American Administration concerning the refugees and Jerusalem. Hundreds of demonstrators came to participate in the event. The soldiers began firing gunshots and fire gas bombs at them. While Abu Rayash was taking some pictures of the demonstrators at a distance of 500 meters away from the Israeli soldiers, one of them fired gas bomb at him and injured him in the left side of his head, even though he was wearing the Press uniform. The injury caused him severe bleeding. The blood stained his clothes and he fell to the ground, then he was taken by some paramedics in the ambulance to stop the bleeding, and he was taken to the nearest hospital, Al-Awda Hospital, where his wound was stitched with 6 stitches. The check-ups and blood tests were made to him, and after he received the necessary treatment, he was discharged from the hospital on the same day. However, he continued to develop headache, dizziness and poor vision in his left eye. He was advised to review his condition three days later (on Sunday, corresponding 23 September 2018).
(21st September) In the past few weeks, a number of journalists were injured while they were covering protest marches organized by villagers in West Ramallah (Ras Karkar, Kharbatha Bani Harith, Kafr Ni'ma) to protest against the confiscation of Al-Risan Mountain lands by the Israeli occupation authorities for the purpose of establishing a new settlement in that area.
According to the investigation of MADA field researcher, the villagers in West Ramallah have organized a demonstration to take place on Friday, corresponding 21 September 2018, after the Friday prayers, near the confiscated lands of AlRisan Mountain by the settlers. Clashes broke out with the Israeli soldiers, during which the Iranian TV reporter and photographer, Khaled Ali Sabarneh (47 years old), was injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right leg, while he was covering the clashes. It should be noted that the moment he was injured, he was at a distance of 40-50 meters away from the soldiers who fired the bullet at him directly and deliberately. It was very visible and clear to them that he was a journalist. He was given the first aid and transferred by an ambulance the moment he was injured. Then he drove his car to Ramallah Medical Complex where he received more treatment and left the hospital after he stayed for one hour as it was found that he had bruises only.
It is worth to mention that in the same site, on 4 September 2018, three other journalists were injured, namely: the photographer of the French Press Agency AFP, Abbas Al-Momani, the photographer of Anatolia News Agency, Issam Al-Rimawi, and a French photographer were injured similarly by rubber-coated bullets fired by the Israeli soldiers while covering clashes in Ras Karkar. These journalists have stated that the soldiers deliberately fired the bullets at them.
(22nd September) The photographer of Shamal Online Network, and Al-Aqsa TV Facebook Page, Anas Jamal Mahmoud Al-Sharif, (22 years old), from Abu Safia, east of Jabalia, was injured by an explosive bullet in the abdomen while he was covering events east of Jabalia at around 9:30PM, on Saturday, corresponding 22nd September 2018.
According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, the photographer Anas Jamal Mahmoud Al-Sharif, (22 years old), at around 9:30PM, on Saturday, corresponding 22nd September 2018, was in east Jabalia, at a distance of 500 meters away from the separating fence to cover the clashes between the Palestinians and the occupation soldiers stationed on the other side of the separating fence. The occupation soldiers fired the live and explosive bullets randomly and heavily which resulted in injuring Anas by an explosive bullet fragment through his abdomen. The remaining fragments of the bullet scattered to injure another number of demonstrators. The camera was also damaged after falling to the ground. He was given the field first aid and taken in an ambulance of the Palestinian Red Crescent to the Indonesian Hospital where he stayed for an hour and a half until he received the necessary treatment.
(22nd September) The photographer of Nour News Network and Palestine Breaking News Network (two local platforms on the social media), Akram Ramadan Anas Shaber (19 years old), from Khan Younes, south of Gaza Strip, was injured by an explosive gunshot in both his thighs, while he was covering a demonstration on Sunday, corresponding 22nd September 2018, near the security fence in Khan Younes.
According to the investigations of MADA researcher, at around 7:15PM, on Sunday, corresponding 22nd September 2018, Shaber has arrived to the border fence in Khuza’a, east of Khan Younes, where about eighty demonstrators were letting off fireworks at the border fence where the Israeli soldiers stationed. At around 10:30PM, a number of demonstrators approached the separating fence and sat the tires on fire. The demonstrators continued to shoot fireworks in the air. At around 11:30PM, Shaber was injured with an explosive bullet that wounded both of his thighs (the left and the right). He was transferred to the European Hospital in Khan Younes where he underwent a surgery from 12:00 midnight until 2:30AM. A platinum plate was inserted to his right thigh. On Tuesday, corresponding 25th November 2018, he underwent another operation to clean the injury and adjust the platinum plate.
(24th September) The volunteering photographer of Al-Risala Newspaper in Gaza, Ismail Maher Khamees Al-Ghoul, (22 years old), was injured by gunshot fragments in his right hand fingers, while he was covering a demonstration as part of the peaceful return marches taking place in the east of Gaza Strip.
According to MADA field researcher, while Al-Ghoul was covering the demonstration taking place east of Gaza, on 24 September 2018, by shooting the event live to his Facebook page, he was injured with several fragments of a gunshot in the palm of his left hand and the lower abdomen, even though he was 200 meters away from the border fence where the Israeli soldiers were deployed. Not to mention he was wearing the Press shield. He received first aid in the field medical point and then he was transferred to Al-Shifa Hospital, where x-rays were made to him and he received the necessary treatment, and was discharged on the same day.
(24th September) The videographer of Anatolia Turkish Agency, Montaser Mustafa Husni Al-Sawaf (28 years old), was injured by a gas bomb in his left foot while he was covering a demonstration in the east of Gaza Strip on 24 September 2018.
According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, the photographer of Anatolia Turkish Agency, Montaser Mustafa Husni Al-Sawaf (28 years old), from Gaza, around ten minutes after he arrived and started covering the demonstration taking place on the opposite side of the Israeli military area, Zikim, to the east of Gaza Strip, at around 4:54PM, on Monday, corresponding 24th September 2018, was injured by a gas bomb in his left leg. The moment he was injured, he was at a distance of 500 meters away from the soldiers. The injury resulted in wounds, bruises and rupture in the muscles of his leg (muscle strain). When a group of journalists and citizens gathered around him, an Israeli sniper fired a bullet at him and hit the camera. He was given the first aid by the paramedics in the place, and they told him that he needed to go to the hospital. He preferred to go to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza by himself to check on his leg, and the doctors there informed him that his leg is fine and there is no need for any additional check-ups or tests.
(24th September) On Monday, corresponding 24 September 2018, four journalists from Al-Ghad TV were injured while they were covering events across the Israeli Military Site, Zikim, to the north of Gaza Strip.
According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, the TV staff consisting of the TV reporter, the journalist, Nivin Waleed Islaim (29 years old), the broadcast engineer, Mohammad Abdullah Abu Al-Qomsan (35 years old), the photographer, Ahmad Abderabo Salman (37 years old), and the assistant photographer, Yazan Ammar Al- Zweidi (22 years old), suffered severe suffocation due to firing gas bombs directly at the staff by the occupation soldiers, at around 7:00PM, on Monday, corresponding 24 September 2018, as the staff was getting ready to stream live from Zikim, to the north of Gaza Strip, after the Israeli occupation forces pointed at them yellow laser light three times (apparently to keep them away from the area). Nivin fainted as a result of the gas bombs, her coworkers suffered suffocation and difficulty in breathing as well and they were transferred by the Red Crescent Emergency personnel to the medical point established in the area, where they received the necessary first aid and left the area.
(25th September) On Tuesday, corresponding 25 September 2018, the Israeli occupation soldiers have closed Bab Al-Zawiyya, located in the center of Hebron, to secure the arrival of settlers to visit Athenaeus Tomb, in Beersheba street. As a result, the journalist, Manal Numan Shukri Jabari, went to film the Israeli occupation procedures in closing the said area and commercial shops, as the Israeli Civil Administration officers have informed the shops’ owners there to close their shops under a decision by the army at 9:00AM until 5:00PM.
According to the investigations of MADA researcher, the journalist, Manal Al-Jabari, (41 years old), who works as a researcher for the Israeli Human Rights Organization, B'Tselem[1], has arrived to the area of Bab Al-Zawiyya at around 2:00PM, and joined a group of journalists there. She started filming the closed shops, and the detention of a group of Palestinians by the Israeli soldiers and the Israeli border police to prevent them from passing through. A male and female police officers from the Israeli border police approached Manal. They were speaking in Hebrew, but she was able to understand from their hand signs that they wanted her to leave the place. The police officer showed her a journalist card asking her whether she carried one, but she told them that she works for B’Tselem Organization and has a card and authorization which allow her to film. She showed them the cards, but the police officer ignored her, and started pushing her while grabbing her hand. She pulled her hand and told the police officer not to touch her and that she will leave the area immediately. Manal walked away from Bab Al-Zawiyya area towards Wadi Al-Tuffah street (about 200 meters away). In her way leaving the area, she stopped to chat for few minutes with a youth activist there, but was surprised with three officers of Israel Border Police approaching her quickly from Bab Al-Zawiyya area, one of was holding a camera and filming with it. He addressed her in Hebrew which she could not understand. He started pushing her so hard several times. She asked him why was he pushing her, and was able to understand from another police officer with them who spoke very well Arabic, that they wanted her to leave the area. She told him that she left the area indeed but they followed her. However, the police officer with the camera started pushing her so hard and holding the camera close to her face, which forced her to push the camera with her hand away from her face. Only then, the police officer grabbed her arm so hard that she was in pain as she stated, and addressed her saying “you are under arrest for attacking a police officer and obstructing his work”. Two female police officers grabbed her from both of her hands and pulled her towards Al-Shuhada Street. Then she was taken by the Israeli Border Police vehicle to Kiryat Arba Police Center, located in Kiryat Arba settlement established in Hebron. An hour later, she was taken to the Investigation Room. The investigation officer, named Tamir, accused her of assaulting a policeman and obstructing his work. Manal denied the charge and told him what happened. After about half an hour of interrogation, she was photographed, her fingerprints were collected and she was released. She left the police center at around 5:30PM.
(25th September) The Palestinian Intelligence Services has summoned the freelance journalist, Musab Khamees Qufaisha, and forced him to shut down and delete a newsgroup that included about 1700 followers, noting that he has started the group a month ago.
According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, a number of the Palestinian Intelligence Services members in Hebron arrived to the house of the freelance photographer, Musab Khamees Qufaisha (24 years old), at around 11:00PM, on 25 September 2018, under a search warrant of the house and an arrest order. But they could not get it done when Musab’s father told them that he son was not in the house. On the following day, corresponding 26 September 2018, Musab went to the Intelligence Services headquarters, where the investigation officer told him that he will not be arrested if he deleted the group “people of Hebron” immediately, which is a newsgroup involving 1700 followers, created by Musab to post breaking news, as well as political, economic and social news. Musab told them closing the group requires deleting all of its members which requires time. The investigation officer told him that there will be no problem detaining him at the Intelligence headquarters until he finishes the process. In the end, Musab promised the investigation officer that he will delete the group, but in his house. Accordingly, he was released provided he shall come back to the headquarters on 30 September 2018. Indeed, Musab deleted the group but did not come back to the Intelligence headquarters on that date.
(26th September) The Israeli Occupation Army invaded Nablus city at around 11:00PM, on Wednesday, corresponding 26 September 2018, to secure the entrance of settlers to Joseph’s Tomb established in Balata Camp, east of Nablus, so they can perform their religious rituals in the place, which is quite infrequent every Wednesday which leads to clashes in the area.
According to the investigations of MADA researcher, clashes erupted, on Wednesday, corresponding 26 September 2018, in Balata Camp, after the army and settlers invaded the area. The clashes increased in the midnight, when some Palestinian young men started throwing stones at the occupation soldiers while the later started firing gunshots and gas bombs randomly. Meanwhile, a group of journalists, including the freelance photographer, Mahmoud Fawzi Abdelghani (33 years old), and the photographer of An-Najah TV, Omair Jamal Lutfi Istaita (25 years old), were standing at a distance of 100 meters away from the soldiers, wearing their Press uniform which distinguished them clearly. They were far away from the young men throwing stones at the soldiers. A soldier has fired rubber bullet at the journalists and injured the photographer, Mahmoud Fawzi Abdelghani, below his left knee, and when his coworker, the journalist Omair Jamal Lutfi Istaita, tried to help him, the soldier fired another rubber bullet at him, it injured Istaita in the left thigh directly. Only few seconds later, the journalist, Mahmoud Fawzi, was injured again by a rubber bullet, in his face under his left eye. It is worth to mention that both of the journalists, (Mahmoud and Omair) were wearing their Press uniforms, and gas masks. The mentioned journalists were taken by an ambulance to Rafedia Governmental Hospital, where their bleeding was stopped and they were given the necessary treatment. They stayed at the hospital until 2:00AM.
(26th September) An occupation army force has arrested the author and blogger, Isra Khader Ahmad, (34 years old) after raiding her house located in Souref town in Hebron, West Bank. Her father stated to MADA “a force of the occupation army has raided our house located in Souref, in Hebron, at around 2:40AM, on Wednesday, corresponding 26 September 2018. I woke up by the loud knocking on the house door, and after opening the door, some army members entered the house and asked everyone in the house to step outside. They asked to see the identity cards of Isra and her sister, they returned her sister’s identity card and took Isra with them. Several female soldiers entered and searched the house quickly. They also made a video of the entire house and its rooms inside before Isra was arrested and before they left the house, after around fifteen minutes of raiding the house”.
“On the following day, as we were told by the Palestinian Society Prisoner's Club advocate, Isra was presented before the court, her trial was postponed to eight days. On Wednesday, corresponding 3 October 2018, she was presented to the court, but her trial was postponed as well for another eight days until an indictment was submitted against her. Currently she is in Hasharon prison” he added.
(27 September) A force of the Palestinian Intelligence has raided the studio of the freelance photographer, Nidal Mahmoud Abdelhafeth Al-Natsheh (30 years old), in Hebron, to search the studio and summon him. Al-Natsheh stated to MADA “at around 5:00PM, on 27 September 2018, a force of the Palestinian Intelligence Services has raided my studio in Hebron. It has a search warrant and an official summons. I received the summons from the intelligence officer, Adnan Abu Eisha. As the summons stated, I had to go to the headquarters at 9:00AM, on Sunday, corresponding 30 September 2018. I tried to talk to the officer and convince him that there is no need to question me and open a file in my name at the intelligence headquarters because I did not do anything that requires so. As I told the officer, that if I was arrested, I will let all of the human rights organizations know about this arrest. On the evening of the same day, at around 10:00PM, I received a phone call from the same officer telling me not to come”.
(27th September) The Palestinian Intelligence Services arrested the journalist of Al-Hadath Newspaper, Musab Abdelsamad Shawer Al-Tamimi, (27 years old), from Hebron, after he was summoned through the phone, on Thursday, corresponding 27 September 2018.
According to the investigations of MADA researcher, the journalist of Al-Hadath Newspaper, Musab Abdelsamad Shawer Al-Tamimi, at around 4:00PM, on Thursday, corresponding 27 September 2018, received a phone call from the Palestinian Intelligence Services in Hebron, asking him to come to the headquarters. Indeed, he went to the headquarters in the city. Immediately after arriving at the headquarters about 10 minutes after the call, he was informed that he was under arrest, under the “security campaign” as one of the officers told him. the same officer also told him that they had a number of detainees in the West Bank in exchange for a number of others being detained (by Hamas) in Gaza. While Musab was at the headquarters, he was subjected to a limited “light” interrogation as he described it. He was asked about his personal information and remained in detention until the following day (Friday, September 28, 2018). He was released at 2:00PM, but he was informed that he need to come back to the Intelligence headquarters on Tuesday (corresponding 2nd October 2018) “to complete the investigation with him”.
It is worth noting that as a result of the internal Palestinian division, the Palestinian security services have carried out a security campaign in the West Bank, under which a number of citizens were arrested in parallel with similar arrests carried out by Hamas security services in Gaza Strip.
(27th September) Al-Risan Mountain, located on the lands of Ras Karkar, Kharbatha Bani Harith, Kafr Ni'ma, in Ramallah governorate, has become a place for Palestinian protest demonstrations against the Israeli occupation army following the construction of a settlement road by the Israeli occupation into the Palestinian lands, threatening 2,500 Dunums of the villagers’ lands to be confiscated according to the Head of Ras Karkar Village Council.
According to the investigations of MADA researcher, the Israeli occupation army has announced on 27 September 2018 that Al-Risan Mountain area, located near Ras Karkar, to the West of Ramallah, as a closed military zone. At around 5:30PM, on 4 September 2018, a number of journalists went to cover a Palestinian peaceful march there, called for by activists from Ras Karkar, Kharbatha Bani Harith, and Kafr Ni'ma, to protest against the confiscation of their lands. The soldiers have suppressed the march with the use of gas and sound bombs, leading to clashes between the demonstrators and soldiers, as the later continued to fire tear gas bombs, rubber-coated metal bullets and sound bombs at the demonstrators.
At 6:30PM, the photographer of Al-Hayat Al-Jadida Newspaper and Anatolia Turkish Agency, the journalist, Issam Huda Al-Rimawi (35 years old), was injured by a metal bullet in his right leg/lower knee, even though he was wearing all kinds of protection equipemtn, including the helmet and the shield. He was standing at the mountainside and the clashes were about to end. Al-Rimawi stated: “while the soldiers were arresting one of the young men, I filmed the arrest which took place at a distance of 10 meters. There were no clashes, and while I was standing, without any warning, an Israeli soldier from the Border Police fired gunshot directly and deliberately at me. This soldier was with another group of officers and soldiers who witnessed the fire shooting. After I was injured, I could not feel my leg and I fell directly to the ground. A number of young men took me in a private vehicle to a red crescent ambulance which took me to Ramallah Medical Complex. The doctors told me that the injury has caused pressure to the nerves of my leg, and that I had bruises. I was discharged at 8:30PM”.
On the same day, the photographer of the French Press Agency AFP, Abbas Abdelwahab Al-Momani (45 years old), was injured by a metal bullet in his left leg. This clearly reflects the deliberate targeting of the journalists by the occupation soldiers during the clashes which erupted between the young men and the Israeli occupation army. Al-Momani reported to MADA “we were walking in the mountainside to film the arrest of one of the young men, the Israeli army was walking towards us. I was wearing all of the Press safety and protection equipment. In the beginning, my coworker, the journalist of the French Press Agency (AFP), the reporter Joseph Dick was targeted with a rubber bullet from a distance, but he was unharmed. A few minutes later, my other coworker, the journalist, Issam Al-Rimawi was targeted. After that, one of the soldiers fired a gunshot from a distance of only 5 meters at me. All of this happened in less than fifteen minutes. The army knew we were journalists and we did not pose any danger to them. Due to my injury, I was unable to walk and was taken in my personal car to the Palestinian Medical Complex in Ramallah, where the doctors told me that the injury has caused blood congestion under the skin, which resulted in swelling between the knee and the posterior foot. I stayed in the hospital for about three hours and left home at 9:45PM and the doctors advised me to rest for three days”.
(27th September) The Palestinian Intelligence Services in Hebron has summoned Thaer Ziad Al-Fakhouri, who works as the Monitor officer for Al-Quds TV, the person in charge of Palestine social media presences at Al-Jazeera Channel, the Director of Space Media Production, and a staff member in the Media Department at Hebron Municipality.
According to the investigations of MADA researcher, Thaer Ziad Al-Fakhouri, from Hebron, who works as a monitor officer of Al-Quds News TV, the person in charge of Palestine social media presences at Al-Jazeera Channel, and the Director of Space Media Production, has received a phone call at around 9:00PM, on Thursday, corresponding 27 September 2018, from the Palestinian Intelligence Services, and he was told to go to the headquarters immediately or Saturday morning, corresponding 29 September 2018. He said that if it was about his work as a journalist, they have to contact the Syndicate of Journalists first, and if it was about his other work, they have to contact Hebron Municipality. On Saturday, Thaer contacted the Syndicate of Journalists, and he learned from them (as he said) that the Palestinian Intelligence Services has a list of 150 persons to be arrested in the West Bank for 48 hours and will be released and that his name was on that list. Therefore, Thaer spoke on the phone with the Director and Deputy Director of the Intelligence headquarters in Hebron, and both of them confirmed to him that his meeting will be friendly and amicable and they will only converse with him for half an hour. They also informed him that he could come whenever he deems appropriate. At 10:00AM, on Thursday, corresponding 4 October 2018, Thaer went to the Intelligence headquarters, and the questions were about his opinion on the speech of the President, Mahmoud Abbas, before the UN, as well as the speech of the Political Office Member of Hamas, Ahmad Bahr. He was also asked about his opinion on the arrests carried out by Hamas in Gaza Strip and why he was arrested by Israel formerly. After the interview which lasted for half an hour, he was released.
(28th September) The photographer of Al-Majidat Media Network, Hanin Mahmoud Salman Baroud (23 years old), from Al-Shate’ Camp, located to the west of Gaza Strip, was injured by a gas bomb in her head fired directly at her while she was covering a march taking place in Malka, east of Gaza Strip, on Friday, corresponding 28 September 2018.
According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, the photographer of Al-Majidat Media Network, at around 3:00PM, on Friday, corresponding 28 September 2018, went with her coworkers, Zainab Al-Bawab, a photographer, and Fatima Abdullah, Al-Majidat Team Leader, to cover the above mentioned march, and while she was wearing a vest marked “Al-Majidat Media Network”, and holding a camera (she was not wearing the Press shield and helmet), and at around 5:00PM, while she was filming at a distance of 300 meters away from the separating fence, she was injured by a gas bomb in her head fired directly at her. She was given the field first aid at the medical point of the Palestinian Red Crescent established in that area. Then she was transferred by ambulance to Al-Quds Hospital where an x-ray was made to her injury. The doctors stitched her wound with eight stitches and then it was dressed”.
(28th September) The Israeli Occupation Police has issued two tickets against journalists in a series of arbitrary measures aimed at preventing the arrival of journalists to the town threatened with demolition, Al-Khan Al-Ahmar, located in Al-Aghwar area, in which hundreds of solidarity activists have been protesting since 100 days to prevent the deportation of population and the demolition order based on the decision of the occupation authorities ratified by the Israeli Supreme Court.
According to investigations of MADA researcher, the Israeli occupation forces, especially on Fridays, always announces Al-Khan Al-Ahmar as a closed military zone and intensifies its arbitrary measures against journalists and citizens to prevent their access to the town threatened with demolition, forcing them to take mountainous and steep roads. Among the arbitrary measures, is issuing tickets for unjustified and flimsy reasons. Just as happened on Friday, corresponding 28 September 2018, with the photographer of Associated Press (AP), the journalist Iyad Nimr Hamad (60 years old), who went on that day to Al-Khan Al-Ahmar to cover the Friday prayers which the Commission against the Wall and colonization called to be performed in Al-Khan Al-Ahmar threatened with demolition. The moment he arrived to Al-Khan Al-Ahmar, and before getting out of his vehicle, an Israeli police officer issued him a ticket with an amount of 250 NIS, under the pretext that he parked his vehicle on the yellow line of the street adjacent to Al-Khan Al-Ahmar. On 22 September 2018, Reuters Agency photographer, Adel Ibrahim Abu Nima (50 years old) suffered the same incident as he was heading to the parking near Al-Khan Al-Ahmar at about 11:00AM after completing his journalistic work waited for one of his coworkers to hand him over the filmed material. Before he arrived, and as he was walking on foot by the road, an Israeli police officer issued him a ticket of 250 NIS, which was paid by Abu Nima four days later.
(8th September) According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, a force of the Occupation police and the Israeli Border Police, at around 10:30AM, on Friday, corresponding 28 September 2018, has detained the staff of Al-Ghad TV, consisting of the reporter, Raed Al-Sharif (29 years old), and the photographer, Jamil Hashem Salhab (27 years old), while they were heading to cover Friday prayers performed in Al-Khan Al-Ahmar after their personal identity cards and the vehicle license were seized, and they were asked not to get out of the vehicle. It is wroth noting that they showed the police officer their press cards, not to mention the visible press logo marked on the vehicle. After about 25 minutes of their detention, the Israeli police officer told them that the area of Al- Khan Al-Ahmar is a closed military zone and that they are prohibited to be there or even try to access the area or park their vehicle anywhere near the area. He threatened them with issuing them a ticket, which prevented them from completing their work as they were getting ready to cover the eleven o’clock news.
(28th September) The photojournalist, Mueen Tayseer Al-Dabba, was injured while he was covering a demonstration taking place in Malka east of Gaza Strip on 28 September 2018 as part of the return marches.
According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, the photographer, Mueen Tayseer Al-Dabba (31 years old) went to Malka, east of Gaza Strip, on Friday, corresponding 28 September 2018, to cover the events of the return march and post it live on his Facebook page. Some young men started setting the tires on fire in the area, and he immediately began shooting live these events. By degrees, the clashes between the demonstrators and the occupation forces on the other side of the separating fence intensified. Meanwhile, Al-Dabba was injured by a fragment in his shoulder, and he was taken by the paramedics and volunteers to the medical point established in the area. Then he was taken to Dar Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza Strip where he received the necessary treatment.
(30th September) The photographer of Reuters Agency, Mohammad Turkman (51 years old) was injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet in his leg while he was covering the invasion of a force of the occupation army to Batn Al-Hawa in Ramallah City, in the afternoon, on 30 September 2018.
According to the investigations of MADA researcher, a force of the Israeli occupation army, has invaded Batn Al-Hawa area in Ramallah city, under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, in the afternoon, on 30 September 2018, and arrested two young men and a girl, after the residential premises were surrounded, and several roads leading to the mentioned area were closed. After that, groups of Palestinian young men started throwing stones at the army patrols and the soldiers began firing rubber bullets, gas bombs and tear gas bombs. There were several injuries of suffocation which urged the journalists to go to the place and cover the events. The photographer of Reuters Agency, Mohammad Turkman, went to the place and he was wearing the vest that was clearly marked PRESS. While he was at a distance of 50 meters away from the soldiers patrols taking pictures of the events, one of the soldiers fired rubber bullets at him directly, and injured his left leg. He was given the first aid in the field and then he was taken to Ramallah Medical Complex where he received the necessary treatment. He was discharged from the hospital two hours later.
Issam Al-Rimawi the photographer of the AFP after injuring by a rubber-coated bullet in Ras Karkar
