Ramallah – (12 Nov. 2018) – the attacks against media freedoms in Palestine have continued at high and extremely dangerous levels during October, despite a modest decline in the number compared to the preceding month, September.
October 2018 has witnessed a total of 41 attacks against media freedoms in Palestine, 33 of which were committed by the Israeli Occupation, while eight attacks were committed by the Palestinian authorities. It is noteworthy that the preceding month, September, has witnessed a total of 48 attacks, 39 of which were committed by the Israeli Occupation, while nine attacks were committed by the Palestinian authorities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Violations:
In October 2018, the Israeli forces and authorities have committed a total of 34 attacks against media freedoms. Although the number reflects a decline compared to that of the registered violations in the previous month, in which 39 Israeli attacks were committed, but the seriousness and gravity of the Israeli attacks committed in October, targeting journalists specifically, did not reflect any decline. About thirteen journalists were targeted and wounded by live and explosive bullets as well as gas bombs fired directly at them, although their "professional identity" as journalists was clearly visible. More than a third of those were targeted by live ammunition in a manner that would inflict the greatest harm on them.
These severe and serious injuries have included the following: the journalist, Doaa Fareed Zarab (injured by a gunshot in her right leg, below the knee, causing an entry and exit), Osama Al-Kahlut (injured by an explosive bullet in the thighs), Yasser Zuhair Al-Taweel (injured by a gunshot through the chest to the right shoulder causing fragmentation to the humerus), Bilal Bassam Al-Sabagh (injured by fragments in the ankle), Thaer Abu Rayash (injured by explosive gunshot in the right hand and jaw causing severe bleeding), Jafar Ishtaya (injured by a gunshot directly in his head causing him skull fracture and concussion), Mahmoud Khalil Bader (injured by a gas bomb in his leg), Fadi Waheed Thabet (injured by a gunshot in the lower left knee causing him bone fracture and tissues laceration), Mahmoud Abu Muslem (injured by a gunshot in the right ankle), Anas Rouhi Al-Ghoul (injured by fragments in the left ankle and knee), Mohammad Hassan Shreteh (injured by a gunshot in the thigh), Mohammad Dahman (injured by a gas bomb in the thigh), and Yahya Waleed Hals (injured by a gas bomb fired directly by one of the soldiers at his face).
The Palestinian Violations:
The Palestinian violations registered during October 2018 were the same as those registered in the previous month, September, when a total of eight violations against media freedoms committed by Palestinian authorities were monitored in October, while the previous month (September) has witnessed a similar number, somehow, nine attacks.
All of the Palestinian violations registered during October have taken place in the West Bank, most notably, the arrest of the journalists, Amer Abu Arafa by the Palestinian Intelligence Services in Hebron, and Mohammad Awad by the Preventive Security Services in Ramallah, and questioning them after they were summoned separately, the issuance of imprisonment orders by the Palestinian Public Prosecution against the journalists Ayat and Mada Shalbak, in connection to the case initiated by the An-Najah University Media Center Director against a number of journalists several months ago, and summoning the journalists Ihab Al-Jariri, Fadi Al-Arouri, and Jehan Hussein Awad, in connection to the popular movement, sittings, and protests, organized against the Social Security Law.
Details of the Violations:
(1st Oct.) Some Israeli police officers have assaulted the freelance journalist, Yazan Haddad, while he was covering some events taking place in the city of Jerusalem.
According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, on Monday, corresponding 1st Oct. 2018, it was a general strike in the West Bank, Jerusalem, as well as some cities and towns within the green line, to protest against the National-State Bill approved by Israel which states that the right to self-determination in Israel belongs only to the Jewish people, in addition to other discriminatory provisions against the Arab Palestinians. This strike coincided with Shavuos Holiday where large numbers of settlers have taken part in provocative celebratory tours across the occupied Jerusalem, repeating racist chants against Arabs and Palestinians. Between 5:30 PM and 6:00 PM on that day, Yazen Ahmed Mohammed Haddad, (22 years old) a freelance journalist, lives in Al-Thawri neighborhood, in Silwan, Jerusalem, was near Damascus Gate, a main and vital area of Jerusalem, to cover the strike, when a large group of Israeli occupation forces detained a number of young Palestinians in that place, even though they did not raise any flags or yelled any chants. As he was reporting live through his cell phone, some soldiers wearing green uniforms have suddenly attacked the demonstrators with pepper gas spray in the faces (in a matter of minutes), as he stated, which is why he lost concentration for a little while. He was beaten by some Police officers, one of them has raised an iron barricade and hit him, which caused him a wound in his hand, not to mention that his cell phone has smashed.
(1st Oct.) At the northern entrance of Al-Bireh, specifically, in the road leading to Beit El Military Barrier, located to the northeast of Ramallah City, where the clashes between the Palestinian and Israelis usually erupt, following the general strike in most of the Palestinian cities and towns, on Monday, corresponding 1st Oct. 2018, protesting against the Nation-State Bill (enacted by the Knesset in 19th July 2018), clashes have erupted at Beit El Barrier on that day, attracting several media and journalists to cover the event. At 3:42 PM, RAYA FM Radio photographer, Shadi Hatem Imtairiya (25 years old) was injured by a stone in his left leg while he was covering the clashes which have erupted between dozens of the Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli Occupation forces. While he was covering the event, Imtairiya was wearing the Press helmet and vest, standing behind an iron caravan to protect himself from the gas bombs fired by the soldiers at the demonstrators as the latter were throwing stones at the soldiers, which led to the injury of Imtairiya by a stone in his left foot. He could not stand up post to his injury, he went to one of the paramedics at the area to dress the wound of his injured foot. He was taken in the ambulance which arrived directly after one of the Red Crescent paramedics dressed his wound. He was transferred to Al-Mostaqbal Hospital located in Al-Bireh City, where he ran some tests before being transferred to Palestine Medical Complex where x-rays were made to him and they showed some bruises only. He was discharged at 5:20 PM, and was recommended by the doctors to have 3-days rest.
Note: MADA researcher has witnessed what happened and how the above mentioned journalist was injured as he, along with the photographer, Munther Al-Khateeb, were standing next the photographer, Shadi Hatem, the moment he was injured. There are photos taken by the researcher of the first moment of the injury of Shadi Hatem.
(3rd Oct.) The injury of Xinhua News Agency photographer, Mohammad Dahman (30 years old) by a gas bomb in his thigh while he was covering a demonstration taking place in Beit Hanoun “Erez Crossing”, to the north of Gaza Strip, as part of the weekly return marches.
According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, the photographer, Mohammad Dahman (30 years old), from Al-Nasr neighborhood in Gaza, at around 06:30, on Wednesday corresponding 4 Oct. 2018, was in Beit Hanoun “Erez Crossing”, to the north of Gaza Strip, covering a demonstration taking place as part of the return marches. He was injured by a gas bomb in the right thigh fired at him directly by one of the Israeli Occupation soldiers, even though he was wearing the Press helmet and vest, and he was at a distance of 300 meters away from the separating fence. Since he did not feel much pain, he thought it was a minimal injury. He did not went to the field medical point established in the area, he continued his work for two more hours, until 8:30, upon completing his work, he checked the injury and found that its color has changed, and its extent had increased. He went to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, where the doctors reassured him that there was no internal hemorrhage or muscle damage.
(5th Oct.) The injury of the journalist, Doaa Fareed Hamed Zarab, by a gunshot in her right leg, while she was covering the peaceful return march taking place on Friday, corresponding 5 Oct. 2018, in Khuza'a, east of Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip.
According to the investigations of MADA field researcher, the volunteer journalist at Noor News Agency, Doaa Fareed Hamed Zarab, from Khan Younis, 25 years old, has arrived around 4:00 PM, on 5 Oct. 2018, to Khuza'a, east of Khan Younis, wearing the Press shield, with a camera to cover a demonstration that was taking place as part of the return peaceful marches. While she was there, she saw some demonstrators getting off buses, she also saw around 400 demonstrators at a distance of 300-350 meters away from the security separating fence, and around 100 demonstrators setting tires on fire 100 meters away from the fence. She also noticed some Israeli soldiers go up sandy hills, and around three Israeli military jeeps parked on the other side of the fence firing gas bombs at the demonstrators which caused several injuries and suffocation. Meanwhile, she was standing in “Jakr” street, 300 meters away from the separating fence, and she started filming the demonstrators who were increasing gradually. Some of them approached the fence to a distance of 30-50 meters, started setting in fire rubber tires, chanting and throwing stones at the Israeli military jeeps. At around 5:00, she moved along with a number of journalists and approached the separating fence to a distance of 30-50 meters. Half an hour later, she retreated back 300 meters away from the fence, and at around 5:45, she was injured by a gunshot fired directly at her right leg, lower the knee “causing an entry and exit”. Immediately, members of the Civil Defense and volunteer paramedics transferred her by an ambulance to the field hospital, which is about 800 meters away from the separating fence, where she received first aid and was transferred to Nasser Medical Complex, west of Khan Yunis, where she arrived at 6:30, and it was found that the gunshot has caused her leg fracture, torn ligaments, intravenous cutting, hemorrhage, and inability to move the injured toes. On Saturday, corresponding 6 Oct. 2018, she underwent a clean-up operation, an exploratory operation to stop the bleeding. According to the doctors at Nasser Medical Complex, in the coming days, she will undergo another one or two operations as Zarab stated to MADA researcher.
(5th Oct.) The injury of the photojournalist, Osama Shareef Mahmoud Al-Kahlout, by fragments in both thighs while he was covering the events of the return peaceful marches taking place at the separating fence, east of Bureij Camp, Gaza Strip.
According to MADA researcher, the photographer of Donia Al-Watan, Osama Shareef Al-Kahlout (34 years old), from Deir Al-Balah, has arrived on the afternoon of 5 Oct. 2018, to the separating fence area, east of Bureij Camp, in the central Gaza Strip, to cover the events of the peaceful return march. He was wearing the Press vest, when he started taking some photos of the demonstrators while he was at 300 meters away from the separating fence. He took some distance away when the Israeli soldiers on the other side of the fence started firing large amounts of tear gas bombs at the demonstrators. At around 06:00 PM, while he was covering the events, a man standing next to him was injured by a gunshot, the fragments of which have injured another three persons. It was right in this moment when he felt some heat in his leg, and found that he was injured with minor wounds in both of his thighs. On his way home in the evening, he went to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where he made an x-ray, and it showed that there were five fragments of a gunshot in his thighs. He stayed in the hospital until 11:15 PM, and then was discharged with some medications.
(7th Oct.) The reporter of Shihab News Agency, Amer Abdelhai Mohammad Abu Arafa (35 years old) was arrested by the Palestinian Intelligence Services in the West Bank, interrogated and questioned several times about his work.
According to MADA researcher, the reporter of Shihab News Agency[1] in the West Bank, Amer Abdelhai Mohammad Abu Arafa (35 years old), from Hebron, was summoned by the Palestinian Intelligence Services, at 10:00 AM, on Sunday, corresponding 7 Oct. 2018. Indeed, he went to the Intelligence Services headquarters, on the scheduled day. About half an hour after his arrival, he met the investigator “Abu Saddam” who asked him to open his Facebook page, and asked him about his work for Shihab News Agency, the resources of his news, how does he contact the Agency and how do the Agency sends him assignments. Amer refused to disclose his Facebook password, unless they bring him an order to do so from the Public Prosecution or the Court. The investigation session continued with him for about half an hour, during which Amer saw an arrest warrant in his name since he did respond. The computer expert tried more than once to hack and open his account in front of him. After the investigation, Amer stayed in the waiting room until about 5:00 PM, when the Officer “Abu Saddam” asked him to hand over his stuff and took him to a cell. Amer spent a full day in the smelly cell (2m/1m). He was questioned seven times. In each time, the interrogation lasted about half an hour. Amer did not notice any hostility in the interrogators’ methods, but once, one of the officers was carrying an M-16 and began moving it to make sounds as if he was preparing to shoot, Amer considered this a kind of intimidation. He also noticed that the officers and investigators have agreed that if he did not disclose the password of his Facebook account, his detention will be extended 15 days. In the investigation sessions, he was asked about his work with Shihab Agency, why he was arrested by the Israeli Occupation 15 years ago (when he spend six years in the Israeli prisons), what was his categorization in the prison, he was also asked about a post he published on his personal page for which he was accused that he is attacking and cursing Jamal Nazal, a member in the Revolutionary Council, the spokesperson of Fatah Movement. In the post, he criticized the speech of Jamal Nazzal against Hamas, wondering why he did not attack the Occupation instead. Amer was not brought before the Public Prosecution or the Court, he was released at around 4:00 PM, on the following day, Monday, corresponding 8 Oct. 2018.
(8th Oct.) The Occupation Forces have seized the television equipment of Roya and MAAN TV Channels, and prevented them from covering the events of the raids implemented by the Occupation Army in Shweike neighborhood in Tulkarm.
According to MADA researcher, the day following the shooting in which two Israeli settlers were killed in “Barkan” settlement, near Salfit, in the West Bank, on Sunday, corresponding 7 Oct. 2018, which the Israeli claimed that the young man, Ashraf Naaloah, from Shweike, is the person in charge of the shooting, but he escaped, on Monday, corresponding 8 Oct. 2018, at around 12:00 PM, MAAN staff, including the photographer, Rami Rouhi Darwish Swedan (42 years old), his coworker, the reporter, Islam Masoud Hussein Hamad (46 years old), the reporter of Roya, Hafeth Mahmoud Abu Sabra, and his coworker, the photographer, Wisam Abderabo Hajjouj (26 years old) went to interview the parents of Naaloah, the person accused of implementing the shooting against the settlers, in his house located in Shweike neighborhood, 2.5 kilometers to the north of Tulkarm. During the interview, the occupation forces raided the area, around six soldiers entered the house, asked the staff to stop the interview, and leave the house immediately on the grounds that they unlawfully entered a military zone. However, the four journalists could not get out due to the military jeeps parked in a manner blocking the road in front of their vehicles. The soldiers seized the staff’s equipment, placed them in the journalists’ vehicle, and asked them not to film anything. They were detained half an hour at the entrance of the house, guarded by four soldiers, while one of the soldiers took Naaloah’s father to another house for questioning.
(9th Oct.) The Palestinian Security Services have summoned several citizens in connection to the peaceful poplar sit-in protesting against the Social Security Law, including three journalists, namely: Ihab Al-Jariri, Director of FM 24 RAdio, Fadi Al-Arouri, the photographer of Xinhua News Agency, and the freelance journalist, Jehan Hassan Awad, (34 years old).
Al-Arouri stated to MADA “On 9th Oct. 2018, I received an oral summons from the Preventive Security Services in Ramallah. Indeed, I went to the headquarters at around 1:30 PM, the discussion was mainly about the need for/the popular mass movement against the social security law/to obtain an authorization for the sit-in intended to take place on Monday, corresponding 15th October 2018. After they found that we indeed applied to obtain an authorization, the tone of the discussion changed and moved on to address the need to adhere to the law. I commented that the Preventive Security is not the negotiating or the competent party to discuss the authorization for the sit-in with us. Especially that we have applied for an authorization to the competent party, which is the governorate, and it will get back to us on this regard, not to mention that we have no intention to confront the police. They asked me to sign on a pledge not to incite, but I refused to sign”.
As to Al-Jariri, he stated “the Preventive Security Services in Ramallah has called me by telephone, and asked me to immediately come. Indeed, I went to the headquarters at around 12:00 PM, where I stayed for an hour and a half, the discussion was about “us – the group responsible for the popular mass movement against the social security law – and how we incite against the law, threatening the civil peace, disregarding the present circumstances of the country which cannot stand such acts, and that the march has no authorization (even though the group in charge of the sit-in has applied for an authorization to the Governorate). They indicated that they know about the groups/inciting against the Authority and trying to take advantage of the current protests of citizens for their interest. I was asked to sign a pledge not to incite, in its former version, which I did not hesitate for a second to sign as I know for sure that I do not incite indeed”.
The Journalist Jehan Awad stated “I received a phone call from the Preventive Security in Ramallah, on 9th Oct. 2018, asking me to come to the headquarters for ten minutes for an interview. When I asked about the reason or the subject of the interview, they replied that it was about my Facebook posts on the social security law. But I did not respond or go as the summons was not official, and if they want to question me, the Syndicate has to be notified”.
(12th Oct.) The injury of the journalists, Bilal Bassam Odeh Al-Sabagh, and Yasser Zuhair Al-Taweel, by the occupation soldiers bullets, while they were covering a demonstration as part of the return peaceful marches in Malka, east of Gaza, on Friday, corresponding 12 Oct. 2018.
According to MADA researcher, the freelance photographer, Yasser Zuhair Al-Taweel (21 years old), has went to Malka, east of Gaza, on Friday, corresponding 12 Oct. 2018, to cover a demonstration as part of the return marches. At around 5:00 PM, while he was taking some photos at a distance of 30 meters away from the separating fence, he was targeted by a gunshot fired by one of the Israeli soldiers stationed on the other side of the separating fence, causing him an injury through the mid-chest out of the right shoulder, shattering the bones of the right humerus and causing nerve damage in the right hand as it turned out later, even though there were only groups of demonstrators in the area carrying banners and yelling to condemn the aggression and siege and demand return and self-determination in ways that pose no threat.
On the same day, Friday, corresponding 12 Oct. 2018, the photographer of Zain for Media Production, and the freelance photographer of the French News Agency, Bilal Odeh Al-Sabagh (27 years old), went at 4:00 PM, to the same place (Malka, east of Gaza), while he was wearing the Press shield (the helmet, the vest, and the muzzle marked “Press” to cover a demonstration as part of the return marches, and at around 5:30, while covering these events, Al-Sabagh noticed the escalation and consistency of the Israeli targeting of demonstrators, and the intensive shooting of gunshots and gas bombs, which is why he retreated back towards the west, to a safer area, 80-100 meters away from the separating fence, while he was moving back, he felt an injury in his leg. It was found later that the injury was caused by an explosive bullet fragment, causing him a one-centimeter wound, as it turned out later after he was taken to Al-Shifa Medical Complex, where he arrived at 6:30 PM. The fragment was not removed as the doctor supervising his condition deemed appropriate, unless after two days, on Sunday, corresponding 14 Oct. 2018, as it was removed in the Patient Friend's Benevolent Society.
(14th Oct.) An Israeli occupation army force has raided the house of the journalist, Musab Mohammad Dbeigh, at dawn, on 14 Oct. 2018, questioned and threatened him.
According to MADA field researcher, the family of the journalist, Musab Mohammad Ibrahim Dbeigh, born on 19 September 1996, works for Kol Alnas TV, also a reporter for MAAN News Agency, lives in Al-Sonawbar area in Bala'a, east of Tulkarm, at around 2:15 AM, at dawn, on Sunday, corresponding 14 Oct. 2018, has heard the sound of artillery parking in front of the house, and the sound of someone opening the main gate of the house’s front yard. This was followed by knocking the front door of the house, when they opened the door, around five soldiers were there, they asked them to stay inside the house, they took out Musab’s father to an exterior room in the house’s yard, and asked Musab to stay among his family members in a room with no lights on. Meanwhile, they started questioning the father and it lasted for 30 minutes, then they asked Musab to step out, and come to the same exterior room. He came accompanied by three soldiers, including a tall intelligence officer, wearing the military uniform and helmet on his head, carrying a gun on his side, he started yelling at Musab and asking him: how did you go to Ashraf Naaloah’s house, who asked you to prepare a television report? What is the kind of relationship you have with Ashraf Abu Sheikha (who is currently wanted by the occupation for the charge of executing Barkan operation), in Shweike neighborhood in Tulkarm. Musab clarified in his answers that he is a journalist working for Kol Alnas TV in Tulkarem, and a reporter of MAAN Radio Network; therefore, he follows orders to prepare media reports. He stated that he has no relationship with Ashraf except that three years ago, Ashraf and his brother Amjad, have installed an air conditioner in Musab’s house, and he did not meet him ever since or contacted him. The Israeli officer has cursed Musab, yelled at him and threatened him with imprisonment and destroying his house if it turned out that he concealed information or helped Ashraf even if only by providing him with a drink or food or shelter. His questioning continued for 30 minutes, his phone was seized, and its contents were accessed, they gave it back to him before they left the house.
(14th Oct.) The Palestinian Police has handed over the journalist, Ayat Farhat Abdullah, a subpoena (imprisonment order) in connection to the case initiated by the Director of An-Najah National University Media Department against a number of journalists.
According to MADA field researcher, at around 5:00 PM, on the evening of 14 Oct. 2018, some police officers from Aqraba Police Center, which is the closest police center to Beita town where the journalist, Ayat Farhat Abdullah (27 years old) was, have arrived to the electrical shop of Ayat’s uncle and handed him over a subpoena. They told him that she has to immediately come to the police and that the notification was an imprisonment order and only because she was a girl they did not arrest her directly from her house. With immediate effect, Ayat contacted the Syndicate of Journalists and informed them with what happened. She also contacted the Police Public Relations Department to enquire about the issue. They told her that “it is either about debts, or promissory notes or a bail she has signed to someone”, but she was certain that she has no debts or any obligations of this kind. Ayat’s brother went to the Police Center on the evening of that day, where he learned that the issue was connected to the “Facebook” and the defamation case initiated by An-Najah University Media Department Director, Ghazi Murtaja, against her. Ayat contacted the Police Public Relations Director, Colonel Loay Zreiqat, and the latter contacted Nablus Police and the Public Relations Director, Amjad Farahta, and told her that he suspended the imprisonment order, but she has to go on the following day and issue a pursuit abstention, that is a prosecution prevention. On the following morning, corresponding 15 Oct. 2018, Ayat contacted the Syndicate’ lawyer and he told her that he will put an end to this matter. She also contacted ADDAMEER Organization and they informed her that as long as her file is with the Public Prosecution, it would still under ongoing processing. Then she contacted MADA’s lawyer, Firas Karaja, gave him her I.D. Card number and he assured her that the imprisonment order is connected to the case of the Media Department Director, Ghazi Murtaja. Firas informed her that the case is still in process and that they both have to go to the Public Prosecution. On 16 Oct. 2018, it was posted on the Facebook that the cases initiated by Ghazi Murtaja have been dropped. However, on 22 Oct. 2018, Ayat, along with MADA’s lawyer, Firas Karaja, and ADDAMEER’s lawyer, Mohannad Karaja, went to Nablus Prosecution Office, where they learned that the cases were not actually dropped. The chief prosecutor told her that he will not question her on that day, because there might be “reconciliation”, and she knew that if the case was dropped, there is “public right” and the case will remain ongoing. On the same day, Ayat issued a pursuit abstention and went to the Police Center to prevent further prosecution against her and to suspend the imprisonment orders issued against her.
On the morning of 28 Oct. 2018, MADA’s lawyer, Firas Karaja, has accompanied the journalist, Mada Mohammad Yazeed Fathi Shalbak (24 years old) to Nablus Prosecution Office, note that Shalbak used to work for Al-Najah News Website over a period of one year and three months, in respond to the subpoena issued by the Prosecution Office in connection with the case initiated against her by An-Najah National University Media Department Director, Ghazi Murtaja. When they arrived, Shalbak signed a power of attorney to authorize the lawyer Firas Karaja. The Chief Prosecutor was not there, and he refused that the file be opened by someone else, but after contacting him and some of the lawyers at the Prosecution Office, they took the subpoena, they also copied some of her documents, including the personal identity card, and her place of residence, in order to proceed with the due procedures to appear before the Prosecution Office and the court.
(15th Oct. ) The injury of the freelance photographer, Thaer Abu Rayash, by an explosive gunshot while he was covering a demonstration as part of the return marches organized in Zikim Beach, Gaza Strip.
According to MADA field researcher, the freelance photojournalist, Thaer Khaled Fahmi Abu Rayash (24 years old), from Beit Lahia, north of Gaza Strip, has arrived at around 4:30 PM, on Monday, corresponding 15 Oct. 2018, to Zikim Beach, northwest of Lahia, to the north of Gaza Strip, wearing the Press uniform, to cover a demonstration organized there as part of the return marches. While he was standing on the beach at a distance of 300 meters away from the separating border fence where the Israeli soldiers were deployed, half an hour after he arrived, he suffered suffocation due to the excessive firing of gas bombs at the demonstrators. He moved a few meters to the back while he was filming the events, but as soon he was injured by an explosive bullet fired at him by the Israeli soldiers through his right hand. One of the fragments of the bullet settled in his hand bones while other fragments have injured his lower jaw causing him severe bleeding, more fragments have even injured two other young men around him. The moment he was injured, Abu Rayash was taken in an ambulance to the field medical point established in the area and from there he was transferred to Al-Awda Hospital, where the bleeding was stopped and his wound was stitched 17 stitches. A pressure bandage was dressed to the wound without removing the fragment or casting the fracture given the hazardous consequences of removing the fragment from the sensitive place it settled in.
(15th Oct.) According to MADA field researcher, and eye-witnesses, at around 7:30 AM, on Monday, corresponding 15 Oct. 2018, the students of Al-Lubban Al-Sawiya Secondary School, located in Ramallah-Nablus Street, to the south of Nablus, went to their school, in the presence of the Minister of Education & Higher Education, Dr. Sabri Seidam, Nablus Governor, Major General Akram Al-Rjoub, alongside a number of the families from Al-Lubban Al-Sawiya and the neighboring villages, to protest against a military decision issued by the Israeli occupation forces to close the said school. Meanwhile, a number of journalists from several press agencies came to cover the event, including Nasser Ishtaya, a representative of Epa Agency, Ayman Al-Nubani, a representative of WAFA News Agency, and the photographer, Alaa Badarneh.
At around 8:10 AM, while the students were entering the school, the occupation forces have suppressed the demonstrators by gas bombs and rubber-coated bullets until they managed to evacuate the school. An eye-witness has stated to MADA researcher that the occupation forces have deliberately targeted the photographer of the French News Agency, Jafar Zahed Hussein Ishtaya, (51 years old) by a gas bomb that injured his head on his way out of the school main door, and at close range. Ishtaya was taken in an ambulance to Yasser Arafat Hospital, in Salfit, and after running the tests, he was transferred to Rafidia Governmental Hospital in Nablus. Following the medical tests and radiography, it was found that he is suffering a fracture in the skull and a concussion. Currently, he is lying in bed, in the ICU, and the doctors described his situation as moderate. Until the moment, there is no complete medical report on his injury and health condition.
(15th Oct.) The Israeli occupation forces have prevented the journalists and the media from covering the ongoing sit-in taking place in Al-Khan Al-Ahmar, located in the Valleys area, West Bank, protesting against the Israeli decision of demolishing the village and displacing its population. It is noteworthy that Al-Khan Al-Ahmar is one of the 46 Bedouin communities the occupation authorities are seeking to demolish and displace their population to implement its settlement project “E1” which urged dozens of the Palestinian and foreign activists to call for an open sit-in in the village starting from 20 July 2018 to prevent the demolishing and displacement of population. In the meantime, the Israeli occupation forces closed most of the roads leading to the village and placed gates to open and close whenever they deem appropriate, and carried out a series of measures to pressure the population and displace them. This has taken place in parallel with a series of attacks against the media and journalists to prevent them from covering what is happening on the ground. It is noteworthy that several journalists and press agencies are staying, almost permanently, in the village to cover any dramatic or surprising updates that might take place.
According to MADA field researcher, an Israeli occupation army force, at 7:00 AM, on 15 Oct. 2018, has raided Al-Khan Al-Ahmar with three bulldozers to level the roads adjacent to the village and dispose the waste water launched by the settlers. However, the demonstrators in the sit-in went to the entrance of the village to prevent the bulldozers from entering the village, and so did a lot of journalists and press agencies staying almost permanently in the village to cover the events since the beginning of the open sit-in which started on 20 July 2018 to prevent the execution of the demolition decision and displacement of population. When the Israeli bulldozers approached the entrance of the village, the activists sat in front of the bulldozers to prevent them from moving forward. The soldiers prevented the journalists from approaching the site to cover the event, and they assaulted some journalists even though all of them were wearing Press uniforms or holding Press cards. This has affected the following:
- The photojournalist of Ekha Turkish Website and Al-Hadaf Online Magazine, Sari Sharif Abdelgaffar Jaradat, (32 years old), was banned from media coverage and threatened by soldiers with arrest.
- The photojournalist of Al-Ghad TV, Jameel Hashem Jameel Salhab, (31 years old), prevented from approaching the events while he was at Al-Khan Al-Ahmar since 35 days filming the leveling actions, during which one of the Israeli Police Yasam Unit officers pushed and prevented him from covering the event.
- The photographer of WAFA, Sulaiman Mahmoud Sulaiman Abu Srour, (33 years old), prevented from media coverage, as one of the Israeli force elements has pulled a gun on his chest and threatened him with arrest if he did not leave the site right before one of the other soldiers sprayed pepper gas directly at his face. Abu Srour received the field treatment by the medical staff at the location.
- Reuters journalist, Mousa Issa Al-Qawasma, (35 years old), pushed by some of the Israeli Army officers deliberately to prevent him from covering the event.
- Palestine TV photographer, Ali Yaseen, (26 years old) prevented from entering the area, his personal card was seized and so his driving license, for 40 minutes.
At 7:30 AM, on the following day, corresponding 16 Oct. 2018, the Israeli occupation bulldozers came back to continue the leveling of the streets adjacent to Al-Khan Al-Ahmar, and again, prevented the press agencies from filming and covering the event. This has affected the journalists below:
- PalPress Agency photographer, Mohammad Jawad Issa Zaghab, (30 years old), prevented from entering Al-Khan Al-Ahmar to cover the event.
- Palestine TV reporter, Christine Khaled Waled Rinawi, (28 years old), deliberately pushed by some of the Israeli police officers during her direct coverage of what was happening there. When she left Al-Khan Al-Ahmar, one of the Israeli police officers has chased her vehicle, asked for her personal card but did not issue her any tickets.
- The Iranian TV photographer, Khaled Ali Sabarneh, (47 years old), deliberately pushed by the Israeli Occupation soldiers in front of his colleagues from other Press agencies.
(18th Oct.) The injury of the photojournalist, Mahmoud Khaleel Mahmoud Bader, by a gas bomb in his leg fired at him by one of the occupation soldiers while he was covering the events of the peaceful return march, at Beit Hanoun, Erez Crossing, on 18 Oct. 2018.
According to MADA researcher, the Palestinians in northern Gaza Strip, particularly in Beit Hanoun (Erez Crossing), used to organize protest demonstrations as part of the peaceful return marches, every Tuesday, along the road leading to Beit Hanoun-Erez crossing. On Tuesday, corresponding 18 October, 2018, the photojournalist, Mahmoud Khalil Mahmoud Bader, a 21-year-old staff member of the Palestinian Information Center, went to cover the events in the area as he used to do every Tuesday. The demonstrators, as usual, were setting on fire the rubber tires and chanting against the occupation. The photographer, Mahmoud Bader approached the front area of the protests and began to take pictures for the Palestinian Media Center, which he works for as a photographer and journalist, wearing a full press uniform (blue helmet, blue shield marked Press and holding a camera). At approximately 5:00 PM, the Israeli occupation forces fired a barrage of gas bombs at the demonstrators, especially in the front area of the protests, which is not more than 100 meters away “Erez Crossing” gate in the street in front of the gate where the photographer Mahmoud was standing. The demonstrators dispersed away from the gas bombs and Mahmoud went to the west side of the street where the gas was less. After a short time he returned to stand in the same spot around a small number of civilian demonstrators and at that time he was targeted with a gas bomb directly fired at his right knee, he fell to the ground and got help from some of the demonstrators who took him to the ambulances which were in a farther location. He was taken to Al-Awda Hospital for treatment. After radiography, he was found to have suffered minor burns to the skin, bruises due to the injury and tissues rupture. He said that this was the third time he had been injured by gas bombs fired directly at him.
(19th Oct.) The injury of the freelance journalist, Fadi Waheed Hammad Thabet, by a bullet in his left leg, below the knee, while he was covering the events of the peaceful return march, taking place on Friday, corresponding 19 Oct. 2018, east of Bureij Camp.
According to MADA field researcher, the freelance photojournalist, Fadi Waheed Hammad Thabet, (27 years old), from Juhor Ad-Dik, in the central Gaza Strip, has arrived at around 3:30 PM, on Friday, corresponding 5 Oct. 2018, to the east of Bureij Camp, in the central Gaza Strip, to cover the events of the return peaceful march. He was wearing the Press vest, and at around 4:00 PM, the citizens started arriving to the site and setting in fire rubber tires. He started filming the demonstrators, at a distance of 200 meters away from the separating fence, on the other side of which the Israeli soldiers were deployed. At around 5:00 PM, he was posting live the events through his Facebook account, and noticed a threatening comment on the live video he was posting. The threat was in sent in Hebrew “take one step forward so you can get your penalty … the person posting this has to be killed”. Only then he decided to stop the live posting and started taking photos. Not long after this, at 5:18 PM, Fadi was injured by a gunshot directly fired at his leg and he could not move as a result. He was taken by the paramedics to Al-Aqsa Hospital, located in Deir Al-Balah, where it was found that he was injured by an explosive gunshot which led to bone fracture and tissues laceration. Platinum was placed to his leg and he stayed in hospital for four days. Fadi is still laying at home because he cannot move due to the severe pain he feels, provided he should go to the hospital on 5 Nov. 2018 for follow-up.
(19th Oct.) The injury of the volunteer journalist of “Palestine Al-Hadath”, Mahmoud Abu Muslim, (20 years old), by an explosive gunshot in the right ankle, while he was covering the events of the return march taking place in the east of Bureij, Gaza Strip.
According to MADA researcher, the volunteer journalist of “Palestine Al-Hadath”, Mahmoud Abu Muslim, from Al-Maghazi, in the central Gaza Strip, at around 3:30, on Friday, corresponding 19 Oct. 2018, went to the east of Bureij Camp, in Gaza Strip, to cover the events of the return march. He was wearing the Press vest and helmet, and while he was getting ready to start his work, at a distance of 300 meters away from the separating fence, before taking any photos as the events of the march have not yet begun, he was injured by an explosive bullet in his right ankle. Immediately after that, he was taken by paramedics to the field medical point in the area, and from there, he was transferred to the hospital where he ran tests and radiography which showed that the bullet has injured his right ankle in the “lateral malleolus” specifically, which caused him a deep wound requiring stitches.
(19th Oct.) The injury of the photographer, Yahya Waled Hals, by a gas bomb in his face fired by an Israeli soldier while he was covering a demonstration taking place in Malka, east of Gaza Strip.
According to MADA researcher, the photographer of Palestine Today News Agency, Yahya Waled Hals, (21 years old), at around 3:00 PM, on Friday, corresponding 19 Oct. 2018, went to Malka, east of Gaza Strip, to cover the events of the weekly return march. As soon as he arrived, he began to take photographs, live posting to the Agency’s Facebook page, and at about 4:00 PM he approached the separating fence to film the demonstrators there, when the Israeli occupation soldiers began randomly firing a barrage of gas bombs at the demonstrators. Half an hour later, that is, at around 5:30 PM, he was injured by a gas bomb in his face fired directly at him by one of the soldiers. It is noteworthy that he was wearing the Press uniform, and was standing at a distance of 70 meters. Immediately, he was taken by some young men to the field medical point in Malka where he received the first aid, and then he was transferred to Al-Shifa Medical Hospital where he ran some tests. Then he was transferred to the Eye Hospital in Al-Naser neighborhood, in Gaza Strip, where his slight wounds were cleaned and he stayed for two hours approximately. Then he was taken back to Al-Shifa Medical Hospital where he stayed until 10:00 PM before the doctors discharged him and he returned home.
(19/10) Journalist Madeleine Essam Al-Aqra was hit by a tear a gas grenade, fired directly at her while covering a demonstration east of the Bureij refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. According to investigations conducted by MADA field researcher, the photographer and correspondent in the Philistine Al-hadath news Agency Madeline Essam Al-Aqra, (20 years), a resident of Deir Al-Balah arrived at about 3 pm on 19/10/2018 East Boreij area to cover a demonstration within the activities of the peaceful return march. She was wearing a protective jacket and a helmet with a press signal and began broadcasting live events on the mobile phone after she stood about 300 meters from the separation fence where the Israeli soldiers stand. At about 5:00 pm, soldiers fired a large number of tear gas at the area where she was stand; one of the bombs hit her directly in the right hand, specifically in the wrist. Several other bombs fell next to her, which blocked her vision and caused her to faint because of gas and injury. After a short period of time (several minutes) Madeline wake up and found herself at the field medical point, where she received the necessary treatments and went home, and two days later she felt dizzy which make her stay at home.
(24th Oct.) The injury of “Misk Press” photographer, Anas Rouhi Abdullah Al-Ghoul, on the evening of Wednesday, corresponding 24 Oct. 2018, while he was covering a night demonstration near the separating fence, east of Rafah.
According to MADA field researcher, “Misk Press” photographer, Anas Rouhi Abdullah Al-Ghoul, 23 years old, at around 9:30 PM, on Wednesday, corresponding 24 Oct. 2018, went to east Rafah to cover a night demonstration, where dozens of demonstrators were in the “Jakr Street”, and while he was at a distance of 500 meters away from the separating fence, in his Press vest, holding a photographic camera, he started filming the demonstrators setting rubber tires on fire. After around half an hour (at 10:00 PM), the occupation soldiers deployed on the other side of the separating fence, started excessive firing of tear gas bombs and gunshots. Anas was injured with an explosive bullet fragments in the ankle and knee of his left leg, after the bullet injured another demonstrator near him. Al-Ghoul immediately fell to the ground, and then he was taken by some demonstrators to Abu Yousef Hospital, where he arrived at 10:30 PM, after some x-rays were made to him, it was found that there were no fragments in his leg, the injury was stitched with four stitches in the knee and one in the ankle. The wound was dressed, and two hours later, he was discharged. But on the following day, he returned to the hospital as he felt pain and suffered a light bleeding.
(27th Oct.) The Israeli occupation forces have seized thousands of the donums surrounding Al-Mazra'a Al-Gharbiya and Al-Janiya, to the west of Ramallah, in the central West Bank. Since the beginning of 2018, the settlers have been attempting to establish a settlement road that would surround the villages of Nabi Saleh, Deir Nizam, Deir Ammar, Beitelu, Umm Safa, Kobar, Jibiya and Burham. This raises the concerns of the Palestinians, especially the population of these villages, that the new settlement road will serve as a prelude to connect 11 settlements altogether to result in an outpost as part of settlement blocs, and this will lead to separating northwest Ramallah, and west Ramallah from the entire city of Ramallah, which will result in complete isolation of these villages, which is why their population have organized popular mass protests and demonstrations to take place every Friday, near their confiscated lands, which will attract most of the press agencies for media coverage.
According to MADA field researcher, clashes erupted between the families who have demonstrated on Friday, corresponding 27 Oct. 2018, and the Israeli. The clashes grew more severe at around 5:30 PM, when the Israeli Border Police officers have fired live bullets from a distance of 30 meters at the demonstrators who were throwing stones, which led to the death of the young man, Othman Ahmad Ali Ladadweh, (33 years old) and the injury of eight more, one of which was described as extremely critical, which is an injury by a gunshot in the head. Among those injured due to this shooting, is the freelance photojournalist (also works for Al-Quds Open University Media Department), Mohammad Hassan Shreiteh, 23 years old, injured by a gunshot in his right thigh. His wounds were described as moderate and he stated to MADA researcher “luckily, the bullet went through my cell phone, and my thigh area was wounded by the fragments”. He was transferred to Al-Istishari Hospital, in Al-Rihan neighborhood, in Ramallah, by an ambulance, where he received the necessary treatment and the doctors informed him that he needs five days rest in the hospital until he recovers. Furthermore, the occupation forces, on the same day, have assaulted the press agencies, fired tear gas bombs at them, and prevented them from media coverage. This has affected Palestine TV reporter, Ali Mohammad Dar Ali, (35 years old), and the photographer, Shamekh Jareh Al-Jaghoub (35 years old). They also detained Al-A’lam TV staff for more than one hour, including the photographer, Mohammad Aref Al-Tamimi (43 years old), and the reporter, Samah Mahmoud Kahla (29 years old), and they seized their press cards. They also forced the photographer “Al-Tamimi” to lie face down throughout his detention.
(27th Oct.) The Preventive Security Services in Ramallah has arrested the journalist, Mohammad Shukri, after he was summoned.
The journalist, Mohammad Shukri Awad, born in 1987, works for Al-Quds TV, has received summons at his house, in Bodros, west Ramallah, from the Preventive Security Services asking him to come to the headquarters in Al-Balou, Al-Bireh, on 30 Oct. 2018. Indeed, he went to the headquarters, and after he arrived, his press card issued by the Journalists Syndicate was seized and he was searched the moment he entered the headquarters. Then he was taken to the investigation room at 11:00 AM, the questioning session lasted for 20 minutes, and the questions were about his work and participation in the field events and his frequent visits to Al-Bireh Childhood Development Center where he organizes press training courses. The investigator asked him to stay in the room alone for an hour and a half, then four officers came and took him by a green van of the Preventive Security Services to the headquarters in Betunia, located 4 kilometers away from Ramallah. His cell phone and everything he was carrying were seized, he was asked to untie his shoes and it was taken from him. At 3:00 PM, one of the investigators came and asked him questions about a person, named “Mohammad Mustafa Awad”, at odds with his father (Mohammad Shukri Awad’s father) concerning the inheritance, and that this person has claimed that amounts of money were transferred to him through Awad from Gaza Strip considering him the son of a martyr. The person claimed that he received the money, but Awad denied all of these charges and told the investigator that this man is at odds with his father, and that he already threatened his father a week before his arrest with preparing a report against the journalist Awad to imprison him.
Awad asked the investigators to bring any evidence of such claims, after that he was taken to a cell (2 meters width, 80 cm). Only then he realized that he was indeed arrested, so he announced his hunger strike and returned the meal. He stayed for an entire night in that cell, and on the following day, corresponding 31 Oct. 2018, the Legal Advisor of the Preventive Security Services came and asked him about the number of times he was arrested by the Palestinian and Israeli security agencies, then he asked him to sign on that. Meanwhile, the Legal Advisor received a phone call informing him to cancel the procedures of transferring him to the court, and as a result, one of the officers came and said to him “we’ve confirmed that you have no relation with the case of transferring funds from Gaza to the West Bank and that the man who claimed that is a liar”. Few minutes before he was released, at 3:00 PM, he was informed by the Services Administration to come to the Preventive Security Services headquarters in Al-Balou neighborhood, on 4 August 2018, at 11:00 AM.
It is noteworthy that the journalist Mohammad Awad, was arrested eight times since 2008 until 2018 and he spent nearly 16 months in Palestinian prisons between the Preventive Security Services and the Palestinian Intelligence Service, the longest of which was 6 months in 2011.
(30th Oct.) An Israeli Army force has invaded the house of the journalist, Thaer Ziad Al-Fakhouri (12 Sep. 1989), who is responsible for Al-Jazeera Palestinian page on the social networking sites and a staff member in the Public Relations Department of Hebron Municipality, located in Wadi Qatila in the north of Hebron under the full control of the Palestinian Authority within Area (A).
According to MADA researcher, the journalist, Thaer Al-Fakhouri, at around 1:00 AM, at dawn, on 30 Oct. 2018, has heard loud knocking on the door of his house, where he, his wife, and two children live. He also heard the sound of soldiers asking him to open the door “it’s the army, open your door”. Thaer opened the door, the officer who was wearing civilian clothes started talking in Hebrew, loudly and nervously, addressing Thaer and telling him that they want to search the house. Thaer asked them to wait a minute until he informs his wife and children, but the officer told him that he wants to speak with him. In the meantime, 10 female and male soldiers from Israel Border Police entered the house. The officer asked Thaer of his point of view on the Foreign policy of Donald Trump and about his 6 years of imprisonment. He told him that he has a file on Thaer that it is not closed yet, and it needs to be closed, and that there is a new Israeli officer in Hebron who wants to meet Thaer in the coming days. Meanwhile, the soldiers have already searched the house, took photos of the rooms, and Thaer’s car, and left the house at 1:45 AM.
