“MADA”: 73 violations against media freedoms in Palestine, 46 of which committed by Facebook Company

Ramallah (08/06/2020) – May has witnessed a significant increase in the number of violations against media freedoms in Palestine, as a result of the broad campaign of closures carried out by Facebook Company. The campaign targeted the pages of Palestinian journalists and media websites, which was accompanied by an increase in the number of Israeli violations that have decreased significantly in the preceding month, due to the closure and measures taken to combat the outbreak of Corona virus.

During May, the Palestinian Center for Development & Media Freedoms (MADA) has documented a total of 73 violations against media freedoms in the West Bank and Gaza Strip including the Occupied City of Jerusalem. Facebook Company committed a total of 46 violations while the Israeli Occupation forces committed 18, and different Palestinian authorities committed 8 violations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, while the last violation committed was dismissing the journalist Iyad Hamad by the American Worldwide Agency, “Associated Press”.

Facebook Company has carried out a broad campaign of closures targeting dozens of pages of journalists and media websites claiming that “they violate the privacy standards of Facebook Community” according to messages received by a number of those affected by this campaign, which included at least 34 journalists/media websites in Gaza Strip, and 12 journalists and websites in the West Bank.

Most of these journalists did not receive any notifications on closing or restricting their pages, as reported by "MADA" researchers. They were not informed as well of the direct or specific reasons for closing their pages.

It is worth mentioning that Facebook Company has closed 16 pages for journalists as part of the campaign that targeted dozens of Palestinian citizens in March.

Israeli Violations:

After weeks of closure as part of the measures taken to combat the spread of Corona virus in Palestine, and the moment the situation began to gradually return to its former state, the Israeli violations against journalists have returned, not only this, but they also increased during May up to 18 violations after they have declined due to the closure and the absence of any significant or noticeable activity.

Most of the Israeli violations were serious against the lives of journalists and media freedoms, the most prominent of which was renewing the closure of Palestine TV Office in Jerusalem and preventing it and all of its personnel to practice any media activity inside the city for another six months. It should be noted that Palestine TV Office was previously closed for a similar period and prevented from operating in Jerusalem after seizing its equipment.

These attacks against journalists have affected the journalist Christine Rinawi, who was summoned, questioned and given a decision issued by the Israeli Minister of Interior under which the closure period of Palestine TV Office shall be renewed and the personnel shall be prevented from working and operating in the occupied city of Jerusalem for another six months. The journalist Tamer Mustafa Obeidat (arrested), the cameraman Kareem Khamaisa (rubber bullet in the left knee), Nasser Ishtayya (assaulted), the injury of: journalist Tareq Husni Al-Horani, Mahmoud Younes Samoudi, Mujahed Mohammad Al-Sadi, and Mohammad Ali Ateeq, with suffocation as a result of being targeted deliberately by the occupation soldiers with gas bombs while covering events in Yabod, the cameraman Musab Shawer (prevented from coverage and deleting his material), assaulting Russia Today TV staff including the journalist Dalia Issam Al-Nimri and the cameraman Ashraf Ayed Al-Shwaiki, by settlers while they were covering the start of the Israeli Prime Minister trial, the injury of the photojournalist Nidal Ishtayya with a rubber bullet in his leg, preventing the journalist Sondos Owais from covering the re-opening of Al-Aqsa Mosque by the occupation police in addition to summoning and questioning her, summoning the journalist Rose Al-Zaro while covering a sit-in in Jerusalem.

Palestinian Violations:

Different Palestinian authorities have committed a total of 8 violations during May, four of which took place in Gaza Strip and four in the West Bank: assaulting the journalist Nizar Habash by police officers and preventing him from filming a disabled citizen who arrived to the Prime Minister building to attend the daily press brief on the updates of Corona Virus. Preventing Mohammad Ayyad by the Palestinian police officers to cover events that have taken place in Abu Deis and deleting the material he filmed. Targeting FM24 Radio Director with a campaign of incitement and defamation through the page “Salaries and Promotions in the State of Palestine” for coitizing the Palestinian Government. Also, threatening the journalist Alaa Al-Zaro indirectly by the Palestinian Police Spokesperson for taking part in raising the issue of arresting the journalist Anas Howari by the Police. Summoning the journalist Izz Abu Shanab by the Internal Security Services in Gaza twice and questioning him on the reasons of being in Egypt noting that he was there for treatment purposes. Arresting the freelance journalist Yousef Hassan by the Military Wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement “Al-Quds Brigades” twice and questioning him about a press report on the corruption in distributing aids.

Details of Violations:

(4^th May) Some Palestinian police officers have assaulted the journalist Nizar Habash and prevented him from filming a disabled citizen who arrived to the Prime Minister building located in Ramallah to attend the daily press brief on the updates of Corona Virus.

According to MADA researcher, the journalist Nizar Edmon Habash (34 years old) who works as a reporter for Watan Media Network, while he was at about 5:20PM on Saturday, corresponding 4^th May 2020, in front of the Council of Ministers in Ramallah, accompanied by a group of journalists covering the daily press brief of the Government Spokesperson on the updates of Corona Virus, saw a disabled person heading towards the Prime Minister headquarters protesting. The journalist Habash went to him to find out what was he protesting against (he was 20 meters away from the press brief). However, three security officers in police uniform started shouting at the journalist asking him to stop filming. One of them grabber his cell phone down to prevent him from filming while the other pushed him to the chest and shouted at him: “you cannot film here and you are not allowed to be here and you can never come back again to cover the brief”.

The Palestinian Ministry of Interior subsequently issued a statement on what happened, in which it said that what had happened was by miscalculation, it stated in the statement, “In rejection of any action that would disrupt the work of any Palestinian journalist, the Ministry of Interior, following its full responsibility to maintain security and public order, emphasizes that every citizen has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and explains that what happened was not intended towards the journalist, and that it resulted from a miscalculation by some security officers, thus the Ministry expresses its respect for the journalist and the institution for which he works”.

(5^th May) The Internal Security Services in Gaza summoned the journalist Izz Abu Shanab and questioned him about the reasons why he was in Egypt even though he went for treatment purposes.

According to MADA researcher, Izz Abdelaziz Ahmad Abu Shanab (36 years old), a journalist who works for a number of Egyptian media outlets (Al-Ahram Newspaper, Al Gomhuria Newspaper, Al-Rai Newspaper, Egyptian Democratic), has received on Tuesday corresponding 5^th May 2020 a summons from the Internal Security Services in Gaza Strip, to come to the Passports headquarters without identifying the reason of summoning him. On the following day, Wednesday 6^th May 2020, the journalist arrived at 10:00AM in the morning to the Internal Security headquarters (passports), where he was questioned by one investigator on the reason why he stayed in Egypt for nine months. Abu Shanab informed the investigator that he stayed in Egypt for that long to receive treatmentas he was injured during the return marches. He was also questioned on a number of known persons including (Nabeel Tamous, Ayman Abu Al Hatal, Safwat Rahmi, ZAki Al-Sakani) who have left Gaza Strip following the fight that ended with Hamas movement controlling Gaza Strip in July 2006. He was also questioned about the nature of his work for Egyptian media outlets, his connection with the National Party of Egypt, and his appointment by the Party as the Goodwill Ambassador claiming that “no titles are given without anything in return”. Abu Shanab denied his connection with any party or activity and that he only been there for treatment. At 2:00PM on the same day he was released. A week later, on Tuesday 12^th May, the journalist Abu Shanab was surprised that he was summoned again by the Internal Security Services. In response, on the following day, Wednesday 13^th May 2020 he went to the Internal Security headquarters, and arrived at 9:00AM. Immediately he was taken to the investigation room where five persons were there, and the officer who questioned him last time was not among them. The investigators re-asked him the same questions that were asked in the first investigation session, and the journalist Abu Shanab denied his relationship with any of the people whom he was asked about. He reiterated that he was in Egypt for treatment only, and at about 2:00PM that same day he was released.

(5^th May) The Israeli occupation forces arrested the journalist Mustafa Obeidat from his house, detained him for hours in the afternoon and questioned him for the charge of providing in-kind aids during the time of Corona pandemic and released him on several conditions.

According to MADA researcher, a force of the occupation intelligence and the Israeli Police, as part of the arrests campaign of several Jerusalemite leaderships and figures, raided at 5:50AM on Tuesday 5^th May 2020 the house of the Programs Presenter of MAAN TV and Al-Ghad TV, journalist Tamer Mustafa Mohammad Obeidat (33 years old), located in Beit Hanina in the occupied city of Jerusalem. They searched the house and missed its contents for almost an entire hour. Then they arrested the journalist Obeidat and took him to what is known as “Rooms No. 4” at Moscobiya Investigation Center in Jerusalem. He arrived at 7:00AM, and two hours later (at 9:00) the journalist was subject to an investigation about his relationship with some people who have been arrested on the same morning, providing aids and food supplies to the needy during Ramadan given the spread of Corona pandemic and the party financing such aids. At exactly 12:00PM in the afternoon, journalist Tamer Obeidat was released on conditions including: Not to communicate with a number of Palestinian figures in the city of Jerusalem for a month, and to respond to the Israeli intelligence request to him at any time for a decision and attend at it if he was asked to attend for investigation or trial, and that he would pay a fine of 10,000 NIS (about 3000 USD) if he breaches these conditions.

(6^th May) Some Palestinian police officers prevented Mohammad Ayyad from covering the events that have taken place in Abu Deis and deleted the material he had filmed.

According to MADA researcher, Mohammad Jamal Mohammad Al-Halabiya-Ayyad (30 years old), from Abu Deis, in Jerusalem, works as a freelance journalist, at around 12:15 after midnight on Tuesday/Wednesday 5^th June 2020, arrived the crossroads of Abu Deis University, after hearing heavy fire shooting. He saw a gathering of 50 young man and 10 police officers. He started filming to make a report to “Al-Qastal” Network. One minute later, an additional force of the police arrived (more than five police and civil vehicles), while Ayyad continued filming and the police started demanding the citizens to clear the streets. Ayyad was the only journalist in the location, and while he was standing on a relatively high spot, 5 meters away from the citizens and police filming the events, a police officer in civilian clothing and small military hat on his head approached him and took his cell phone. When Ayyad told him he was a journalist, the officer asked him to show his press card but he did not have it then. The officer stepped away towards the gathering of the police officers while the journalist Ayyad followed him to take his cell phone back. In the meantime, one of the volunteers of the emergency committee members intervened knowing both parties (journalist Ayyad and some of the police officers). He confirmed to the officer that Ayyad was a journalist indeed and the officer addressed him “you just want to film things the way you want” and soon later he asked him to see the video clips he filmed. After seizing his cell phone for five minutes, he gave it back after he watched what he had filmed and deleted it.

(10^th May) The Israeli occupation police and intelligence summoned the journalist Christine Rinawi and gave her a decision issued by the Israeli Minister of Interior on renewing the closure period and preventing Palestine TV from working in the occupied city of Jerusalem for another six months in addition to questioning her on the work of some of her colleagues.

According to MADA reserahcer, Christine Khaled Waleed Rinawi (31 years old), from Jerusalem, a reporter of Palestine TV, has received on 10^th May 2020 a phone call from “Captain Baseel” at Moscobiya Israeli Police Center to come to what is known as “Rooms No. 4” at 4:00PM on the same day. The journalist Christine Rinawi asked to postpone the date because it was late for her, and the Israeli officer asked her to come at 10:00AM on the following morning (11^th May 2020). After the phone call, Christine Al-Rinawi (on the same day, Sunday 10^th May 2020) contacted the lawyer of the Prisoners Club, Mufeed Al-Haj, who tried to find out why she was summoned by the Israeli police and intelligence. The captain refused to tell him on the phone and asked him to tell Christine to come at 10:00AM on the following morning as she was informed. At 10:00AM, on Monday, 11^th May 2020, Christine Rinawi arrived to “Rooms No. 4” where an investigator took a picture of her and collected her fingerprints then gave her a decision issued by the Israeli Minister of Interior Gilad Erdan on renewing the closure of Palestine TV Office and banning all of its activities across the city of Jerusalem for another 6 months. After she was given the decision, another Israeli investigator questioned her about the Jerusalemite journalist Lana Kamel and the nature of her relationship with Palestine TV since she was broadcasting programs on Palestine TV screen. Rinawi replied that the journalist Lana works for a production company and that this company sells some programs to Palestine TV. Then the investigator asked for Lana’s phone number from Christine and registered it. Having finished all questioned about Lana completely, at 11:45, the journalist Christine Rinawi was allowed to leave.

It should be noted that this summons is the fifth that Christine Rinawi had received since December 2019, as Palestine TV office was closed and prevented from working and operating in the city of Jerusalem.

(11^th May) The photojournalist Kareem Khamaisa was injured by a rubber bullet fired at him by the occupation soldiers while he was covering the withdrawal of the occupation forces from Kobar, Ramallah after raiding some of the houses there.

According to MADA researcher, Kareem Khamaisa (21 years old), a freelance photojournalist, headed at an early hour on the morning of 11^th May 2020 to Kobar in Ramallah to cover the raiding of the occupation forces and demolition of the family house of Birzeit University lecturer Widad Al-Barghouthi (the mother of prisoner Qassam Al-Barghouthi). Khamaisa headed up a hill overlooking the main street of Kobar to cover the withdrawal of the occupation forces from the town that witnessed clashes between the citizens and the occupation soldiers especially when they were withdrawing. The young men threw stones at the occupation forces as well as Molotov cocktails while some of the soldiers stepped out their vehicles and fired gas bombs, rubber bullets and sound bombs heavily towards the young men to disperse them. While he was filming the events, he got shot in the left knee and as a result headed to Palestine Medical Complex where he stayed for half an hour to receive the necessary treatment and do some checks to make sure his health condition was stable and leave the hospital.

(11^th May) The Islamic Jihad Movement arrested the journalist Yousef Khalil Hassan twice and questioned him in connection with a press report he had prepared on the corruption of distributing aids to the poor families in Gaza.

According to MADA researcher, the freelance journalist Yousef Khalil Naem Hassan (25 years old), from Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, received on Monday 11^th May 2020 a summons from the Internal Security Services in Gaza, on the background of publishing a filmed investigation (video) on Sunday 10^th May 2020 on his Facebook page, on suspicions of corruption in the aids coming to the poor families in Gaza Strip (especially about some of the persons belonging to the Islamic Jihad Movement that handles the distribution of humanitarian aids in Rafah). Khalil Hassan, the father of journalist Yousef, confirmed that his son was arrested in an anonymous place by Al-Quds Brigades, the Military Wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Rafah on the background of the same investigation, on Monday 11^th May 2020, before he went to the Internal Security headquarters (on the same case that day). On the following day, the father received a phone call from the Internal Security asking him to come to the headquarters and bring along his son’s cell phone. At 4:00PM, he went to the headquarters and brought the cell phone. He sat outside the investigation rooms and shortly after went back home without seeing or knowing anything about his son. It was found later that he was handed over from the “Brigades security” to the “Internal Security Services”. He was detained again by the Brigades Security in an anonymous place. On the same day at night, as he learned later from Yousef, he was forced to record a clip of video in which he apologizes for the content of the press investigation he prepared and published. The Brigades Security accused Yousef that he mentioned one of the Brigades leaders in the press investigation and accused him of corruption, although he did not refer to any specific person directly or explicitly. Yousef remained arrested by the Brigades Security for four days, and he was released without any intervention from any security or governmental party on the grounds that he is a member of Al-Jihad Movement (which arrested him) and the Movement will protect him. On Tuesday night, 26^th May 2020, Yousef received a phone call from an officer who works for Al-Quds Brigades Security, asking him to turn himself in. At 9:00AM on the following morning, (Wednesday 27^th May 2020), he was detained and did not go back home until his wife tweeted on Facebook on the evening of that day saying that he was abducted and asking for intervention to know his place of arrest. Yousef remained in detention until the evening of Thursday 28^th May 2020. On the afternoon of that day, a group of Al-Jihad Movement arrived Yousef’s family house to close his case. The Brigades Security referred Yousef to the Attorney General in Gaza. On Monday 1^st June 2020, Yousef posted on his Facebook page a 6-minutes video clip showing the details of his arrest.

(12^th May) One of the Occupation soldiers assaulted the photojournalist Nasser Ishtayya, not to mention preventing him and the cameraman Majdi Ishtayya from covering events in Yabod.

According to MADA researcher, Majdi Mohammad Ishtayya (33 years old), a cameraman who works for the American Press Agency, and the cameraman, freelance journalist Nasser Sulaiman Ishtayya (50 years old), have arrived at around 10:00AM on Tuesday morning, corresponding 12^th May 2020, to Yabod in Jenin, northern the West Bank, to cover the raiding and demolitions of some houses in the town carried out by the Israeli occupation forces, in search of a Palestinian that believed to have thrown stone from the roof of a building at one of the soldiers leading to his death. The moment the cameramen Majdi and Nasser arrived the town, they stopped at 100 meters away from the occupation soldiers and their vehicles, stepped out off their vehicle, put on their uniform marked with Press that is internationally recognized, they started taking pictures of the military vehicles from that distance. The soldiers saw them and shouted at them to leave the location. The cameramen Nasser and Majdi stepped back a little bit, and began taking pictures again. A group of soldiers approached them and one of the soldiers fired a sound bomb at them. In the meantime, Majdi has arrived near one of the houses entrances, while a soldier approached the cameraman Nasser and assaulted him, started kicking him which made him fall to the ground and get bruises in the chest and shoulder. In the meantime, Majdi tries to film and document the assault against his colleague, but the soldier stopped the assault when he saw him and started shouting at them to leave the location and stop filming.

(12^th May) The occupation soldiers fired sound and gas bombs deliberately and directly at four of the journalists while they were covering the raiding of Yabod on the evening of 14^th May 2020 which led to their suffocation.

According to MADA researcher, the journalists Tareq Husni Sulaiman Abu Zaid Al-Horani (38 years old), the cameraman of Palestine TV in Jenin, Mahmoud Younes Ibrahim Samoudi (41years old) the reporter of Palestine TV in Jenin, Mujahed Mohammad Saed Al-Saadi (31 years old) a freelance cameraman, and Mohammad Ali Abdelqader Ateeq (28 years old) a freelance journalist as well, have arrived at 10:00PM on Tuesday to Yabod in Jenin to cover the raiding carried out by the army. They headed to one of the houses’ roof in Al-Salamah Neighborhood in the town noting that the occupation forces were 20 meters away from them. The journalists informed the soldiers more than once than once about themselves while they were at the roof not to mention they were in the press uniform. After about ten minutes, the soldiers pointed their guns at the journalists as their laser lights were pointed towards their chests. They started shouting and asked them to leave the area. Few minutes later, the soldiers again pointed their laser lights at the journalists from several directions. The four journalists lay down on the ground, and immediately the soldiers fired several sound bombs towards the house roof directly. The journalists shouted in Arabic, English and Hebrew that they were journalists and the soldiers fired several gas and tear gas bombs at them. The journalist Tareq Al-Horani tries to throw away the gas bombs from the house roof, but there was a lot of heavy gas he could not do it which led to their severe suffocation. The journalist Tareq fainted and fell to the ground (on the roof), his camera also fell and its exterior screen broke as well as the camera holder (he was transmitting the events live). Tareq was treated in the field by the house owners who were on the roof and they left the location half an hour later after the occupation forces withdrawal.

(13^th May) A force of the Israeli occupation army detained the cameraman Musab Shawer and deleted the pictures he had taken for a march that took place in Hebron.

According to MADA researcher, the photojournalist Musab Shawer who works for Al-Hadath Newspaper, went on the evening of 13^th May 2020 to the old town in Hebron, to film a peaceful protest organized by the Palestinian citizens against the seizure of the occupation lands around the Sanctuary of Abraham by the occupation authorities, as a prelude to the establishment of routes for settlers to have access to the Sanctuary of Abraham. The march was launched in front of Al-Takya at around 9:00 and headed towards the Mosque, then to the old municipality building in Hebron. In the meantime, the occupation soldiers started warning the citizens and asking them to move away and disperse. Soon after, a group of soldiers attacked one of the citizens and assaulted him, then took him to a military point of the army in the city. While the journalist Musab Shawer was filming the march and the events, a group of soldiers headed towards him and ordered him to stop filming. They took him to a military checkpoint established by the army in that area, where one of them, in a military uniform, informed him that he was an intelligence officer and introduced himself as “Captain Mousa” and told him that “the law prohibits filming”. He asked Musab to delete the filmed material, but the latter refused and the soldiers pulled him camera and deleted the material, and then asked him to leave.

(19^th May) The journalist Alaa Al-Zaro was directly threatened by the Palestinian Police to stop raising the arrest of journalist Anas Howari, who was arrested by the police, through the social media.

According to MADA researcher, the journalist Alaa Al-Zaro, from Hebron, works for Al-Hurriya Radio and Watan Agency, a member within a whatsapp group of journalists called “The Journalists Club”. Among the members of this group is the police media spokesperson, Coloner Loay Irzeqat. As a result of arresting the journalist Anas Howari by the police, there a discussion in the group between the journalists and the police media spokesperson that ended with a serious demand to give a reasonable reason why the journalist Howari was arrested. Days after that discussion, the journalist Alaa asked the same question about Anas Howari and the reason behind his continuous arrest. The discussion started again between the journalists and the police spokesperson. Three days later, the Palestinian police spokesperson called Al-Hurriya Radio Board Chairman, the line manager of journalist Alaa, and asked him why would she raise the subject of Anas Howari and defend him, the Chairman replied that this is her work and profession and that he will never tell her what to write or how to express her opinion. At the same time, the police contacted one of Alaa’s colleagues in the radio to send her a message that arresting the journalist Anas has nothing to do with him being a journalist, and that the matter is partisan and he explained to her that the police asked about her political belonging and intentions and advised her (because he cared about her and did not want her to get in troubles) to stop asking about such cases. This caused pressure even to her family as they did not want their daughter to get in troubles.

(1-30 May) Facebook Company blocked and closed several pages and accounts of media websites, as well as some pages belonging to Palestinian journalists claiming “they violate the Facebook privacy criteria”.

This series of closures has affected the journalists listed below:

Samer Ameen Saed Khwaira (38 years old), from Nablus, works as an anchor for “Hayat” Radio, based in Nablus, he was prevented from posting on three Facebook pages he is an admin in: Journalist Samer Khwaira, Hayat Radio, and Holy Quran, without a prior and clear warning. He was also prevented from live broadcasting on his official account, as well as from sending messages through the Messenger between 5^th May – 21^st May, 2020, claiming he posts prohibited news and terminology according to the Facebook policy, such as news including the terms (prisoner or wounded). Later, he was allowed to live broadcast but is still prevented from posting on the above mentioned pages and also from sending any messages through the messenger, noting that his personal account has 900 followers.
Ameed Sami Dwaikat (38 years old), from Nablus, works as an anchor for Tareq Al-Mahabba Radio based in Nablus. The Facebook Administration prevented him from posting and commenting or even sending messages through messenger, between 5 and 16 of May, 2020, without any prior notification. It should be noted that this is not the first time he is prevented from live broadcasting, due to old posts he published more than five years ago. The block also included his personal account which has 5000 followers and the official page which has 22500 followers.
Sami Saed Abdelsae *36 years old), from Tulkarem, a reporter of An-Najah TV based in Nablus, and a field researcher for MADA. The Facebook Company has closed more than one account belonging to him. The first which had 5000 friends and 17000 followers was permanently closed on 5^th May 2020. Four days later, (on 9^th May 2020), two other accounts for him were also closed permanently. This made him create a new account named (Abu Ibrahim Alsae) and avoided posting any news or political material so that it would not be closed.
Emad Jabreen (38 years old), from Bethlehem, a freelance journalist. Facebook Company closed his personal account which has 5200 followers permanently on 5^th May 2020 without prior notification.
Zaher Abu Hussein (65 years old), from Nablus, the director of the Media Department at the Colonization & Wall Resistance Commission. Facebook Company has closed his personal account on 6^th May 2020, as he received a message from Facebook Administration asking him to confirm his identity. It should be noted that the closed account had about 5000 friends and 25000 followers. This is the sixth time this account is closed.
Mahmoud Barham, from Nablus, the Director of MAAN TV, northern West Bank. Facebook Company has closed his account for a month starting from 6^th May 2020. This included not receiving and sending messages through the Messenger noting that the closed account had about 1000 followers. This is the third time this account is closed.
Ali Sadeq Saleem Samoudi (53 years old), from Jenin, a reporter of Al-Jazeera TV and Al-Quds Newspaper, and a cameraman of Reuters. His account which had 108,000 followers was closed on 5^th May 2020, for three days, claiming he violates the policy of Facebook. This is the fourth time his personal account is closed.
Firas Ahmad Taninah (45 years old), from Ramallah, the Director of An-Najah TV. His verified account was closed by Facebook on 6^th May 2020 claiming he breaches “Facebook” standards and policy. Later, the Company claimed that the account was closed due to “default in algorithms” but it was not activated noting that it has 4998 friends and 1200 followers.
Mujahed Salem Al-Saadi (38 years old), from Jenin Camp, a reporter of Palestine Today TV, his account was closed on 6^th May 2020 claiming he violates Facebook policy and criteria. His account is still closed until the moment (end of May).
Muhannad Mohammad Hafeth Al-Sharif (31 years old), from Hebron, works as an anchor for Manbar Al-Hurriya Radio based in Hebron. He received a message from Facebook Administration on 6^th May 2020 that his account will be permanently disabled (for the first time) claiming that he violates Facebook criteria. His closed account had 4000 followers.
Mohammad Ali Abdelqader Ateeq (28 years old), from Burqen, Jenin, a reporter and freelance journalist who works for several parties. His account was closed on 4^th May 2020. He received a message from Facebook Administration asking him to verify the user identity. A week later, he was officially notified that his account is permanently closed claiming he “violates Facebook criteria”. After a while, Mohammad Ateeq tried to create more than one account but they were all disabled few days after. His account had 5000 friends and 10,000 followers.
Sari Jaradat (34 years old), from Saeer, Hebrom, a reporter for Refugees Gate. His account was disabled on 27^th May 2020, as he received a message from Facebook Administration asking him to verify his (the user’s) identity. Then his account was disabled permanently noting that his account had 5000 friends and 2700 followers.

(1-30/May) Facebook Company has closed not less than 31 accounts and pages belonging to journalists and local media institutions. This has also taken place in Gaza Strip, claiming they “violate the privacy criteria of Facebook”.

According to MADA researcher in Gaza Strip, Facebook Company closed the accounts of these journalists without any prior notification. Some have received messages through the email and through Facebook stating that closure or restriction on posting, as a result of “violating the privacy criteria of Facebook”.

The closures implemented by Facebook Administration, during May, included a number of media outlets pages followed by thousands, namely: Palestine Media Facebook Page followed by (22,000), Palestine Online Facebook Page, followed by (10,000), and Pictures of Palestine Instagram Page followed by 10,000, without receiving any prior notification of closure.

The campaign of closures affected a great group of journalists in Gaza Strip: Alaa Abdelfattah Al-Namla (freelance journalist), Mohammad Majed Abu Duqqah (cameraman of Sharq Media Network), Saeed Al-Taweel Radwan (freelance journalist), Abdelhakeem Abu Rayyash (freelance cameraman), Ahmad Al-Naqah (freelance journalist), Mohammad Abu Redah (freelance journalist), Wael Abu Omar (freelance journalist), Mohammad Farawnah (freelance journalist), Mohammad Jarbou (editor of Sabaq 24 Agency), Mohammad Al-Jamal (reporter of Al-Ayyam Newspaper in Rafah), Rabee Abu Naqerah (reporter of Palestine Newspaper in Rafah), Mahmoud Al-Khawaja (coordinator of Palestine Today TV programs), Mohammad Washah (reporter of Al-Jazeera Live TV), Mohammad Abdelaziz Al-Najjar (freelance journalist), Ismail Al-Ghoul (freelance journalist), Ismail Abu Omar (reporter of Al-Aqsa Radio), Abdelqader Al-Sharef (freelance journalist), Osama Al-Kahlout (reporter of An-Najah TV), Mahmoud Hanniya (editor of Al-Risala Newspaper), Jihad Baroud (director of Eid Media Network), Rami Abu Taima (reporter of Al-Quds Today TV), Bilal Awad (freelance cameraman), Muath Miqdad (editor of Al-Aqsa Media Netowkr), Mohammad Abu Hayyah (editor of Al-Aqsa Network), Hussein Zaqout (Monitor for Al-Aqsa Network), Mahmoud Bassam Al-Jamal (freelance cameraman), his posting was restricted for three days, Atiya Darwish (cameraman of Al-Rai Government Agency in Gaza), Amer Al-Amour (reporter of Al-Shaab Radio in Khan Younes), his posting was restricted for 60 days, Mohammad Najeeb Al-Jbour (editor of Kanan News Network), Iyad Hassan Abu Reedah (editor for Al-Aqsa Radio), Abdelraouf Sameer Shaath (freelance cameraman).

(25^th May) The journalist Ihab Al-Jariri, the Director of FM24, based in Ramallah, was subjected to incitement and defamation through a Facebook page close to the Palestinian political system in the name of “Salaries and Promotions in the State of Palestine-Main Page” on the background of his opinions and criticism of the Palestinian Government performance with connection to the outbreak of Corona Virus.

According to MADA researcher, the page “Salaries and Promotions of the State of Palestine – Main Page”, on 25^th May 2020, posted “To Ihab Al-Jariri: a misguided person is nothing but desecrate and miserable” attached with a photo of journalist Ihab Al-Jariri. The post included incitement insulting and offensive statements such as “the paid broadcaster: and “the one with the known agendas who works only for the Shekel”. Furthermore, the page also attacked FM24 Radio and described it as “part of the team instructed by the Coordinator (the Israeli Occupation Army Coordinator in the West Bank) to start internal battles between the people and the Government so that Netanyahu can annex the lands and implement the deal of the century”. The said page continue to attack Al-Jariri in the same post and accused him of receiving information from the Israeli Coordinator, as well as receiving the financing of “the internal unrest”. It also described Al-Jariri as the “drunk” and the radio he works for as “the radio of strife and corruption”. On the same day (25^th May) the page attacked Al-Jariri with another post titled (questions for Al-Jariri … Will he answer?!) saying that what “Mr. Al-Jariri is doing is following the instructions of specific parties aligned with the occupation, and the horn of the coordinator in attacking the Government, which we may disagree with but never on”. The page accused Al-Jariri of receiving funding of 800,000 Euros from the Europeans and Americans to open 24FM Radio in Jerusalem, considering it a city of peace. It also accused him of signing a document describing the Palestinian factions of being terrorists. The page continued attacking the journalist Al-Jariri as it posted on the following day (26 May) a new inciting post accusing him of mocking the Late President Yasser Arafat and President Mahmoud Abbas as well as the security services and Palestinian Government. On 27^th May, it posted a video of Al-Jariri thanking the personnel and security officers, which was basically a positive post for Al-Jariri, but it attached it with a comment “after those words …. Thank you … and if you any rights … you will always find our address with the Judiciary!”

The attack against Al-Jariri came as a result of a post Al-Jariri published on May 23 under the title “A Government that is always against the norm” in which he criticized the performance of the Palestinian government in light of Corona crisis, whether in relation to the file of Palestinian workers in Israel, or Wakfet Izz Fund, which was established to compensate the affected, or in connection with the checks of the workers, and the performance and management of the health minister of the case.

The incitement and attack against Al-JAriri across many closed groups has outpaced the WhatsApp application, as previously mentioned. It was not known who was behind the incitement and the attack on Al-Jariri, or who is running the page, especially since the admins of the page that launched the incitement campaign are in 3 different regions, Gaza Strip, Palestinian territories 1948 and abroad specifically France, but they’re definitely groups close to the Palestinian Political System”. Al-Jariri went to the Public Prosecution in Ramallah on 27^th May to file a complaint and follow up with the case legally, even though he is not so sure this will lead to a result since the officials are outside the West Bank, according to the knowledge of the Public Prosecution, where the prosecution promised to do its best in this matter, knowing that the matter is not under its control.

(24^th May) Some settlers have attacked the staff of “Russia Today” TV while covering the appearance of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is accused of corruption cases, before the Israeli Central Court at Salahuddin Street in the occupied city of Jerusalem, where he made a statement before his supporters and the media before entering the courtroom.

According to MADA researcher, great numbers of the Israeli police and security forces have closed today 24^th May 2020 the surrounding of the Israeli Central Court, eastern Jerusalem, before the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears before the Court. They built iron roadblocks behind of which great numbers of settlers, the far-right politics and the journalists have gathered to cover the event. The staff of Russia Today TV, composed of the TV reporter Dalia Esam Al-Nimri (36 years old), and the cameraman Ashraf Ayed Dawoud Al-Shwaiki (33 years old), was also present. The TV staff asked the occupation police to pass the barriers placed by the Israeli police, but it refused and asked them to remain behind the berries amid the crowds of settlers and extremists. They stayed from 1:00PM until 3:00PM, when the trial ended and Netanyahu left the court. When the journalist Al-Nimri tried to document the closure of her report, some of the settlers started disrupted and provoking her by covering the camera lens with the Israeli flag and hold it above her head, not to mention cursing her and her coworker the cameraman Ashraf Al-Shwaiki. Moreover, some of them attacked her, pushed her and asked her to leave the location. Dalia Al-Nimri tried to move them with her hand, and some of them assaulted her coworker Al-Shwaiki with their hands and legs forcing him to use the tripod to move them away. Although this assault before some Israeli police officers, they did not intervene until they were called by Russia Today TV reporter Dalia Al-Nimri asking them to open the iron barriers so they can be able to exit amongst the settlers. One of the police officers approached and asked her how was she and her colleague assaulted, and asked them to go to the Israeli police center in Neve Yaakov to file a complaint. He told them that once they arrive (the officer) will explain to everyone in the center the circumstances of assault. At 3:30PM, on that day, Ashraf Al-Shwaiki and Dalia Al-Nimri went to the Israeli Police Center located in Beit Hanina, northern Jerusalem, to file a complaint against the settlers who assaulted them. However, the police claimed that it did not know of the incident and that it will open the cameras in the area to find out what happened in details. The reporter and cameraman of Russia Today will follow up the matter legally and will file an official complaint at the Israeli court against the settlers who assaulted them.

(27^th May) Associated Press Agency has dismissed its cameraman in the occupied Palestinian Territories, Iyad Hamad, “due to a complaint filed by the Palestinian police against him at the Agency, alleging that he incited against the security services and attempted to cause chaos”, as Hamad said, which appears to be linked to his participation in a protest organized in Bethlehem against the arrest of the journalist, Anas Howari.

According to MADA researcher, the cameraman of Associated Press in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Iyad Nimr Abdelqader Hamad (63 years old), from Bethlehem, along with a group of journalists have organized a sit-in on Tuesday 19^th May 2020 in front of the President Headquarters in Bethlehem, after receiving information from the Agency he works for that “the Palestinian Police has filed a complaint against him”. Shortly before this, an intense argument took place in the whatsapp journalists’ group, journalist Iyad Hamad was member in the group, with the Palestinian police spokesperson Loay Irzeiqat who is also a member in the group, on arresting the journalist Anas AL-Howari in Tulkarem. Days after this incident, specifically at 3:30PM on Wednesday 27^th May 2020, the journalist Iyad Hamad received a phone call from the Agency Management through which he was informed that he is suspended for good from the Agency based on a “Complaint filed against him by the Palestinian Police”. According to their claim, the complaint included “acts breaching public order”. On the same day (Wednesday 27^th May 2020), the journalist Hamad received an email from the Agency accusing him (according to the police claims) of several violations, including attempting to cause chaos and incitement and threatening to set in fire rubber tires in front of the court in Bethlehem in objection of the trial Anas Howari who as arrested by the Palestinian police after he was assaulted at the entrance of Anabta in Tulkarem. It also included accusing him of calling for a protest in front of the security services in Bethlehem, as well as inciting against the security services and their work. The Colonel Loay Irzeqat, the police spokesperson, denied this claim categorically in a word he had with MADA. It is noteworthy that the journalist Iyad Hamad worked with the aforementioned agency for nearly 20 years, during which he covered events in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and in the Libyan, Tunisian and Egyptian Republics, and during his career path he was subjected to numerous assaults by the occupation army.

(29^th May) The photojournalist Nidal IShtayya was injured by rubber bullet fired at him by one of the occupation soldiers while he was covering events in Kafr Qaddum, Qalqilya.

According to MADA researcher, Nidal Shafiq Taher Ishtayya (50 years old), from Salem Village, Nablus, a cameraman at Xinhua News Agency, has arrived at around 12:10PM, on Friday afternoon to Kuft Qaddum in Qalqilya to cover the weekly march on protesting against the settlement and the continued closure of the entrance of the town by the occupation army for years. When he arrived Kufr Qaddum, the occupation soldier have already raided the village half an hour before the usual march started. They sieged the Mosque located in the middle of the village where the march usually begins. There were around ten soldiers firing rubber coated metal bullets and tear gas bombs. The soldiers started chasing some of the young men of the town who threw stones at them. When they approached the Zakat Committee headquarters in the village, the young men started throwing stones again at the soldiers who fired back randomly. This resulted in the injury of journalist Nidal Ishtayya with a rubber bullet in his left thigh. Note that at that moment he was at a distance of about 100 meters away from the soldiers and about 50 meters away from the demonstrators. Immediately, three young men took him to one of the houses waiting for an ambulance because there was no vehicle or ambulance in the place. He was given the first aid, but the cameraman Shtayyeh was still in great pain, which prompted him to leave the place and go to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, where he was provided with the necessary treatments. The doctor dressed the place of the injury and advised him to rest at home for three days.

(31^st May) The Israeli occupation forces gave journalist Rose Al-Zaro a summons for investigation while she was covering a sit-in in the city of Jerusalem on the occasion of memorial of Faisal Al-Husseini.

According to MADA researcher, the occupation police and intelligence raided on 31^st May 2020 a sit-in organized in front of the Orient House, Sheikh Jarrah Neighborhood, on the 19^th memorial of Faisal Al-Husseini. The occupation police, when raided the sit-in, arrested Jerusalem Governor Adnan Gaith, the Prison Club Director Nasser Qaws, and member of Jerusalem Fateh Movement Awad Al-Salaimah, as well as one of those taking part in the event, the former employee of the Orient House Isaq Al-Qawasmah. The police also gave the others summons for investigation by the intelligence claiming they breach the Israeli sovereignty and attempt to impose thePalestinian sovereignty. The summons was given to journalist Rose Al-Zaro, the preparer of programs at Voice of Palestine Radio in Jerusalem, to go to the Israeli intelligence for investigation purposes on Tuesday 2^nd May 2020.

(31^st May) The occupation police prevented journalist Sondos Owais from covering the events of opening Al-Aqsa Mosque after it was closed for 69 days due to Corona Pandemic. They told her she was arrested and summoned her to the police center in Jerusalem and prevented her to access Al-Aqsa Mosque for a week.

According to MADA researcher, the Islamic Waqf Department, at 3:00AM, on 31^st May 2020, re-opened the doors of Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied city of Jerusalem after it was closed for 69 days due to corona pandemic. Three gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque were opened: the Gates of Chain, Hattah, and Al-Majles. At 7:30AM, the Occupation Police opened Al-Magharbah Gate for the Israeli settlers who usually raid Al-Aqsa Mosque starting from there. When Al-Magharbah Gate was opened, the prayers started exclaiming Takbirs to the lens of journalists who were documenting the moment. On the other hand, the occupation soldiers were trying to keep the Palestinian citizens away from Al-Magharbah Gate and the Mosque squares to allow settlers to perform their Talmud rituals. They also tries to prevent the journalists to film the events. The freelance journalist Sondons Abdelrahman Owais (23 years old), who was there, asked an officer of the occupation police to let her film the events at Al-Qibli Mosque after she informed him that who she was and showed him her press card but the Israeli officer refused to let her film. He asked her to leave the area and go to the squares of the Dome of the Rock, and told her that he does not recognize her international card and only recognizes the Israeli press card. Sondos tried to talk to him to allow her to film but he refused and addressed her “you are under arrest now”. Sondos Owais tries to clarify things for fear of being arrested, however the occupation officer asked her to go to Beit Al-Yaho Police Center located in the Gate of Chain at 8:30AM on the morning of that day. Indeed, she immediately went to the police center where she waited for fifteen minutes. She then met an occupation intelligence officer called Yuram who informed her that she was accused of incitement and causing riot inside Al-Aqsa Mosque, and this is why she was asked to come to the police center. The Journalist Sondos explained to the officer the facts and details of what had happened and that she had only requested to film, but the Israeli officer ended the investigation with her within fifteen minutes and ordered her to sign her statement and released her on condition that she return again to the police station on Saturday (6^th June 2020), for investigation. He also informed her she is prevented from accessing Al-Aqsa Mosque, its halls, and gates for a week, and threatened her with further period of being prevented from accessing the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which may last for six months.