Ramallah- Dec 9th 2024- Israeli occupation forces and authorities continued to commit crimes against media freedoms in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, more than a year after the onset of the genocide against Palestinians.
MADA monitored and documented a total of seventy-two (72) violations against journalists and media freedoms during the month of November, most of which were committed by Israeli occupation forces, with sixty-Five (65) violations distributed as follows: twenty-two (22) in the West Bank and forty-three (43) in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian authorities in Gaza were responsible for four (4) attacks, while social media was responsible for one (1) violation. Other entities were responsible for two (2) additional violations.
The documented crimes and violations in Gaza, which began in October 2023, continue to this day. Israeli occupation forces and authorities continue to commit horrific violations and crimes against Palestinian journalists and media freedoms, the most prominent of which was the killing of eighteen (18) journalists during the past month.
Israeli Violations:
Israeli forces and authorities committed a total of sixty-five (65) violations during the month of December, accounting for ninety percent (90%) of all documented violations during the month. The most severe and brutal of these violations were the continued killings of journalists in the Gaza Strip, where the number of martyrs from the media movement reached eighteen (18) journalists. They were targeted with the aim of media blackout and preventing the remaining journalists from continuing their media mission of conveying the tragic events and horrific crimes taking place to the rest of the world.
Israeli forces bombed and destroyed the homes of seven (7) journalists in Gaza, including journalist DARWEESH AL-RAN, YAHYA AL-MADHOUN, MOHANNAD KHALED, ALLA' AL-DIN BARHOUM, HASSAN AL-JADDI, as well as imprisoned journalist MOHAMMED AL-BISYOUNI, and WAEL ABU QUFFA.
In addition to the killings, Israeli forces physically assaulted five (5) journalists. “Al-Arabiya TV” cameraman RABEE’ AL-MOUNEER was injured by shrapnel in his stomach while covering an Israeli raid on the town of “Qabatiya” in Jenin. Also, BCB radio reporter SAMER AL-ZA'ANIN and “Yemen TV” reporter ABD AL-HADI FARHAT were injured by shrapnel resulting from an Israeli helicopter targeting a tent for displaced people near the journalists’ tent at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital. Additionally, “Al-Jazeera” cameraman HOSSAM SHABAT was injured by shrapnel during coverage in the “Sabrin” neighborhood while fully dressed in press attire. Moreover, “Al-Jazeera Live” reporter TALAL AL-AROQI was injured in his hand, right foot, head, and face while covering events in the “Nuseirat” refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.
During the past month, seventeen (17) cases of targeted prevention of media coverage were documented, eleven (11) of which occurred in Gaza. Israeli forces targeted journalists including ANWAR ABU ESLAIH, KHAMEES AL-RIFI, AHMED AL-MAQADMA, ISSA SIAM, SALMA AL-QUDUMI, and ODAI ABU ZEID by shooting them with live ammunition from a “quadcopters” during coverage of the aftermath of the Israeli aggression in “Nuseirat” camp. Israeli artillery also targeted the “Al-Jazeera Live” crew, including reporter TALAL AL-AROQI and cameraman MOHAMMED AL-QURNAWI, as well as independent journalists FADIL MAGHARI, SAID ABU NABHAN, and KHAMEES AL-RIFI.
Israeli soldiers targeted several journalists with live ammunition during their coverage of an Israeli raid on “Tulkarem Refugee Camp” preventing them from continuing their coverage. These journalists included independent journalist SOHEIB EID ABU DIAK, journalist ROAA ARAFAT DREADY, cameraman RAGHAD QASRAWI (both of whom work for “Palestine Post”), and “Quds News Network” reporter SHADIYA BANI SHAMSA.
Israeli authorities arrested journalist TAWFIQ AL-SAYED SALEEM while he was passing through a military checkpoint during his forced displacement from “Beit Lahiya”, and his family was unable to locate his place of detention. Additionally, Israeli forces detained the crew of “Palestine TV” consisting of reporter AMIR SHAHIN, cameraman SALEEM BESHARAT, and driver MONTASIR ABU IRRA during their coverage in a village in the northern Jordan Valley to prepare a report on demolitions in the village. They were detained for ten (10) hours. Israeli authorities also detained cameramen WAHHAJ BANI MAFLAH and SAQER KHADER at the “Al-Karama” Bridge, interrogated them, searched their phones, and deleted some materials from cameraman WAHHAJ’s phone. Moreover, they imposed customs duties on the photography equipment of journalist SAQER KHADER.
Furthermore, Israeli forces prevented journalists KARIM KHAMAISEH and HADI SABARNA from covering the raid in the city of “Al-Bireh”, and deleted footage from “Al-Ouda TV” cameraman YOUSEF SHAHADA’s phone. They also prevented “Quds News Network” reporter ABDULLAH BAHSH, “US Agency” cameraman NASSER ISHTEYA, “Palestine Post” reporter MOJAHED TABANJA, and “European Agency” cameraman ALAA' BADARNEH from covering events at the “Deir Sharaf” Checkpoint by shining laser beams at them.
Additionally, Israeli authorities decided to extend the closure of the “Al-Jazeera Network” Office in Ramallah for forty-five (45) more days after the initial closure period expired.
Palestinian Violations:
The number of documented Palestinian violations decreased during November to four (4) violations, accounting for six percent (6%) of the total documented violations. In contrast, MADA had recorded six (6) Palestinian violations in the West Bank during the preceding month of October.
MADA documented a total of four (4) violations in the Gaza Strip. These included actions by members of the Investigative Unit of the Ministry of Interior in Gaza who prevented AFP cameraman MO'TASEM ADLY and “Alam” Radio reporter MOHAMMED MANSOUR from covering a protest against rising prices in the region. Additionally, the officials forced them to delete the captured materials from their phones.
Social Media Violations:
Social media violations during November were limited to a single incident in which “Instagram” a platform owned by Meta Inc., permanently closed the account of “Al Jazeera” reporter ANAS AL-SHARIF. The account had approximately one million two hundred thousand (1,200,000) followers.
Martyrs of Media during November
|
Name of Journalist |
Date of Martyrdom |
Workplace |
|
|
1 |
BARAA ALI DGHAISH |
1st Nov. 2024 |
Freelance cameraman |
|
2 |
BILAL MOHAMMED RAJAB |
1st Nov. 2024 |
Al-Quds TV |
|
3 |
ABDELRAHMAN BAHAR |
6th Nov. 2024 |
Ajel Palestine News Agency |
|
4 |
KHALID WALEED ABU ZIRR |
7th Nov. 2024 |
Amwaj TV, Sawt Al-Shabab Radio |
|
5 |
ALZAHRA’ ABU SUKHAIL |
8th Nov. 2024 |
News Media Network |
|
6 |
AHMED ABU SUKHAIL |
8th Nov. 2024 |
News Media Network |
|
7 |
MUSTAFA KHADER BAHAR |
9th Nov. 2024 |
Ajel Palestine News Agency |
|
8 |
AHMED ABU SUKHAIL |
9th Nov. 2024 |
News Media Network |
|
9 |
MOHAMMED ABDELAZIZ KHURAIS |
11th Nov. 2024 |
Freelance journalist |
|
10 |
MAHDI HASSAN ALMAMLOUK |
11th Nov. 2024 |
Quds Today TV |
|
11 |
MOHAMMED SALEH ALSHARIF |
16th Nov. 2024 |
Freelance journalist |
|
12 |
AHMED YOUSEF ABU SHARIA |
19th Nov. 2024 |
TASNIM International Agency |
|
13 |
FATIMA MOHAMMED ALKRIRI |
19th Nov. 2024 |
Quds Today TV |
|
14 |
ABDELRAHEEM ALTAHRAWI |
21st Nov. 2024 |
Al-Ruwad Association for Development |
|
15 |
MAHMOUD ALKHATIB |
21st Nov. 2024 |
Al-Ruwad Association for Development |
|
16 |
MOHANNED MOHAMMED KHALID |
23rd Nov. 2024 |
Yebron Company Gaza |
|
17 |
ALAA ALDIN BARHOUM |
27th Nov. 2024 |
Al-Balad Newspaper |
|
18 |
MAMDOUH QUNAITA |
30th Nov. 2024 |
Al-Aqsa Satellite TV |
Details of Violations:
On November 1st, Freelance cameraman BARAA ALI DGHAISH (27 years old) was killed just after midnight on Friday when an airstrike targeted a house where he was with friends in Al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
According to his father, ALI DAGHEESH, the strike occurred around 12:00AM, and destroyed parts of the house, instantly killing BARAA. His body was recovered from the rubble by Civil Defense teams and transported to Al-Awda Hospital in the camp via ambulance. BARAA held a press card issued by the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate.
On November 1st, BILAL MOHAMMED RAJAB (26 years old), a cameraman for Al-Quds TV, was killed on Friday afternoon when a reconnaissance drone fired a missile at him while he was covering events near “Firas Market” in central Gaza.
Journalist AHMED HASHIM reported that RAJAB was conducting his work near the central market when he was struck by a missile, resulting in immediate death. His body sustained severe injuries, and parts were dismembered. He was transported to the Baptist Hospital in Gaza via ambulance.
On November 2nd, MOHAMMAD AHMAD NAZZAL (27 years old), a reporter for “Al-Fajr TV” was targeted with tear gas and live ammunition while covering an Israeli military incursion into the city of Qalqilya.
NAZZAL reported to a field researcher at MADA that at approximately 11:48PM on Saturday, Israeli forces raided the city, searched several homes, detained residents, and shot a civilian. He approached Jaljulia Street in the southern part of the city to cover the events, standing at a distance from the soldiers. However, when they noticed him, they fired a stun grenade to force him to retreat and then shot live bullets in his direction. He withdrew from the area quickly.
On November 4th, Israeli forces prevented several journalists from covering a raid on Al-Bireh on Monday morning and forcibly deleted footage from cameraman YOUSEF SHAHADA’s phone.
SHAHADA, a cameraman for “Al-Ouda TV” reported to MADA that settlers attacked the city around 6:00AM, burning dozens of cars. Following the settlers’ retreat, Israeli soldiers entered the area at approximately 9:00AM SHAHADA began documenting the scene using his phone, but an Israeli officer demanded he approach. The officer confiscated his phone, deleted the footage, and ensured it was permanently removed by emptying the trash folder.
The officer then summoned cameramen KAREEM KHAMAYSEH and HADI SABARNEH, searched their phones and cameras, but found nothing as they had just arrived. The officer ordered all journalists to leave immediately, and they complied.
On November 5th, Israeli soldiers opened fire on the Al-Araby Television crew on the evening of Tuesday, November 5, in the town of Qabatiya, resulting in cameraman RABI HASSAN MUNEER sustaining shrapnel wounds to his abdomen. He was transported to the hospital and underwent surgery to remove the shrapnel.
AL-ARABY reporter AMEED ZAYED SHAHADA (37 years old) told a MADA field researcher that at approximately 5:10PM, he and his colleague RABI HASSAN MUNEER (42 years old) went to Qabatiya, south of Jenin, to cover the ongoing Israeli military incursion in the town. The raid had resulted in the killing of four (4) young men and the targeting of a house with Energa anti-tank missiles.
Upon their arrival in Qabatiya, they positioned themselves in a well-lit area on high ground to ensure they were clearly visible. They were approximately 300 meters away from the Israeli forces. During the coverage, MUNEER zoomed in on the soldiers with his camera. An Israeli military vehicle began moving toward them until it was about 50 meters away. At that point, the soldiers started firing live rounds directly at them.
SHAHADA sought cover behind water crates at a nearby gas station and shouted for help for his colleague, MUNEER, who had fallen to the ground in pain, screaming for assistance after being injured. When the soldiers approached, SHAHADA identified himself as press, prompting the soldiers to move away.
The live bullets had directly targeted the journalists, striking the camera tripod and MUNEER's protective vest. Shrapnel from the bullet entered MUNEER’s abdomen, causing a puncture wound. He was transported to Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin, where he underwent surgery to extract the shrapnel and clean the wound.
On November 5th, Israeli occupation soldiers targeted a group of journalists with live ammunition and prevented them from covering the raid on the “Tulkarm” refugee camp on Tuesday evening, which led to their withdrawal from the area without completing their work.
According to the testimony of freelance journalist SUHAIB IYAD ABU DIAK (22 years old) to MADA Center, both journalist ROUA’ ARAFAT DUREIDI (21 years old) and cameraman RAGHAD QASRAWI, who both work for “Palestine Post” Website, along with “Quds Feed” Network reporter SHADIA BANI SHAMSA, all wearing full journalistic attire, headed around 3:00PM on Tuesday to cover the occupation forces’ raid on the “Tulkarm” Refugee Camp.
The journalists arrived at the eastern entrance of the camp on the main street but were unable to cover the situation, so they moved to the western entrance near the governorate building and began their coverage.
As soon as the military jeep, which was about 300 meters away, saw them, it started to approach them gradually and opened fire with live ammunition, even making the journalists hear the sounds of bullets hitting the ground.
The journalists left the area after an hour, fearing for their lives, without being able to complete their coverage of the raid.
On November 5th, members of the Internal Security Service in the Gaza Strip detained two journalists while covering a protest against rising prices in the city of “Deir al-Balah” in central Gaza on Tuesday afternoon and forced them to delete the photos and videos from their phones.
According to the testimony of Agence France-Presse cameraman MUTASEM ADLI and “Alam” Radio reporter MOHAMMED MANSOUR to MADA Center, three individuals in civilian clothing approached them around 11:30AM on Tuesday while they were covering a strike organized by families and activists in “Deir al-Balah” to protest against price hikes and monopolies. The individuals prevented the journalists from covering the protest, and then identified themselves as members of the Internal Security Service.
During this time, journalist MOHAMMED MANSOUR was live-broadcasting on “Alam” Radio, which broadcasts from Hebron in the West Bank. He was forced to stop the broadcast and cease coverage. Both MANSOUR and cameraman MUTASEM ADLI were then taken to an Internal Security Service office, where they were questioned about the nature of their journalistic work and their employers. They were then asked to delete the footage of the protest scenes, despite the footage being part of the general public expression of citizens’ views.
The journalists left the Internal Security office after signing an undertaking not to publish any of the material they had documented during the event and not to cover any future protests.
On November 6th, the “Instagram” Platform, owned by Meta Inc. permanently closed the account of Al Jazeera reporter journalist ANAS JAMAL AL-SHARIF in northern Gaza on Wednesday.
In his testimony to MADA Center researcher, Al Jazeera reporter journalist ANAS JAMAL AL-SHARIF (33 years old) stated that he was surprised to find his account closed when he tried to log in on Wednesday. A message from Meta appeared, informing him that his account had been permanently closed and could not be restored, even though the account had more than 1.2 million followers worldwide, with views exceeding one billion.
On November 6th, cameraman ABDUL RAHMAN KHADER BAHR (23 years old), working for “Ajel Palestine” Agency, was martyred after being directly targeted by a missile fired from a drone during his return home on Sunday afternoon.
According to his brother ATIYA BAHR’s testimony to MADA Center, cameraman ABDUL RAHMAN was martyred on Sunday afternoon when he was targeted by a direct missile from an Israeli drone in the “Al-Karama” area, north of Gaza City, while returning home after bringing some supplies for his family. He was instantly martyred, and his body was transferred by ambulance to the Baptist Hospital in Gaza City.
On November 7th, sports journalist and presenter at “Amwaj” TV and “Voice of Youth” radio station KHALED WALID ABU ZAR (28 years old) was martyred in an airstrike by Israeli forces in northern Gaza on Thursday.
His sister, ASEEL ABU ZAR, reported that her brother was injured during the Israeli forces’ attack on the “Jabalia” refugee camp, where he lived. He continued to bleed without being allowed by the occupation forces to receive medical aid until he was martyred. His body remained in one of the camp’s streets, surrounded by military vehicles for several days, preventing anyone from retrieving it.
The family learned of his martyrdom after losing contact with him for several hours. Eyewitnesses confirmed that he had been injured in the Israeli attack on the “Jabalia” Refugee Camp.
On November 8th, journalists ZAHRAA and AHMAD ABU SUKHEIL, siblings, were martyred on Friday morning as a result of an Israeli F16 jet targeting the “Fahd Al-Sabah” School, which was sheltering displaced people in the “Al-Tuffah” neighborhood.
According to the testimony of journalist NOUR EL-DIN ABDO, who was present at the moment of the attack, journalist ZAHRAA MOHAMMED ABU SUKHEIL (23 years old), a reporter for the “News Media Network”, and her brother AHMAD (21 years old), a cameraman for the same network, were martyred at around 12:30AM on Friday. The Israeli F16 fighter jet targeted the “Fahd Al-Sabah” School, which was sheltering displaced families in the “Al-Tuffah” neighborhood of Gaza City. The school was hit by two missiles, the first of which struck a room housing the family of the two journalists, resulting in their immediate martyrdom. Their father was also martyred, and other family members sustained various injuries.
As a result of the bombing, the bodies of the two journalists, ZAHRAA and AHMAD, were dismembered, making it difficult for their relatives to identify them due to the severe mutilation caused by the attack. Their bodies were transported to the “Baptist” Hospital in Gaza City by ambulance.
All of the personal belongings of the journalists, including their press vests, helmets, cameras, and personal mobile phones, were destroyed in the attack.
On November 9th, the Government Media Office announced the martyrdom of MUSTAFA KHIDR BAHR (33 years old), a reporter for “Ajel Palestine” News Agency, who was killed in an F16 airstrike south of Gaza City on Saturday evening. His martyrdom occurred on March 30, 2024.
His brother, ATIYAH BAHR, reported that MUSTAFA was on a work assignment at the “Kuwait Roundabout” south of Gaza City, covering a gathering of dozens of citizens waiting for humanitarian aid trucks that were coming from the southern Gaza Strip, amidst the widespread famine in the city. He was martyred after an Israeli F16 fighter jet targeted the area, causing him to sustain shrapnel injuries to various parts of his body, leading to his immediate martyrdom. He was transferred by ambulance to the Baptist Hospital in Gaza.
The martyrdom of journalist MUSTAFA was officially announced by the Government Media Office on 9th Nov.
On November 9th, two journalists were injured by shrapnel in various parts of their bodies during an Israeli helicopter airstrike on a tent adjacent to the journalists’ tent in the yard of the “Shuhada Al-Aqsa” Hospital in Deir al-Balah, Central Gaza Strip, on Saturday afternoon.
According to the testimony of journalist SAMER SAADALLAH AL-ZAANIN (34 years old), a reporter cooperating with BBC Channel and Radio, to the researcher of MADA Center, he and his colleague, reporter ABDULHADI FARHAT (35 years old) from “Yemen Channel” were in the journalists’ tent in the yard of “Shuhada Al-Aqsa” Hospital around 1:45PM on Saturday when an Israeli helicopter targeted a nearby displaced persons’ tent with a missile.
The attack resulted in journalist AL-ZAANIN sustaining bruises from shrapnel in his left foot, while journalist ABDULHADI FARHAT suffered bruises and contusions in both his left and right feet and his back after being thrown to the ground by the force of the explosion. Both were transferred to the emergency department of the hospital for treatment.
In the same attack, large parts of the journalists’ tent were burned, including covers, personal belongings, clothing, and some electrical equipment. Additionally, the internet connection in the area was cut off, hindering the journalists’ work, as several were preparing for live broadcasts on their news channels to cover the ongoing events.
On November 11th, Israeli occupation forces targeted a number of journalists in the yard of the “Al-Awda” Hospital in the “Nuseirat” Refugee Camp with a shell, while they were present at the location on Monday morning, narrowly escaping the attack.
According to the testimony of freelance journalist KHAMEES AL-RIFI to MADA Center researcher, a number of journalists were at the “Al-Awda” Hospital yard in the “Nuseirat” Refugee Camp in Central Gaza at around 10:00AM on Monday, covering the ongoing events in the camp and transporting the injured and martyrs to the Hospital. During this time, Israeli artillery targeted the area with a shell that hit one of the hospital’s upper floors, causing shrapnel to scatter, some of which fell near the journalists who narrowly escaped certain death. This occurred despite the journalists wearing clear press uniforms marked with press identification visible to the aircraft monitoring and observing movements in the targeted areas.
The journalists involved were: Al-Jazeera reporter TALAL AL-OROUQI, the channel's cameraman MOMEN AL-QEREINAWI, and independent journalists FADEL MAGHARI, SAEED ABU NABHAN, and KHAMEES AL-RIFI, who work for various news channels and agencies.
On November 11th,The freelance journalist MOHAMMED ABDEL AZIZ KHREIS was martyred as a result of a missile strike fired from an Israeli reconnaissance drone that targeted the tent housing him and his family in the “Nuseirat” Refugee Camp in central Gaza on Monday evening.
The father of freelance journalist MOHAMMED ABDEL AZIZ KHREIS (37 years old) told MADA Center that the Israeli forces fired a missile from a reconnaissance drone around 10:10PM on Monday, targeting the tent where his son and family were staying in the western part of the “Nuseirat” Refugee Camp in central Gaza. The journalist and his wife were martyred instantly, and two of their children were injured. The sudden attack caused shrapnel to scatter everywhere, destroying the tent and its contents.
On November 11th, journalist MAHDI HASSAN AL-MAMLOUK was martyred after being targeted by a reconnaissance missile, which caused shrapnel injuries to his head and various parts of his body on Monday evening.
The Director of the External Broadcasting Department at “Al-Quds Today” Channel, Engineer MOHAMMED AL-AMASI, told MADA Center that around 7:00PM on Monday, a reconnaissance missile targeted journalist MAHDI HASSAN AL-MAMLOUK (33 years old), who worked for “Al-Quds Today” Channel, while he was following and transmitting footage from the field via external broadcasting points used by the channel in Gaza City. He was martyred instantly after being struck by shrapnel to his head and various parts of his body and was transported to the Baptist Hospital by ambulance.
On November 12th, Israeli soldiers prevented a group of journalists from covering an incident of gunfire at the “Deir Sharaf” Checkpoint west of Nablus on Tuesday evening by directing laser beams at them, which disrupted their work and led to some of them being unable to continue their coverage.
According to the statement of ABDULLAH TAYSIR BAHSH (27 years old), a reporter for the “Quds News Network” to MADA Center, around 5:00PM on Tuesday, cameraman NASSER ISHTAYYA of the “American Agency”, journalist MUJAHID TABANJA of “Palestine Post”, and cameraman ALAA BADARNA of the “European Agency” arrived at the “Deir Sharaf” checkpoint northwest of Nablus after Israeli forces opened fire at a young man, arrested him, and prevented ambulances from reaching him, leading to his death. Upon their arrival, the Israeli soldiers pushed the journalists away from the area and expelled them.
At 5:30PM, the soldiers intentionally and clearly directed laser beams at journalists ABDULLAH and MUJAHID after their colleagues, NASSER and ALAA, left.
At 5:35PM, after the arrival of the Palestine TV crew, reporter ABDULLAH ABU SABRA and cameraman MOHAMMED AL-KHATIB, Israeli soldiers again obstructed their work by repeatedly shining laser beams at them and gave them an ultimatum to either leave the area or face being shot at.
On November 12th, Israeli warplanes bombed the house of journalist and program host at “Radio Al-Quran Al-Kareem” MOHAMMAD ISMAIL AL-BASYOUNI, at dawn on Tuesday, resulting in the destruction of the house and the martyrdom of the journalist’s wife and children.
According to the testimony of AHED ALWAN, a friend of journalist MOHAMMAD AL-BASYOUNI, Israeli fighter jets bombed several houses in Beit Hanoun city without prior warning at dawn on Tuesday, including AL-BASYOUNI’s home. This resulted in the martyrdom of his wife and three children, and the complete destruction of the house.
It is worth noting that MOHAMMAD AL-BASYOUNI, who lost his family and home, is a prisoner in Israeli jails. He was arrested last December after Israeli forces raided the “Al-Harthani” School, one of the refugee centers in the northern Gaza Strip. The journalist is still detained and unaware of the martyrdom of his family due to the Israeli ban on communication between prisoners and the outside world.
On November 13th, an Israeli warplane targeted the home of journalist DARWISH ADNAN AL-RAN, located in Beit Lahia city, northern Gaza Strip, with a missile at dawn on Wednesday.
In his statement, DARWISH ADNAN AL-RAN (41 years old), a reporter in the news department at “Al-Aqsa’ TV, said that an Israeli warplane targeted his two-story house with a missile around 4:30AM on Wednesday, completely destroying it, as informed by one of his neighbors via a phone call.
The journalist and his family had left the house nearly a year ago, heading to Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, due to the forced displacement imposed by the Israeli occupation on many residents of northern Gaza with the onset of the war on the strip.
On November 13th, Israeli forces detained a number of journalists at the “Tayasir” Checkpoint east of Tubas for 10 hours while returning from the northern Jordan Valley. They searched their equipment and phones and interrogated them about the reason for photographing Israeli soldiers.
According to Palestine TV reporter AMIR HELMY SHAHEEN (33 years old), in his statement to the field researcher at MADA Center, he, along with TV cameraman SALEEM BISHARAT, driver MUNTASIR ABU ARA, and WAFA News Agency reporter ISRAA GHORANI, were in the village of “Kurdala” in the northern Jordan Valley at 10:00AM on Wednesday, preparing a report on the demolitions of homes in the village.
At around 12:40PM, after completing their work, the journalists arrived at the “Tayasir” Checkpoint, located northeast of the city of Tubas and separating the northern Jordan Valley from the city. They were heading back to their work headquarters in Tubas. As they passed through the checkpoint, the soldiers requested all of their identification cards, which were checked and returned. They then conducted a thorough search of the vehicle belonging to the Palestinian Authority’s Public Broadcasting Corporation and found journalistic equipment (a camera and live broadcasting device). Afterward, the soldiers requested the WAFA Agency’s camera, which they opened, finding pictures of settlement outposts and images of the demolition operations. The soldiers became agitated by the pictures and asked, “Why are you photographing soldiers and Jews? Who are you photographing for?” The journalists responded that they were journalists covering the events.
The soldiers were not convinced and asked for their identification cards again, instructing them to step aside and turn off the vehicle. Less than five minutes later, the soldiers returned, took their personal phones, and ordered them to unlock the phones under threat of force. The soldiers then rechecked the vehicle thoroughly for no apparent reason. Several more hours passed without any further developments.
At around 6:00PM, a force from the Israeli police arrived and approached the vehicle where the journalists were located. They asked Palestine TV reporter AMIR SHAHEEN to step out of the vehicle to speak with one of the officers, who interrogated him about the reason for photographing the soldiers. SHAHEEN replied that it was part of his journalistic work in the field. The soldier was not convinced and accused him of photographing soldiers for hostile parties rather than for journalistic purposes.
Both SHAHEEN and his colleague SALEEM BISHARAT were then subjected to a 30-minute field interrogation with the same questions and accusations. The issue shifted from the pictures found on the camera to what was inside the personal phones, including journalistic websites, groups, and photos and videos of raids and demonstrations.
The soldiers allowed the journalists to make a phone call to their supervisors to inform them that they might be arrested. After interventions from the relevant authorities, including the Public Broadcasting Corporation, the Journalists’ Syndicate, and the military and civil liaison offices, they were released under the threat that if they returned to the Jordan Valley or photographed soldiers again, they would be arrested.
16th Nov. The freelance journalist MOHAMMED SALEH AL-SHARIF was martyred on Saturday morning after being shot by live ammunition from a “Quadcopter” drone, which struck him in the abdomen. He bled for five hours before until he died, as Israeli forces prevented him from receiving medical assistance.
In his statement to MADA Center’s field researcher, journalist ABDULLAH ABU KAMIL, a close friend of the martyr, mentioned that MOHAMMED SALEH AL-SHARIF (35 years old) left his home in the Jabalia Refugee Camp around 10:00AM on Saturday to get some basic supplies for his family due to the severe siege on the camp and the lack of food and water.
He was suddenly targeted by a “Quadcopter” drone, which shot him in the abdomen. He bled for more than five hours without being allowed to receive any medical assistance, as Israeli forces blocked ambulance services and hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip.
A local citizen managed to reach him, carry his body, and take it to “Kamal Adwan” Hospital, which was barely operational with only a few departments functioning. His death was officially declared at the hospital.Top of Form
On November 15th, the International Red Cross staff prevented journalists MOHAMMAD IMAD AL-AMOUR, a field cameraman collaborating with Al-Jazeera Live, and HUSSEIN KHALED ABU KHREIS, 26 years old, a reporter for Al-Hadath Newspaper, from covering, photographing, and conducting interviews with released prisoners in the south of Gaza on Friday, November 15, 2024, at 11:00AM.
Cameraman for Al-Jazeera Live, MOHAMMAD IMAD AL-AMOUR (23), told MADA Center’s field researcher that he and his colleague, reporter HUSSEIN KHALED ABU KHREIS (26 years old), were in the south of Gaza around 11:00AM on Friday to conduct interviews with some of the released prisoners.
During this time, Red Cross staff, some of whom were foreign nationals and others from Gaza, prevented them from carrying out their work. They obstructed the journalists by blocking the cameras, interfering with the filming, and preventing them from interviewing the released prisoners. They also threatened and intimidated the prisoners, warning them that Israeli forces would bomb their tents if they spoke to the media. These false justifications were fabricated by Red Cross staff to prevent documenting the suffering, injuries, and difficult psychological state of the prisoners, who had endured physical and psychological abuse at the hands of Israeli soldiers, both at the time of their arrest during military operations and while in detention.
On Monday, November 18, Israeli warplanes destroyed the home of Al-Kufiya TV reporter in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza, journalist YAHYA AL-MADHOUN, with a missile strike.
YAHYA IBRAHIM AL-MADHOUN (45 years old), a reporter for Al-Kufiya TV and a lecturer in the Department of Media at Al-Azhar University, stated that a warplane fired a missile at his house in Beit Lahiya early on Monday, causing significant damage and rendering the home uninhabitable. All of its furniture and personal belongings were destroyed.
AL-MADHOUN had evacuated his home with his family to a shelter in the city just days before the house was bombed. Had they not left, it would have been a real massacre, and they could have lost their lives, given the intensifying attacks and the bombing of homes over their residents in northern Gaza.
On Monday, November 18, Israeli authorities detained photojournalists WAHHAJ BANI MUFLEH and SAQR KHADER while they were returning at the “King Hussein” Bridge. They were interrogated, and one of their phones was tampered with, with photographic materials deleted, while customs taxes were imposed on the photographic equipment of the second cameraman.
According to an account from freelance cameraman WAHHAJ BANI MUFLEH , who works with several Arab and international media outlets, the Israeli intelligence service stopped him and his colleague SAQR KHADER at around 5:00PM on Monday while they were returning from the Netherlands.
When the Israeli intelligence officer saw WAHHAJ, he said, “I have been waiting for you since November 7” referring to the riots that occurred in Amsterdam after a football match involving the Israeli team. Therefore, the reason for their detention was their filming of the riots in Amsterdam.
His phone was confiscated for about half an hour, during which it was tampered with, and video clips were deleted. After being released, the cameraman noticed that his device was unusually hot without any apparent reason.
He was interrogated for about an hour regarding his journalistic work before being released. His colleague, SAQR KHADER, who holds Dutch nationality, was also detained for an hour and a half. In addition, their photographic equipment was seized, and a customs fine was imposed, even though the equipment was used and should not have been subject to customs duties.
On November 18th, Israeli forces arrested journalist TAWFIQ AL-SAYED SALEEM (38 years old), a lecturer at Al-Israa University’s media department, as he passed through a military checkpoint while fleeing from Beit Lahia in northern Gaza. According to his son, ALAA, TAWFIQ was among those trapped in the area who were instructed to evacuate to Gaza City. As he passed the checkpoint near Jabalia, Israeli soldiers stopped him, searched him thoroughly using surveillance devices and cameras, then forced him to sit on the ground, handcuffed, blindfolded, and ordered to undress. He was verbally abused and transferred to an unknown location, with no opportunity to say goodbye to his family or any information about his whereabouts or fate.
On November 19th, journalist AHMAD YOUSEF ABU SHARIA, 32 years old, from the “TASNIM International News Agency” was martyred after being hit by a direct shell during his coverage of Israeli airstrikes in the Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City. According to his colleague, MOHAMMED ABU SALAMA, AHMAD had arrived at the scene after an initial shell struck near his home. While filming, a second shell targeted him directly, causing fatal injuries to his head and body. Despite bleeding profusely, he could not be saved in time due to the intensity of the shelling before being evacuated by ambulance to the “Baptist Hospital” in Gaza.
On November 19th, the presenter of Al-Quds Today TV, journalist FATIMA AL-KREIRI, was martyred on Tuesday afternoon due to a severe heart attack she suffered in her last displacement location amid ongoing airstrikes, despite not having any prior medical conditions.
According to her husband, WISSAM NASSAR, journalist FATIMA MOHAMMED AL-KREIRI (34 years old) experienced a severe heart attack on Tuesday, which caused her to lose consciousness. She was rushed to Al-Shifa Hospital in the city, where she was declared martyred. The doctors were unable to save her due to a shortage of medical staff and resources after the hospital had been damaged.
In the days leading up to her death, the journalist had been suffering from both physical and psychological distress while being besieged in the town of Jabaliya in northern Gaza. She had to flee with her children to Gaza City, where she experienced significant emotional and physical pain, along with constant fear for her children’s safety amidst the ongoing airstrikes and killings she witnessed.
For years, FATIMA AL-KREIRI had worked as a presenter of national programs on Al-Quds Today TV. At the beginning of the war, she was covering the events from the studios, before the studios were targeted, and the TV station’s headquarters in Gaza City were destroyed.
On November 19th, Al-Jazeera Live cameraman HOSSAM SHABAT was injured by shrapnel from missiles shortly after midnight on Wednesday while covering Israeli airstrikes on civilian homes in the Sabra neighborhood south of Gaza City.
According to cameraman HOSSAM BASEL SHABAT (23 years old), he was in the Sabra neighborhood south of Gaza City around midnight on Wednesday, wearing a press vest and displaying a press badge while covering Israeli airstrikes targeting citizens’ homes. Despite the presence of civil defense teams and media crews, Israeli aircraft targeted the area.
The airstrike caused shrapnel to scatter, injuring journalist SHABAT in the back. He was immediately transferred by ambulance from the Civil Defense to the Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, where he was admitted directly to the emergency department to monitor his health condition
On November 21st, the media spokesperson for the Al-Ruwad Association for Development, journalist ABD AL-RAHEEM AL-TAHRANI (28 years old), and the head of the photography and editing team at the association, MAHMOUD AL-KHATEEB (23 years old), were martyred after being targeted by a missile launched from an Israeli drone in the Rimal neighborhood on Thursday afternoon.
In his statement, journalist BELAL SAMOUR, a colleague and friend of the martyrs, mentioned that the two were in Al-Thawrah street in the Rimal neighborhood on Thursday afternoon, carrying their cameras on their way back from a media assignment when a missile from an Israeli drone targeted them. The missile immediately killed them, and they were transferred by an ambulance to the “Baptist” Hospital.
On November 22nd, journalist WAEL IBRAHIM ABU QUFFAH, who worked in the output and sound engineering departments at the “Quran Al-Kareem” Radio Station, was killed by a missile that targeted his family home in the Nuseirat Refugee Camp on Friday evening.
According to a statement from his daughter, SAJA ABU QUFFAH, WAEL IBRAHIM ABU QUFFAH (48 years old) was killed during an Israeli airstrike on his family’s home in Nuseirat Refugee Camp in central Gaza Strip at approximately 5:30PM on Friday. The airstrike, carried out by an F16 fighter jet, resulted in the martyrdom of the journalist and his eldest son, while several family members were injured. The house was also set on fire, and large parts of it were destroyed. Civil defense rescue teams struggled to retrieve the journalist’s body due to the collapse of the walls on top of him. He was eventually transported to “Al-Awda” Hospital via an ambulance.
On November 23rd, cameraman and journalist MAHMOUD MOHAMMED KHALED (22 years old), who worked for “Yebron Gaza” Company, was killed on Saturday evening after an Israeli F16 fighter jet targeted his family home with a missile. The attack resulted in his martyrdom, along with several family members, and the destruction of the home, which caught fire due to the blast.
According to journalist ISSA SIYAM, MAHMOUD MOHAMMED KHALED was in his family’s home in the nuseirat REFUGEE CAMP in central Gaza around 7:15PM on Saturday when the house was hit by a missile from an Israeli fighter jet. The missile killed the journalist, his parents, and several of his siblings instantly, while other family members were injured. A large portion of the house was destroyed in the resulting fire, which made it difficult for rescuers to reach the family immediately after the attack. The Civil Defense teams later managed to control the fire, retrieving the journalist’s body from beneath the rubble. He had suffered injuries throughout his body and was transferred to “Al-Awda” Hospital in the camp by ambulance. The fire also destroyed the journalistic equipment he used for his work, including his mobile phone, camera, and laptop.
On November 27th, journalist and editor for Al-Balad Newspaper, ALAA ED-DIN FAWZI BARHOUM (28 years old), was killed early Wednesday morning due to an Israeli airstrike targeting the floors of a school where he and his family had sought refuge in Gaza City.
According to SAMI BARHOUM, the cousin of the martyr, ALAA was martyred alongside his brother, BAHAA, and several other civilians in an airstrike launched by an Israeli fighter jet at around 1:00AM on Wednesday. The strike targeted the third and fourth floors of the Al-Tabeen School in the Darj Neighborhood of Gaza City. These floors were where ALAA and other displaced people had taken shelter after their homes were destroyed by Israeli airstrikes. The bombing led to the destruction of the two floors, and ALAA was martyred while asleep, with his body buried under the rubble. Civil Defense teams later retrieved his body and transferred it to the “Baptist” Hospital in Gaza City
On November 28th, Israeli warplanes destroyed the residential tower where journalist HASSAN AL-JADI’s home was located on Thursday morning, following an airstrike.
According to HASSAN HUSSEIN AL-JADI (31 years old), a journalist for the Turkish Anadolu Agency, one of the residents of the tower in the NUSEIRAT Refugee Camp, central Gaza, received a phone call from Israeli intelligence around 7:50AM on Thursday, demanding an immediate evacuation in preparation for an airstrike. Moments later, the tower was bombed with missiles, leading to the destruction of large parts of the building, and HASSAN AL-JADI’s apartment was completely destroyed in the attack. The journalist, along with his family, had been displaced from the tower multiple times due to repeated threats of bombing, and after the execution of this threat, they were left without a home. The destruction also affected all the household contents, including furniture and other belongings.
On November 28th, Israeli artillery targeted ambulance vehicles, injuring journalist TALAL MAHMOUD AL-AROQI (30 years old) with shrapnel while he was covering a story on Thursday morning.
According to TALAL AL-AROQI, a reporter for Al-Jazeera Live, around 10:40AM on Thursday, he was with several ambulances north of the NUSEIRAT Refugee Camp, central Gaza, on a journalistic assignment, wearing a press vest with the press badge. While they were covering the situation, Israeli military vehicles and a “Quadcopter” drone opened direct fire on them. When they attempted to take cover in a safer area, the artillery fired a shell directly at them, injuring AL-AROQI with shrapnel in his right hand, right foot, head, and face, as well as bruising his chest. Despite the injuries, the journalist managed to crawl to a safer area as the aerial bombardment intensified. He was later transported by ambulance to “Al-Awda” Hospital in the camp for treatment.
On November 28th, an Israeli "Quadcopter" drone targeted a group of journalists with heavy gunfire, obstructing their work and preventing them from covering the aftermath of the Israeli assault in the Nuseirat Refugee Camp, central Gaza.
According to freelance journalist ANWAR ABU ESLAIH, who provided a statement to the MADA Center, at around 3:00PM on Thursday, he and fellow journalists KHAMIS AL-RIFAI, AHMED AL-MAQADMEH, ISSA SIYAM, SALMA AL-QUDOOMI, and ODAI ABU ZEID, all freelance reporters for various media outlets, were documenting the destruction caused by the Israeli military’s incursion into northern Nuseirat Refugee Camp. While they were covering and photographing the damage, they were targeted by a “Quadcopter” drone that fired directly at them. Miraculously, all the journalists survived after the gunfire and shrapnel scattered around them, allowing them to escape. The drone continued to chase the journalists, flying at low altitude and firing continuously, causing fear and panic among them. The drone’s goal seemed to be to prevent the journalists from covering the atrocities committed by the Israeli forces, including the deaths of several civilians and the destruction of their homes and properties.
On November 30th, journalist MAMDOUH QNEITA was killed on Saturday evening, while he was near the journalists’ tent inside the courtyard of the Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, after being shot in the head by a missile fired by a drone.
Journalist ABDULLAH ABU KMEIL told the MADA Center that an Israeli drone, a 'Quadcopter” type, suddenly fired at journalist MAMDOUH IBRAHIM QNEITA (41 years old), who works as an editor in the news department at Al-Aqsa TV Channel, while he was near the journalists’ tent belonging to the channel in the courtyard of the Baptist Hospital in Gaza City at 4:30PM on Saturday. The shot hit him in the head above the left eye. Journalist ABU KMEIL, with the help of a citizen, managed to pull QNEITA from the location with difficulty due to the drone still hovering overhead.
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