Ramallah– January 5th. 2025 The month of December 2024 witnessed a significant surge in the number of violations against media freedoms in Palestine compared to the preceding month of November. The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) recorded a total of 103 violations, a notable increase from the 72 violations documented in November.
This increase was not attributed to a single party but rather resulted from a rise in violations committed by all entities. The escalation coincided with events and activities in some Palestinian cities in the northern West Bank, during which journalists and media outlets were subjected to Israeli and Palestinian assaults while covering the events. The scope of these incidents expanded notably compared to the previous month.
As has been the case in most recent months, Israeli attacks against journalists escalated in various Palestinian cities, both in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Additionally, the number of violations committed by Palestinian parties increased due to a military campaign launched by Palestinian security forces in the northern West Bank, particularly in the city of Jenin and its refugee camp. This campaign led to the tragic killing of a Palestinian journalist.
Furthermore, violations against journalists in the Gaza Strip were documented after months of reporting no such incidents, coinciding with the ongoing annihilation war in the region.
In December, the recorded violations were distributed as follows: 71 violations committed by Israeli entities, 31 violations committed by Palestinian entities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, 1 violation committed by social media platforms.
Israeli Violations
Israeli violations against media freedoms increased by 9% in December compared to the previous month, rising from 65 documented attacks in November to 71 crimes and assaults in December. These violations constituted 69% of the total violations recorded for the month, most of which were serious offenses against journalists’ lives and media freedoms in Palestine.
The MADA Center documented 13 cases of journalists killed in Gaza, along with the destruction and bombing of the homes of seven journalists. Physical assaults followed in severity, with 11 injuries reported, including one journalist shot in the neck by an Israeli sniper in Gaza, three wounded by bombing shrapnel, two cases of tear gas inhalation in the West Bank, and four journalists beaten by Israeli soldiers.
Additionally, five arrests were documented, four of which occurred in Gaza. Israeli forces also detained eight journalists in the West Bank and four in Gaza. One detainee was released after 12 hours but reported being mistreated and abused during custody.
Eight journalists in the West Bank were prevented from covering events, while nine others were targeted to obstruct their coverage, including four in Gaza and five in the West Bank. In one incident, military vehicles attempted to run over a journalist covering the raid on the Nur Shams camp in Tulkarm.
The MADA Center also recorded two cases of equipment destruction in the West Bank and two cases of equipment confiscation in Gaza. One journalist was banned from traveling through the Al-Karama crossing for “security reasons”.
Furthermore, on December 11, Israeli authorities sentenced journalist WALID ZAYED to 10 months in prison and fined him 2,000 shekels. On December 12, journalist HAMAD TAQATQA was sentenced to 15 months in prison and fined 6,000 shekels, while journalist RULA HASSANIN received an 11-month prison sentence.
Social Media Violations:
Violations committed by social media platforms in December were limited to a single incident involving the “Facebook” platform, owned by Meta. Facebook closed the account of a journalist following a post in which he discussed the martyrdom of his child during the war.
Palestinian Violations:
Palestinian violations accounted for 30% of the total documented violations in December, increasing from four incidents in November to 31 violations recorded in the last month of 2024.
These violations included 26 incidents in the West Bank and five in Gaza. Among them was the killing of a journalist in Jenin refugee camp, the arrest of a journalist who was released the following day, and the physical assault of a journalist by members of the investigative police in Gaza.
Thirteen media crews and journalists were barred from covering the military operation in Jenin, with most of them being prevented twice on the same day. Additionally, Fatah regional offices in the West Bank issued statements prohibiting Al Jazeera from covering events. Two journalists in Gaza were also barred from reporting, and security personnel at Al-Awda Hospital deleted recorded material from their phones.
Moreover, anonymous parties incited against nine journalists through a social media post accusing them of incitement against the Palestinian Authority and promoting rebellion and internal conflict.
List of Media Martyrs in December
|
Journalist Name |
Date of Martyrdom |
Workplace |
|
|
1 |
Maisara Ahmed Salah |
01 December 2024 |
Quds News Network |
|
2 |
Eman Al-Shanti |
11 December 2024 |
Sawt Al-Aqsa Radio |
|
3 |
Abdulrahman Al-Qasas |
12 December 2024 |
Palestine University |
|
4 |
Shadi Al-Salfity |
07 December 2024 |
Media Office of the Ministry of Interior |
|
5 |
Mohammed Balousha |
14 December 2024 |
Al-Mashhad Channel |
|
6 |
Mohammed Al-Qarinawi |
14 December 2024 |
Sanad News Agency |
|
7 |
Ahmed Al-Louh |
15 December 2024 |
Al-Jazeera Channel |
|
8 |
Hazem Abu Arqoub |
21 December 2024 |
Al-Kofiya Channel |
|
9 |
Faisal Abu Al-Qumsan |
26 December 2024 |
Al-Quds Today TV |
|
10 |
Ayman Al-Jiddi |
26 December 2024 |
Al-Quds Today TV |
|
11 |
Mohammed Al-Lada’a |
26 December 2024 |
Al-Quds Today TV |
|
12 |
Fadi Hassouna |
26 December 2024 |
Al-Quds Today TV |
|
13 |
Ibrahim Al-Sheikh |
26 December 2024 |
Al-Quds Today TV |
Details of Violations:
(01/12) Israeli occupation forces prevented a group of journalists and media crews from covering an Israeli drone strike on an agricultural area between the villages of “Sir” and “Maslia” south of Jenin on Sunday morning, December 1st.
Reporter HAFIDH MAHMOUD ABU SABRA (34 years old) from Roya TV informed MADA that the Channel’s crew, consisting of reporter ABU SABRA, cameraman MAHMOUD FAWZI, SAKHRA ZAWATIEH from “Palestine TV”, freelance journalist MAHMOUD ZAKARNEH, Associated Press cameraman MAJDI ASHTIYEH, freelance cameraman ALI ASHTIYEH, Reuters journalist RANIN SWAFATAH, and Al Jazeera Live reporter SHATHA HNAISHAH, along with cameraman JAAFAR ASHTIYEH from Agence France-Presse, were all present in the agricultural land between the villages of “Sir” and “Maslia” southeast of Jenin, about two hours after the Israeli drone attack and the subsequent clashes. The area had been declared a closed military zone, and a search operation had started.
During the coverage, a military jeep chased the journalists and conducted a thorough search of “Palestine TV’s” car and an ambulance that was with them, forcing them to leave immediately. The soldiers threatened them, stating that if they did not leave, they would deal with them differently and target them directly. The media crews withdrew to a distant area due to the soldiers’ threats.
(01/12) Journalist MAISARA AHMED SALAH, working for “Quds News Network”, was martyred on Sunday afternoon, succumbing to his injuries from an Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced persons in northern Gaza on Friday, November 29th.
According to a statement from YOUSEF ABU WATFA, a journalist with “Quds News Network” on Friday, November 29th, Israeli artillery heavily bombarded the “Al-Harthani” school in Beit Lahiya, North Gaza, which was sheltering displaced persons. This attack led to serious injuries to journalist MAISARA AHMED SALAH (22 years old), who worked in the production department of “Quds News Network”. He was severely wounded in the abdomen and head by shrapnel from the bombardment.
The journalist bled out due to the Israeli occupation preventing medical teams from rescuing him. It was only with great difficulty that citizens managed to carry him to the besieged Kamal Adwan Hospital, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit due to the severity of his injuries. The World Health Organization, in coordination with the International Red Cross and after coordination with Israeli authorities, evacuated him to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. During transportation, Israeli soldiers obstructed the ambulance at a military checkpoint in northern Gaza, stopping it without cause for 8 continuous hours, during which the journalist died in the ambulance.
(02/12) WAEL ABU ZINA, a program presenter for “Amwaj Sports Channel” was injured when his residential building in Jabalia town was targeted by a barrel bomb on Monday morning. This led to the collapse of the building, trapping him under the rubble for more than an hour after he was injured by shrapnel from the blast.
In his testimony to MADA, journalist WAIL RABEH ABU ZINA (35 years old) said that he was directly targeted around 11:20 AM on Monday, shortly after documenting the destruction caused to residents’ homes in his neighborhood in Jabalia, North Gaza. As he entered his home to rest, an Israeli warplane unexpectedly dropped a barrel bomb on the 4-story building where he was on the first floor, causing it to collapse entirely on top of him.
The force of the explosion rendered him unconscious, but when he regained his senses, he found himself under the rubble, unable to move or breathe. He tried to dig himself out with his feet, which helped him get some air, allowing him to survive.
For more than an hour, he screamed for help while the Israeli occupation forces prevented emergency teams from reaching him. Eventually, neighbors heard his cries and helped rescue him using basic, manual methods. He was transferred to the Baptist Hospital, where he was found to have sustained serious injuries, including shrapnel wounds to his legs, face, and back, a broken finger, and serious eye injuries, causing him to lose vision in his left eye. Currently, the journalist requires urgent surgeries and treatment that are unavailable in Gaza due to the closure of crossings and the breakdown of the healthcare system.
(03/12) ABDEL GHANI MUSTAFA AL-SHAMI, a reporter for “Quds Press International” and “Josour” Website, was injured by shrapnel in his right foot while passing through the “Sabra” neighborhood on Tuesday evening.
According to a statement from ABDEL GHANI MUSTAFA AL-SHAMI (50 years old) to MADA, around 4:00PM on Tuesday, he was preparing a report on the suffering of displaced persons coming from northern Gaza amid the harsh winter conditions in the sector. While passing through the “Sabra” neighborhood south of Gaza City, an Israeli warplane targeted the home of the AL-KHOUR family, causing it to collapse and injure him with shrapnel in his right foot, resulting in swelling. He also sustained bruises all over his body.
The journalist received field treatment as there were no available ambulances due to a fuel shortage, and the Israeli occupation prevented the entry of fuel.
(04/12) An Israeli sniper targeted cameraman MOHAMMED IYAD AWAD with a bullet in his neck, which exited his right hand where he was holding his camera, severing several tendons in his fingers. He requires surgery on his hand.
In his statement to MADA, MOHAMMED IYAD AWAD (25 years old), a cameraman for Anadolu Agency, said that at around 2:15 PM on Wednesday, he was in Beit Lahiya, wearing the press uniform and press badge to cover the forced displacement of thousands of residents from the city along the Salah al-Din road between Gaza and the northern areas. During the coverage, an Israeli sniper targeted him with a bullet that hit his neck and exited through his right hand, severing several tendons in his fingers. He continued bleeding due to the intensity of the gunfire.
The cameraman cried out in pain and sought help, as he was close to a military checkpoint where Israeli forces were stationed. A civilian managed to carry him and remove him from immediate danger, and he was transferred to the Baptist Hospital for treatment. He urgently requires hand surgery due to the collapse of the healthcare system and the lack of specialists, which could put his life at risk.
(05/12) Israeli authorities prevented journalist MOHAMMED AHMED NAZZAL from traveling to Jordan through the “Karameh” crossing and confiscated his passport, holding him for 3 hours on Thursday morning, before informing him that he was banned from traveling for “security reasons”.
MOHAMMED AHMED NAZZAL (27 years old), a reporter for “Al-Fajr TV”, told MADA that he arrived at the Israeli side of the “Karameh” crossing at 9:00 AM on Thursday, December 5th, intending to travel to Jordan to attend the annual ARIJ investigative journalism conference.
After handing over his passport to the officer at the window, the passport was checked, and he was detained for 3 hours. After that, the officer returned his passport and told him that he was forbidden from traveling for security reasons, instructing him to return to the West Bank.
(06/12) Cameraman IMAD ABU SHAWISH, from Blinx Media Platform, was injured in his right-hand during coverage of an Israeli airstrike on a house in the “Nusseirat” refugee camp on Friday evening.
According to a statement from IMAD JAMAL ABU SHAWISH (38 years old), around 7:30 PM on Friday, during his coverage of the event, Israeli warplanes dropped a one-ton missile on a house belonging to the “Al-Nadi” family in Block C of the “Nusseirat” refugee camp in central Gaza. This caused several nearby houses to collapse.
During the coverage, some of the debris from the bombing fell on him, and he was injured in his right hand. He was transferred by ambulance to “Al-Awda” Hospital in the camp for treatment.
(06/12) Israeli occupation forces harassed a group of journalists at the entrance of “Sinjil” village northeast of Ramallah on Friday while they were preparing reports on settlement expansion in the area. They were released in two phases after being beaten, humiliated, and having their phones and vehicles searched.
According to the statement of KARIM SOBHI KHMAISA (26 years old), a reporter for “Al-Irsal Network” to MADA, he was in “Sinjil” village northeast of Ramallah around 2:30 PM on Friday with reporters from “Quds News Network” (MOTASEM SAMEER SAKHF AL-HAIT, 36 years old) and independent journalist (MOHAMMAD SHUKRI AWAD, 37 years old), independent reporter (HATIM MOHAMMAD HAMDAN, 23 years old), MO'MEN SAMREEN, “Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed” cameraman MAHMOUD OTHMAN KHALAAF (38 years old), “Al-Jazeera Live” reporter HADI SABARNAH BARAN (26 years old). They all gathered to prepare a report on settlement expansion in the village of “Sinjil”.
On their way, they decided to take a video of the village from its second entrance. When they stopped, two military jeeps approached and stopped in front of their vehicles. The soldiers opened the car doors, shouted at the journalists, and questioned them about the reason for filming and who they were filming for, accusing them of filming the soldiers, although their aim was to film the village.
The soldiers began searching the vehicles, took the journalists’ IDs, phones, and cameras, and asked about each phone and its owner before searching them. When they reached HATIM’s phone, they took him out of the vehicle, handcuffed him, and sat him on the ground. They continued to detain him for about half an hour before two jeeps withdrew, leaving only one military jeep for another 15 minutes.
The soldiers returned the IDs and phones and told the journalists to leave the area. When they closed the doors, preparing to leave, they pulled three journalists out of the car: (MOTASEM, HATIM, and MO'MEN), seated them by the roadside, and took them with them.
Journalist MOTASEM SAKHF AL-HAIT mentioned that they were handcuffed, shackled, humiliated, and blindfolded before being taken to an unknown area because of the blindfolds, and were beaten, especially him. They were placed on the ground between rocks and thorns and tortured by beating. This continued from 3:00 PM until 10:00 PM in the same manner. Then the soldiers placed them in a car and dropped each of them off in different and isolated areas.
(06/12) Israeli occupation forces detained HANI ISSA, editor-in-chief of “Quds Net News Agency” at the Civil Administration checkpoint while he was fleeing to Gaza City on Friday evening. They interrogated him, subjected him to a strip search, and released him after four hours of detention.
According to HANI YOUSEF ISSA’s statement (44 years old), the occupation forces stormed the area where the displaced people were gathered around “Kamal Adwan” Hospital and instructed citizens to flee to Gaza City via Salah Al-Din road.
Around 3:00 PM, while passing through the Civil Administration checkpoint in “Beit Lahiya”, the journalist was stopped, subjected to a strip search after the soldiers ordered him to remove all his clothes, and his hands were bound with plastic ties while his eyes were covered with cloth.
The soldiers were aware of his journalistic work, but they continued to interrogate him in a provocative and inhumane manner, even placing him on a fingerprint scanner to gather more information.
After the interrogation, they sat him on the ground, blindfolded, which caused him severe fatigue and exhaustion. He was released at 7:00 PM and continued his way to Gaza City, despite the dangerous road conditions and his psychological distress.
(08/12) Israeli warplanes bombed the home of journalist FATIMA ABU NADI in “Beit Lahiya” north of Gaza, completely destroying it on Sunday.
According to the statement of FATIMA NAFEZ ABU NADI (38 years old), a journalist for “Al-Mujtama'a” Kuwaiti newspaper, her five-story house near “Kamal Adwan” Hospital in “Beit Lahiya”, northern Gaza, was bombed by F16 fighter jets, completely demolishing it and leveling it to the ground.
The journalist learned about the destruction of her home through images posted on social media while she was browsing the internet to prepare a report. She was shocked, as she and her family had already fled to southern Gaza and settled in a tent in “Khan Younis” under orders from the occupation at the beginning of the war after the bombing intensified.
(08/12) Israeli soldiers detained journalists MOHAMMAD AL-RAJOUB and MOATH AMMARNA at the “Container” Checkpoint while they were returning from “Sinjil” village on Sunday evening. They held them for about 40 minutes after demanding their phones and IDs, then released them.
According to the statement of independent journalist MOHAMMAD AWAD AL-RAJOUB to MADA, around 8:00 PM on Sunday, he and his colleague MOATH IBRAHIM AMMARNA were returning from “Sinjil” village in Ramallah to Hebron City. As they reached the “Container” checkpoint north of Bethlehem, the soldiers at the checkpoint stopped their vehicle, which had “Press” written on the windshield. The soldier pointed his weapon at them, shouting at MOATH to turn off the engine and hand over the car keys.
The journalist complied, while MOATH explained that they were journalists. The soldier demanded their personal IDs, and both journalists handed over their press cards. The soldier then asked MOATH to start the engine again and drive the car into the checkpoint.
The journalists reiterated that they were journalists, but the soldier shouted at them to be quiet, and then asked for their phones. A female soldier took a camera mount from the vehicle and went to the surveillance room. After a while, the soldier shouted at the journalists and threw their press cards at them, asking for their IDs. The journalists were forced to stay in the car for 40 minutes, with their hands on their heads, and the car’s interior lights left on.
After about 40 minutes, the soldier approached the vehicle, threw their phones and IDs back at them, returned their camera mount, and told them to leave.
(09/12) Israeli occupation forces targeted the vehicle of the “Palestine” TV crew by firing live bullets while covering an Israeli airstrike on two young men in the city of Tubas on Monday morning, breaking the car’s windows and penetrating it with a bullet.
According to Palestinian TV cameraman MOHAMMAD EMAD SHAWISH (27 years old), he was present in Tubas on Monday morning alongside TV reporter MAI AL-MASRI, driver MARWAN AL-SHAFI, and Wafa News Agency Reporter ISRAA GHOURANI. They were all fully dressed in press uniforms with protective vests and helmets, covering the Israeli drone strike on two young men from the city, after a special Israeli unit infiltrated the area followed by military reinforcements.
At exactly 12:50 PM, while the journalists were at the scene covering the event, they were startled by the sound of gunfire. Israeli soldiers targeted the “Palestine” TV vehicle, which was clearly marked with the station’s logo. The gunfire shattered the car’s windows, and one bullet directly penetrated it, prompting the team to retreat several meters to ensure their safety.
(09/12) Israeli occupation forces surrounded journalist MAHMOUD LOUH and his family at the “Daawa” School sheltering displaced people in central Gaza at dawn on Monday for 12 hours, firing bullets and shells at them without causing injuries.
According to journalist MAHMOUD OMAR LOUH (34 years old), a reporter for “Al-Ghad” Channel, Israeli vehicles stationed at the “Netzarim” Site advanced towards the “Daawa” School in central Gaza at dawn on Monday. The school shelters 500 displaced people, including LOUH and his family. They were surrounded for over 12 hours, restricted from moving, and subjected to heavy gunfire and shelling around the school, though no injuries were reported.
The vehicles and soldiers were only 800 meters away from the school. The incursion caused extreme fear among the displaced people, including LOUH’s children and wife, who spent these hours without water or food due to the movement restrictions imposed by the soldiers. Drones, including quadcopters, hovered over the besieged area until the forces withdrew in the afternoon.
(11/12) The assassination of journalist IMAN HATASH SHANTI (38 years old), a presenter for “Sawt Al-Aqsa” Radio, occurred on Wednesday evening after the building containing her apartment in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood was targeted, killing her, her husband, and three of their children, while her eldest daughter sustained serious injuries.
According to journalist SAMIRA NASSAR, a close friend of IMAN SHANTI, at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, Israeli forces targeted SHANTI’s apartment in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood with an F16 missile. The strike caused a significant part of the building to collapse on its residents.
SHANTI’s body was found beneath the rubble alongside her husband and three of their children. The bodies, severely mutilated, were transported to the Baptist Hospital in Gaza via ambulances, while her eldest daughter was hospitalized with critical injuries.
(12/12) Israeli soldiers targeted “Quds News Network” journalist RAGHAD ABU SAFIEH by shooting a bullet at her in Qalqilya on Thursday morning to prevent her from covering the assassination of young men inside their vehicle.
According to RAGHAD FALAH ABU SAFIEH (26 years old), she went to the Qar’an neighborhood in Qalqilya at 9:00 AM, om Thursday after reports emerged of the assassination of young Palestinians inside their car. She was fully dressed in press gear, including a helmet and vest.
While walking in a safe area, she encountered a military jeep. The soldiers ordered her to leave immediately, and she complied. However, as she walked away, she was targeted with a metal bullet from a distance of 20 meters. She managed to move quickly, narrowly avoiding injury despite the bullet passing close by.
(12/12) A security officer at “Al-Awda” Hospital prevented freelance journalist SALEH AL-JAAFARAWI and his colleague MUSTAFA MUSLIM from covering child injury cases in the hospital, forcing them to delete photos and leave by force on Thursday evening.
In his testimony to the MADA, freelance journalist SALEH AL-JAAFARAWI stated that he and his colleague, freelance cameraman MUSTAFA MUSLIM, went to Al-Awda Hospital in Al-Nuseirat camp around 9:00 PM on Sunday to cover the injuries of children arriving as a result of airstrikes on a residential home. While photographing the injured children, a person who identified himself as a security officer at the hospital approached them, demanding they stop filming and delete the photos they had taken. After the journalists identified themselves, the security officer replied, “These are the hospital’s rules”, and insisted they delete the photos or he would break their phones. Following an argument, the officer instructed them to report to the hospital’s security office.
Inside the office, the journalists were surprised to find no other security personnel present. When they requested to contact the Director of the Government Media Office, ISMAIL AL-THAWABTEH, who knew them, the response was, “I don't care about AL-THAWABTEH or anyone else”.
The Hospital Director, DR. MARWAN ABU NASSER, eventually arrived and ordered the journalists to delete the photos without further discussion, citing hospital regulations. He claimed that Al-Awda Hospital’s rules differed from those of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital and argued that the ban on photography was to prevent individuals from exploiting the victims’ suffering for fundraising purposes.
When the journalists resisted, the security officer attempted to forcibly remove them but failed. He then went outside and shouted in the hospital’s courtyard, “If you see this one [referring to AL-JAAFARAWI] taking pictures, break his phone! He’s doing it to collect money off the people’s suffering!” The other journalists present at the scene intervened and escorted AL-JAAFARAWI to another location.
(12/12) On Thursday morning, members of the Investigations Unit affiliated with the Ministry of Interior in Gaza’s Government violently assaulted freelance journalist IBRAHIM MUHAREB. The assault included brutal beating and dragging, resulting in head injuries, while he was in the journalists’ tent at Nasser Hospital, continuing his coverage of Israeli airstrikes targeting aid workers in Khan Yunis.
According to the testimony of IBRAHIM SAUD MUHAREB (32 years old) to the MADA Center, he was present at approximately 11:34 AM on Thursday in western Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, for field coverage of Israeli airstrikes on aid teams. He returned to the journalists’ tent at Nasser Hospital to continue his work. Minutes after his arrival, a group of four armed individuals, claiming to be from the Investigations Unit of the Ministry of Interior in Gaza, approached him. They did not present any identification and removed the fabric covering the tent’s entrance, claiming it obstructed traffic.
IBRAHIM introduced himself as a journalist and explained that the tent was a press tent, overseen by journalists’ unions and associations, which should handle any disputes regarding its location. During the discussion, the individuals began kicking him and beating him severely across his body. They struck his head with a sidewalk stone, causing serious injuries and profuse bleeding. Despite his condition, the beating continued until he lost consciousness.
Simultaneously, they dragged him on the ground for over 20 meters to the courtyard of Nasser Hospital, where the assault continued without mercy. One of the assailants drew a gun, pointing it at his head in the hospital courtyard, and declared to bystanders and accompanying journalists, “No one interferes; journalists and collaborators are the same”. The dragging and beating persisted.
MUHAREB added that, after persistent efforts by his colleagues to intervene, the attackers finally left him in the hospital courtyard amidst extensive injuries and verbal abuse. His colleagues carried him to the hospital’s emergency department, where doctors stitched a head wound requiring seven stitches. He also sustained significant bruises across his body, causing severe pain.
MUHAREB emphasized that this brutal attack was tantamount to an attempted murder without any justification.
(12/12) The death of “Palestine” University cameraman, ABDUL RAHMAN AL-QASSAS, and his family occurred on Thursday evening after an Israeli F16 fighter jet bombed their home in Al-Nuseirat camp, central Gaza Strip.
According to ABDULLAH AL-QUDSI, ABDUL RAHMAN’s cousin, speaking to the MADA Center, ABDUL RAHMAN AHMAD AL-QASSAS (25 years old) was at home with his family in Al-Nuseirat camp on Thursday evening. At approximately 8:30 PM, an Israeli F16 fighter jet bombed their multi-story house, leading to its complete collapse on its occupants. More than 20 people inside the house were killed, including ABDUL RAHMAN, his parents, and five of his siblings.
AL-QUDSI added that ABDUL RAHMAN’s body remains under the rubble. Rescue teams have been unable to retrieve his body due to the layers of debris and the lack of necessary equipment available to the civil defense team, which hindered the extraction of his and other victims’ bodies. Some other bodies were recovered, but they were severely burned due to the intensity of the explosion.
(13/12) Martyrdom of Photojournalist SHADI AL-SALFITI (42 years old), an employee of the Media Office of the Ministry of Interior, on Friday morning after being targeted by a bomb from an Israeli “Quadcopter” drone while walking in the industrial area of central Gaza City.
According to SAED ABU MOHSEN, an acquaintance of the journalist, SHADI was walking at approximately 6:00 AM near the industrial area with another individual when the drone fired a bomb directly at him. He was struck by shrapnel throughout his body, leading to his immediate death. His body was transported to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City by ambulance.
(14/12) The martyrdom of journalist MOHAMMED BALOUSHA, a reporter for “Al-Mashhad” channel and a contributor to “Al-Ghad” channel, occurred when he was targeted with an explosive bomb near his home in Al-Saftawi neighborhood on Saturday afternoon.
According to photojournalist MOAMEN QREIQA, an Israeli “Quadcopter” drone targeted journalist MOHAMMED HAMID BALOUSHA (38 years old) at approximately 12:40 PM on Saturday. The bomb was launched directly at him while he was near his residence on Ahmed Yassin Street in Al-Saftawi neighborhood, north of Gaza City. He was killed instantly due to fatal shrapnel injuries to various parts of his body. His body was transported to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the city by ambulance.
(14/12) Journalist MOHAMMED AL-QURAINAWI, along with his wife and children, were killed when an Israeli aircraft bombed their home in Al-Bureij refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on Saturday evening.
According to BASSAM ZOUROB’s testimony to MADA Center, an Israeli F16 fighter jet targeted the home of his friend, MOHAMMED JABER AL-QURAINAWI (30 years old), an editor for “Sanad News Agency”, located in Block 6 of Al-Bureij refugee camp, at approximately 6:45 PM on Saturday.
The bombing caused the house to collapse on its residents. The bodies of journalist AL-QURAINAWI and his family were retrieved from under the rubble, their remains reduced to fragments.
(14/12) Palestinian security forces barred a group of journalists and media crews from covering the military operation in Jenin refugee camp on two occasions on Saturday afternoon. The incidents occurred outside Al-Amal Hospital and Jenin Governmental Hospital, with some journalists being threatened and forced to leave the area.
According to MOHAMMAD SAMEER ABED (29), a reporter for Quds News Network, a group of journalists and media crews attempted to cover the ongoing clashes in Jenin refugee camp, which have persisted for ten days between Palestinian security forces and resistance fighters.
At around 2:00 PM, journalists gathered outside Al-Amal Hospital, including SHATHA HANAYSHA and UBADAH TAHAINA from Al Jazeera Live, JARRAH KHALAF from Quds Feed, freelance journalists AMRO MANASRAH and AHMAD SHAWEESH. As they approached the emergency section, a security officer prevented them from entering and covering the events.
When the journalists asserted their right to work, the officer replied, “No filming is allowed”. Upon asking for the source of the orders, the officer responded, “These orders are from us” and insisted the restriction be communicated to all journalists. The journalists then left the area after being denied access.
At approximately 4:00 PM, another group of journalists gathered outside Jenin Governmental Hospital, a short distance from Al-Amal Hospital. This group included reporters from Al Jazeera, Al Alam, Quds News Network, Quds Feed, and freelance journalists.
A military vehicle from the Palestinian security forces approached the journalists. Security personnel disembarked and instructed them to leave, claiming the area was under operation. Initially, they stated, “For your safety, leave the area”. Moments later, one officer warned, “I'm speaking respectfully now; don't make me use another approach”, in a clear threat.
The military vehicle then followed the journalists, forcing them to retreat to Al-Shifa Hospital, despite their intention to cover events at Cinema Roundabout, located over 200 meters away from Al-Shifa.
(15/12) The journalist AHMAD LOUH, a cameraman for Al Jazeera, was martyred on Sunday evening after an Israeli airstrike targeted a civil defense point in Nuseirat Refugee Camp, where he was present at the time of the attack.
According to journalist AHMAD MAQADMEH, speaking to MADA Center, AHMAD BAKR LOUH (39) spent the day accompanying his colleagues at Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat Camp, documenting the continuous Israeli airstrikes on civilians in the camp. He worked from morning until evening, covering the injuries and deaths caused by the attacks. Before sunset, he informed his colleagues of his intention to visit the civil defense point in the camp and promised to return to the hospital afterward to continue his coverage.
At approximately 5:10 PM, shortly after LOUH left the hospital, a powerful explosion was heard, caused by an airstrike from an Israeli reconnaissance drone. The target was revealed to be the civil defense point LOUH had just visited. AHMAD LOUH was killed on-site, and his body was transported to Al-Awda Hospital via ambulance. The severity of the bombing and shrapnel had severely disfigured his body.
(15/12) Cameraman for the Palestinian “Safa” news agency, MOAMEN GHORAB, was injured by a stone in his left foot and suffered bruises to the same foot as a result of a shell explosion near a house in Nuseirat Refugee Camp during coverage of the bombing operations on the camp in the northern part of Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday afternoon.
In his statement to MADA Center, cameraman MOAMEN HISHAM GHORAB (30 years old) mentioned that he was present around 2:00 PM on Sunday near a house that had previously been bombed in the new camp area in northern Nuseirat, documenting the aftermath of the attack on the citizens in the area. He was wearing a press vest and holding a camera, clearly indicating his journalistic identity.
During this time, Israeli artillery fired a shell that hit a house near the location where the cameraman was. The explosion scattered shrapnel and stones, injuring GHORAB in his left foot with a stone and causing severe bruising. The injury left him unable to move and complete his coverage, and he fell to the ground. He was later transported by a civilian vehicle to Al-Awda Hospital for treatment.
(15/12) Israeli forces detained the Palestine TV crew and a volunteer cameraman from the Ministry of Health’s Ambulance Unit for half an hour on Sunday afternoon in the “Mawasi” area of Rafah city. They were targeted with gunfire and obstructed from performing their work, preventing them from documenting the destruction in the area.
According to the testimony of volunteer cameraman MOHAMMAD ABU ARMANAH, he and the Palestine TV crew, which included reporter IBRAHIM IBRAHIM and cameraman MIKAEL BAHAR, arrived around 2:00 PM on Sunday for a journalistic mission to document the destruction in the “Mawasi” area of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, caused by the invasion of Israeli forces and military vehicles into the citizens’ lands.
During their coverage, the journalists were surprised by intense gunfire directed at them from Israeli vehicles stationed in the nearby “Abu Shalouf” area, while Israeli reconnaissance planes flew at low altitudes. They were surrounded for over half an hour in a state of fear and extreme tension as bullets flew above their heads.
Once the gunfire stopped, the journalists retreated from their position and were able to withdraw, only for the soldiers to resume targeting them with gunfire. Despite being clearly targeted, the journalists survived the incident, wearing full press gear, including helmets and vests marked with the press insignia.
(16/12) Palestinian security forces prevented journalist MASHAAL ABU ALROB from covering and obstructed her work on Monday during her coverage of a commercial strike held in protest against the siege imposed by the security forces on the city and its refugee camp on Abu Bakr Street in Jenin.
According to MASHAAL AHMED ABU ALROB, a reporter for “Palestine Post”, she was present around 1:00 PM on Monday on Abu Bakr Street in Jenin to cover the commercial strike, which was held in protest against the siege imposed by Palestinian security forces on the city for two weeks.
While she was taking photos, three Palestinian security personnel approached her, asked for her identification and press card, and escorted her to her car to verify the documents, as her papers were inside the vehicle. They questioned her about the content she was documenting and accused her of exaggerating the event by only photographing closed shops. They told her that photography was prohibited unless she had permission, either for herself or any other journalist, emphasizing that this should be coordinated with the relevant authorities, as photographing the shops that did not comply with the strike would harm them, given that all shops on Abu Bakr Street were closed.
(18/12) Israeli occupation forces detained Al Jazeera English reporter MOATH AL-KAHLOUT at a military checkpoint north of Gaza on Wednesday afternoon, subjected him to harsh interrogation, and beat him after they discovered he was a journalist. He was released after five hours of harsh detention.
In his testimony to the MADA Center, MOATH ZAKARIA AL-KAHLOUT (29 years old) mentioned that he decided not to leave northern Gaza in order to continue documenting the crimes being committed by the occupation against civilians. However, due to the ongoing war of starvation, killing, and destruction, and the lack of any basic living conditions for his family, he decided to flee to Gaza City.
While passing through the Administration military checkpoint on the Salah al-Din Road east of Jabalia, he was stopped by Israeli soldiers around 12:00 PM on Wednesday after they learned through their information that he was a journalist. They took him to an electronic inspection device, then detained him and subjected him to harsh interrogation. His eyes were blindfolded, his hands were tied behind his back, and he was forced to sit under the sun for hours.
He was severely beaten all over his body while being verbally abused and cursed. The soldiers made him lower his body until his nose and face touched the ground, then the officer pulled his hair, lifted his head, and pointed a weapon at him. Afterward, the soldiers ordered him to stand, even though he was unable to do so due to the intense beating and long period of sitting in a difficult position, which caused him extreme fatigue and pain.
The soldiers released the journalist around 5:00 PM, sending him toward Gaza City in a very difficult psychological state after being tortured for five hours.
(21/12) The martyrdom of Radio “Sawt Al-Buraq” reporter HAZEM ABU ARQOUB (44 years old) due to the bombing of his house in Khan Younis, south of Gaza, while Al-Kufiya TV reporter ADLI MOHAMMED ABU TAHA (33 years old) and a tenant in the same targeted building survived after midnight on Saturday.
According to the testimony of journalist ADLI ABU TAHA to the MADA Center, around 12:30 AM on Saturday, a missile fired from an Israeli helicopter targeted the residential building where both he and journalist HAZEM ABU ARQOUB lived. The missile hit HAZEM’s apartment on the fourth floor of the building, causing a huge explosion that echoed throughout the building in the center of Khan Younis.
When journalist ABU TAHA attempted to check the building, he saw thick smoke seeping into the apartment. He immediately called for his wife and children and carried them outside. It was then that he discovered that journalist HAZEM had been martyred along with his wife. He saw their bodies torn apart inside the apartment, while flames were engulfing the area, and parts of the building collapsed due to the intensity of the blast.
Moments later, ambulances arrived at the scene to carry the martyrs, while journalist ADLI and his family narrowly escaped death shortly after returning from his work at the journalists’ tent at “Nasser” Hospital, which is located near the bombing site.Top of Form
(22/12) Facebook platform, owned by Meta, shut down the account of journalist MAHMOUD HANIYA on Sunday afternoon due to a post in which he discussed the martyrdom of a child during the war.
In his statement, MAHMOUD ABDEL KARIM HANIYA (35 years old), a reporter for “Al-Risalah” Newspaper, said he was surprised when he accessed his Facebook account on Sunday afternoon to find that it had been permanently disabled. He had around 17,000 followers worldwide, and he was unable to log in. He later discovered that Facebook had deactivated his account, claiming it violated the platform’s content standards.
One of the posts deemed a violation by Facebook’s administration was about a child who was martyred in the war, not yet one year old, and how an Israeli missile turned the child’s small body into pieces. The post was flagged for violating Facebook’s guidelines, leading to its removal and the eventual closure of his account.
This was not the first time his account had been closed. His previous account was also disabled at the beginning of the war for similar reasons, prompting him to create a new one, which was then shut down.
It is noteworthy that journalist MAHMOUD HANIYA had lost his wife, journalist DU'A SHARAF, a presenter at “Sawt Al-Aqsa” Radio, along with their child when Israeli aircraft bombed the apartment, they were staying in during the early weeks of the war in Gaza City. MAHMOUD later fled to Khan Younis after the Israeli occupation forces ordered residents to evacuate to southern Gaza.
(23/12) The Fatah Movement issued statements in six Palestinian governorates, banning Al Jazeera from coverage and work in these areas: Jenin, Tubas, Nablus, Tulkarem, Qalqilya, and Salfit. The decision was disseminated on social media platforms.
According to the statement issued by the movement on Monday, December 23, the first of these statements came from Jenin, followed by others from Fatah’s regional branches in the other cities. The statement read, “The entry of Al Jazeera into Tubas is prohibited under penalty of responsibility, and we urge our people to refrain from engaging with this channel in any form”.
Fatah described Al Jazeera in its statements as a channel that “broadcasts sedition and incites internal conflict” adding that the decision was made due to the channel’s “dangerous role in our Arab homeland in general and in Palestine in particular, by sowing discord and inciting internal conflict in clear alignment with the Zionist-American efforts and agendas hostile to the issues of our Arab nation, especially our Palestinian cause”.
The statements banning Al Jazeera followed the ongoing siege imposed by the Palestinian Authority’s security forces on Jenin camp, where clashes occurred between the two sides, resulting in civilian casualties in the camp and the death of a fighter from the Jenin Brigade and members of the security forces.
( /12) Palestinian security forces in civilian clothes prevented Al Jazeera reporter MOHAMMED YOUNIS AL-ATRASH from covering the military operation in Jenin refugee camp. During his coverage of the siege on the city and its camp in December, AL-ATRASH also faced a smear campaign through social media pages affiliated with the security forces.
According to AL-ATRASH’s testimony to a field researcher at the MADA Center, he had been in Jenin since December 14, covering the events at the “Al-Amal” Hospital. On the first day, a civilian car arrived with four people in civilian clothes, who asked him about the Al Jazeera crew. AL-ATRASH responded, asking how he could help them, to which one of them replied, “You have one minute to leave the site, or else...” When AL-ATRASH asked who they were, the man responded, “It's none of your business who I am, leave now, or I will take action”. After taking a photo of the vehicle for later reporting, the individuals got out and attacked him, attempting to take his personal phone. He refused, and a scuffle ensued, but the intervention of bystanders helped diffuse the situation. He eventually had to leave the site.
On the third, fifth, and sixth days of his coverage, AL-ATRASH faced incitement through the “Nasser Palestine” page, which posted video clips from his live coverage but edited out parts, pressuring him to replace the term “resistance fighters” with “lawbreakers”.
On the final day of his coverage, December 23, Al-Jazeera teams learned they were being banned from working in the West Bank, with no guarantees for the safety of their reporters. A statement circulated with AL-ATRASH’s photo, issued by a group called “Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the Strike Forces” threatening him if he continued his presence in the city, declaring “Jenin is forbidden for him”. As a result, AL-ATRASH immediately withdrew from Jenin.
He left the city for his safety and relocated to Ramallah and then to his home in Hebron, where he resumed his work. The journalist continued to receive threats and harassment on social media, including the distribution of his photo during his live coverage, along with calls for physical harm. However, he managed to identify the person inciting against him and is now taking legal and tribal actions against them.
(24/12) Israeli forces targeted two journalists with tear gas canisters at the entrance of “Nur Shams” refugee camp on Tuesday evening, causing them to suffer from gas inhalation.
According to freelance journalist HAMZA MAHMOUD HAMDAN (23 years old), who provided a statement to the MADA Center, he was with his fellow journalist MOHAMMED ALI ATIQ (33 years old) at 5:15 PM on Tuesday, covering the military operation launched by Israeli forces on the city and its refugee camps. While they were taking pictures, a soldier in a military jeep approached them, got out, and without warning, fired a tear gas canister at the journalists, leading to them suffocating from the gas.
The journalists tried to move away from the area and sought refuge in the “San Maurice” Hotel, where they remained for about 30 minutes until they regained consciousness. They left the hotel afterward but continued to experience difficulty in breathing for several hours.
(24/12) The Palestinian Preventive Security Service arrested freelance journalist WAHAJ JAMAL BANI MEFLAH on Tuesday afternoon after being summoned by the service in Nablus. He was released the following day after being interrogated for about half an hour.
According to BANI MEFLAH (25 years old), who provided a statement to the MADA Center, the Preventive Security Service called him on Sunday, December 22, while he was in Jenin covering the ongoing military operation by Palestinian security forces in the Jenin refugee camp. He was instructed to report to their headquarters in Nablus on Tuesday.
At around 12:00 PM on Tuesday, he went with his father to the Preventive Security Center in Nablus, where officers told his father to leave, as WAHAJ would be held without providing any reason for the detention. His mobile phone was confiscated and searched, and he was then placed in a cell, handcuffed, and transferred to the security department in “Al-Junaid” prison in Nablus.
Once in Al-Junaid, he was interrogated for approximately half an hour regarding old posts on his personal Facebook page. After the interrogation, he was returned to his cell. On the morning of Wednesday, December 25, he was presented to the legal advisor and later to the head of investigations, who informed him that there was no clear reason for his detention. He was released later that day.
BANI MEFLAH noted that he was not subjected to any physical abuse or mistreatment during his detention.
(25/12) Israeli soldiers targeted a crew from “Roya” TV and a reporter from “Quds News Network” with live ammunition in the “Al-Ain” camp in Nablus and obstructed their work while covering the military operation inside the camp on Wednesday morning.
According to ABDULLAH TAYSIR AL-BAHESH (27 years old), a reporter for “Quds News Network” who provided a statement to the MADA Center, he was present at around 11:17 AM on Wednesday near Al-Sikka Street, close to the “Al-Ain” camp in the northwestern part of Nablus, along with the “Roya” TV crew, consisting of reporter HAFEZ ABU SABRA (34 years old) and cameraman MAHMOUD FAWZI (39 years old), to cover the Israeli army’s incursion into the camp.
While they were on-site covering the operation, without any prior warning, Israeli soldiers fired approximately four live bullets directly at them. One of the bullets hit near cameraman MAHMOUD FAWZI, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.
(25/12) An Israeli military jeep attempted to run over freelance journalist RAGHAD KHALED SALAMA while she was covering the raid on the “Nur Shams” refugee camp in Tulkarm on Wednesday, December 25.
According to RAGHAD KHALED SALAMA (25 years old), a freelance journalist, who provided her statement to the MADA Center, she was around 4:00 PM during a live broadcast on her personal Facebook page, covering the Israeli forces’ incursion into the “Nur Shams” camp in Tulkarm. She was standing near the “Saif Abu Labda” roundabout, in front of an ambulance, with her phone set up on a stand about 50 meters away to capture the broadcast.
She was surprised by the sound of other journalists warning her that the military jeep was reversing quickly. Realizing the danger, she had no choice but to move out of the way to avoid being run over. In the process, her phone, an “iPhone 11 Pro Max” was damaged and broken due to the incident.
(25/12) Israeli bulldozers demolished the house of journalist MOHAMMED BAKAR AL-LOUH on Wednesday afternoon after military forces advanced into the northern part of the “Al-Nuseirat” refugee camp.
In his statement to the MADA Center, MOHAMMED BAKAR AL-LOUH (32 years old), a journalist at “Voice of the People” Radio, mentioned that Israeli military bulldozers and equipment advanced into the northern area of Al-Nuseirat camp, starting from the “Netzarim” site. They conducted extensive land leveling and demolition operations, including his two-story home, which was completely destroyed, including all of its furniture, leaving it in ruins.
The journalist had been displaced from his home months earlier due to its proximity to areas considered dangerous in the northern part of Al-Nuseirat camp. He has since been living with his family in a shelter for displaced people in the camp.
(26/12) Israeli forces arrested freelance journalist OSAID AMMARNA on Wednesday evening while he was passing through the Qalandiya checkpoint. He was transferred to the “Ofer” detention center, where his detention was extended for five more days on December 29.
According to the statement of OSAID AMMARNA’s father, ABDUL MAJID AMMARNA, the arrest took place around 3:00 PM on Wednesday as OSAID was driving his vehicle near the Qalandiya checkpoint south of Ramallah. His vehicle was searched, and it, along with his cameras, were confiscated. The journalist was transferred to a police station in Jerusalem, then to the “Ofer” prison west of Ramallah. On Sunday, December 29, OSAID appeared before the “Ofer” military court, where a judge extended his detention for five more days, until January 2, 2025, to allow Israeli police to present evidence. As of this report, no charges have been filed against OSAID AMMARNA.
(26/12) Five journalists working for “Al-Quds Today” TV channel were martyred after Israeli forces targeted their satellite broadcast vehicle near the “Al-Awda” Hospital in the “Nuseirat” refugee camp in central Gaza at dawn on Thursday.
According to journalist TALAL AL-AROUQI, one of the witnesses to the attack, the five journalists were: FAISAL ABU AL-QUMSAN, the channel’s reporter; cameraman AYMAN AL-JIDI; editors MOHAMMED AL-LADA'A and FADI HASSOUNA; and IBRAHIM AL-SHEIKH ALI, a news follow-up reporter. They were inside the satellite broadcast vehicle used by the channel for field coverage, marked with the “TV” and “Press” insignia.
At around 1:25 AM on Thursday, as the journalists were inside the vehicle, an Israeli drone targeted the vehicle with a missile, causing a loud explosion. Shrapnel scattered around the area as the vehicle caught fire, making it difficult to rescue those inside. All five journalists were martyred instantly as their bodies were burned by the intensity of the fire.
The missile destroyed the satellite broadcast vehicle entirely, burning all the equipment inside, including expensive broadcasting devices, cameras, satellite transmission gear, press shields, helmets, and other work-related and personal items of the five martyrs.
(27/12) The occupation forces arrested the reporter of “Quds News Network” journalist MOHAMMED AL-SHARIF (29 years old), from “Kamal Adwan” Hospital, and confiscated his personal belongings on Friday morning. They released him after 12 hours of detention, during which he was subjected to interrogation, mistreatment, and verbal assault.
According to journalist MOHAMMED AL-SHARIF’s testimony, the occupation forces stormed “Kamal Adwan” Hospital on Friday morning and asked him to leave the hospital. They then took him to the “Fakhoura” area in “Beit Lahiya”, after tying his hands and blindfolding him with a piece of cloth. He was then subjected to harsh interrogation, during which he was insulted, cursed at, beaten, and mistreated by all the soldiers present, after being stripped of his clothes.
The soldiers searched him using police dogs, and he remained in solitary detention from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM, without food or water. During this period, he was subjected to field interrogations regarding his presence at the location, despite informing them that he was a journalist, which they were already aware of, yet they continued to beat and mistreat him.
After 12 hours, the journalist was released, and his press card, phone, and personal belongings were confiscated.
(27/12) The Israeli occupation forces arrested two journalists from “Sawt Al-Aqsa” radio on the morning of Friday, 27th Dec., and took them to an unknown location.
According to journalist IYAD ABU RIDA’s statement to the MADA Center, the Israeli occupation forces stormed “Kamal Adwan” Hospital in northern Gaza Strip on Friday morning, where both journalists, MUSAB SHIHADA, who works in the editing department at “Sawt Al-Aqsa” Radio, and AIED SALHA, who works as an editor in the news department of the same radio station, were covering events. The soldiers arrested them and took them to an unknown location.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the journalists were verbally and physically assaulted at the moment of their arrest, as their hands were tied, their eyes were blindfolded with pieces of cloth, and the soldiers ordered them to remove their clothes, while they were verbally abused by the soldiers present. They were then transferred in a military truck to an unknown location.
No information has been provided about the whereabouts of journalists SHIHADA and SALHA or the conditions of their detention.
(28/12) The martyrdom of media student and journalist SHATHA NASSER AL-SABBAGH, who was shot in the head by a live bullet on “Mehyoub” Street in Jenin camp while returning home on Saturday evening.
According to the statement of the journalist’s brother, MUSAB AL-SABBAGH, to the MADA Center, his sister, independent journalist SHATHA NASSER AL-SABBAGH (21 years old), at 10:42 PM on Saturday, 28th Dec., was on her way to the shop after leaving her sister’s house, carrying two children—one aged a year and a half, held in her arms, and the other three years old, holding her hand and walking with her. The distance to the shop usually took about ten minutes.
While walking, a sniper from the security forces was watching her, but she crossed the street without being shot at, as the path seemed safe. She entered the shop, and when she exited, she was with some friends. Nothing unusual happened during their walk until they were only a step away from her house, at which point someone opened fire at her. The shooting continued for twenty minutes, while the two children were beside her.
Her mother was standing at the house door waiting for her. When she heard the gunfire, she tried to approach to pull her daughter to safety and started shouting, “The girl has been martyred, the girl!” to no avail. The sniper then began firing at her mother to prevent her from offering help, and paramedics present at the scene were also prevented from approaching, despite their cries that they were medics. The shooting continued at anyone attempting to get closer to the scene.
A neighbor managed to pull SHATHA away despite the grave dangers, as the shooting was targeting anyone coming close to her. When the ambulance finally arrived, the shooting had lasted for nearly half an hour. The ambulance reached at 11:10 PM, and despite communicating with the ambulance since the beginning of the shooting, the ambulance vehicles could not enter the camp, claiming there was a clash.
On the other hand, the official spokesperson for the Palestinian security forces, Major General ANWAR RAJAB, stated in a press release that the Palestinian security forces deeply sympathize with the family of the victim, SHATHA AL-SABBAGH, who lost her life after being shot in Jenin city by lawless individuals.
RAJAB emphasized that all indicators so far point to gunfire from lawless individuals being the primary cause of SHATHA’s death, adding that investigations are ongoing and that the security forces are making significant efforts to gather evidence and clues to confirm this. He confirmed that the responsibility for the incident lies with these lawless individuals.
(28/12) The Israeli occupation forces arrested independent journalist ISLAM BEHA'A EDDIN AHMED (32 years old) on Saturday morning after storming “Kamal Adwan” Hospital. They verbally and physically assaulted him and took him to an unknown location.
According to a statement from journalist MOHAMMED AHMED, ISLAM’s brother, the Israeli occupation forces stormed “Kamal Adwan” Hospital on Saturday morning and took a large group of medical staff and civilians, including the journalist, to the “Fakhoura” School in the nearby town of “Beit Lahiya” where they subjected him to harsh interrogation, according to eyewitness accounts.
The soldiers tied the journalist ISLAM’s hands, blindfolded him, and verbally abused him with insults. They then beat him after stripping him of his clothes, despite the cold winter weather.
He was transferred in a military truck to an unknown location, and his personal belongings, press card, and the phone he was using for coverage were confiscated. No further information has been provided about the whereabouts of journalist ISLAM or the details of his arrest.
(28/12) Journalist RANA ABU FARHA was subjected to a campaign of defamation, threats, and incitement via social media for two days by unknown individuals, following a post she shared on her Facebook page criticizing a statement issued by a human rights organization regarding the situation in Jenin camp.
According to journalist RANA KHALIL ABU FARHA, who works for “Ma’an News Network” in her statement to the MADA Center, she began to receive threats and defamation messages through her Facebook account and Messenger during the evening hours of Saturday. These messages included death threats and threats of liquidation, and the campaign continued for two days.
This incitement campaign followed a post she shared on her Facebook page in which she criticized a statement by a human rights organization regarding the events in Jenin, and she also criticized the double standards of some human rights organizations that need to be addressed by the human rights community.
The journalist continues her work despite the threats she received, while the relevant security authorities are monitoring the situation and working to identify those responsible for the threatening messages.
(29/12) The Israeli occupation forces targeted the “Al-Ghad” TV crew in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday evening by shooting from a “Quadcopter” drone while they were in the area preparing a report on the suffering of displaced people in tents.
According to the statement of the “Al-Ghad” TV cameraman, SAEED SABRI ABU NABHAN (26 years old), to a MADA Center researcher, he and his colleague, the channel's reporter MAHMOUD AL-LOUH (34 years old), were in the central Gaza Strip around 5:00 PM preparing a report for the channel on the suffering of tent dwellers amid the winter conditions. During this time, the journalists came under live gunfire from a “Quadcopter” drone when they entered the tent of one of the displaced people in a camp. The bullet pierced the tent fabric and came to a stop next to reporter MAHMOUD AL-LOUH.
ABU NABHAN confirmed that the occupation forces were tracking their movements from the air and sent the drone to prevent them from completing their work of documenting the suffering of the displaced people, despite the fact that they were both fully dressed in press gear, including vests and helmets with clear press markings.
( /12) Unknown parties have incited against a number of journalists from various local and Arab agencies through a post circulated on social media, accusing them of “inciting against the authority and promoting a coup and internal fighting”, a claim that the journalists considered to be a threat to their daily and professional lives.
According to the circulated post, the journalists targeted were: independent journalist AQEEL AWWAD, journalist MOATH SHRIDEH, journalist NASSER QATAWI, journalist OBADA TAHAINEH, journalist AMEED SHEHADEH, journalist MASHAEL ABU ALROB, journalist MAHMOUD ZAKARNAH, and journalist FATIMA AL-SHALAAN. The post referred to the journalists as “fierce inciters” against the Palestinian Authority and claimed they were promoting a coup and internal conflict.
Independent journalist MASHAEL ABU ALROB stated that she was surprised to find her name on the list, despite having worked in journalism for nearly two years. She said, “My work is balanced, and the reports I publish address general issues; they are not inciting. I have not received any summons from the Palestinian security forces regarding my work or any report I have published that is considered inciting. Such posts jeopardize my security as a journalist in the West Bank, and the security authorities should have followed up on this matter carefully”.
As for independent journalist AQEEL AWWAD, he mentioned that he was not surprised by the post or his inclusion on the list, as he has faced similar incitement posts for years, with his name being dragged into such claims despite having no relation to the events. What differs now, he explained, is that these posts present a real danger to his life as a journalist and could be exploited by certain individuals.
“Al-Arabi TV” reporter, journalist AMEED SHEHADEH, spoke to a MADA Center researcher about his work at the channel for five years, stating that the reports he produces are well-known and contain no incitement against any party. He added that his name appearing in such posts is aimed at intimidating him in his work, as what is happening creates confusion that certain people may exploit, especially given the complicated work environment, particularly in Jenin city, where his focus of work has been during this period.
