16 media freedoms violation in last January
11 of them committed by Palestinian groups
Armed Palestinian groups, and Israeli occupation forces Continued, media freedom violations, in Palestinian territories ,during last January, which amounted to sixteen violations, eleven of them committed by armed Palestinian groups, they include : the abduction of agency France Press photographer Peruvian Jaime Razori in Gaza city (January 1), burning Sawt Al-Omal radio director Rizq Al-Bayyari car in Gaza city (January 4), cutting off communications from the of the Palestinian News Agency (Wafa) office in Nablus city, twice (January 4, 11), burning Palestine company for Media communications , direct broadcasting two cars, owned by journalist Maher Shalabi, and the shooting at his house in Ramallah city (January 13), damaging Alrabiya channel Office in Gaza city (January 22), assaulting agency (WAFA) reporter Sami Abu Salem in Jabalya town(Gaza Strip) (January 26). Insulting palmedia photographer Hazem Blidi, Ma’an agency photographer Muayad al-Ashqar, and local television Alfajer al-Jadeed cameraman Mohamed Alfar) in Tulkarem city (January 27).
In addition to a series of direct and indirect threats, received by many media institutions and journalists.
Five violations were committed by Israel occupation forces, they include: wounding al-Ayyam daily newspaper reporter Fadi Alaruri, who was seriously injured in Ramallah city (January 4), wounding Amy Liu from The Associated Press in Belain village (January 12). injuring Ramatan agency photographer Mustafa Khabisa, with rubber bullet, injuring Al-Hayat Al-Jadida photographer and Muhib Barghouthi, with sound bomb shrapnel in the head, beating Free lance British journalist Jessen, in Belain village (January 26).
It has been noted that there has been violations increase, perpetrated by armed Palestinian groups, It was a reflection of the fierce and bloody conflict, between Fatah and Hamas movements, combined with the incitement on local and Arab mass media , leaving an extremely negative effect on freedom of opinion and expression in the Palestinian territories , where the news coverage became risky , and telling the truth with regard to the conflict is a risk to essays righters, particularly in Gaza Strip , in addition to the continuation of the abduction of journalists, where the new year were (opened) by kidnapped journalist Razori , which represents a negative signal for the new year risks to media freedoms.
Mada Center hopes, that the positive atmosphere, which prevailed in the Palestinian arena, after the signing of the Mecca agreement, on the 9th of this month, contributes in respect for human rights, and enhance of media freedoms, the reduction of attacks on journalists and media institutions.
Despite the reduction of violations by Israeli occupation forces, it does not mean, that Israel has abandoned its exposure policy to Palestinian journalists, what happened to colleague Fadi Alaruri, and in Belaen weekly demonstration is best proof of that.
Mada center strongly condemns the attacks, perpetrated by armed Palestinian groups, and Israeli occupation forces, and demand them to stop media freedoms violation, and abidance of international laws and covenants, which ensure freedom of opinion and expression, and protection of journalists during the performance of their professional duty, prosecute those responsible of these crimes, and bring them to justice, , and doing so will contribute to reduction of attacks on journalists, and provides a better climate for freedom of opinion and expression, We call on the international community, particularly institutions defending Human Rights, to redouble their efforts, in order to guarantee freedom of opinion and expression in Palestinian territories, and to ensure the protection of journalists and media institutions.

Monthly Summary Report

1. (January 1)- Peruvian journalist the France-Press photographer Jamie Razori, was kidnapped by an armed Palestinian group , in front of the Agency’s office in Gaza city, where they forced him to step dawn from his car, and transferred him to an unknown location. He was released safe and sound, after seven days of kidnapping, The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Peru, Jose Antonio Garcia said in a statement that the kidnapping had been conducted by the a splinter group of Hamas movement, However, the movement strongly denied that.
This was the first kidnapping of journalists in the Palestinian territories in the New Year; six foreign journalists were subjected to kidnapping in the past year.
2. (January 4) - Alayyam daily newspaper reporter Fadi Alaruri, was seriously injured, by Israeli occupation forces fire, during its incursion in Ramallah city, in the pretext of arresting wanted men. France Press photographer Abbas Momni, who was hit by a bullet in the chest, but the Defensive Shield, which he was wearing protected him, confirmed that he was standing alongside Alaruri, in addition to other four journalists; all of them were carrying signs on their profession, the Israeli army targeted directly at them.. Alaruri was transferred to Ramallah hospital, then to an Israeli hospital. , where he underwent a number of surgical operations, his liver and one of his kidneys were resected. Four Palestinian citizens were martyred during the raid, and 25 citizens were wounded differently.
3. (January 4) – Sawt al-Omal radio director Rizq Al-Bayyari car, was burned in Gaza city, by unknown persons. The Radio headquarters was attacked by armed Palestinian group in 10.12. 2006.
4. (January 4) - Communications from the Palestinian news agency (Wafa) office in Nablus city (west Bank), was cut off by unknown persons.
5. (January 11) - (WAFA) agency office in Nablus city, communications and Internet was cut of, by unknown person, the office team had received death threats twice, by unknown person, in the 8th and 10th of January, through tel.call with the Office Director, Abd al-Aziz Abu Warda , the caller told him in the second one ( in previous times we have cut telephone wires, the next time we will cut your throats), the pretext was the Agency’s policy of covering the events.
6. (January 12) - Journalist Amy Liu from AP agency was wounded by Israel occupying forces, during the weekly demonstration in Belain village, which was launched under the slogan (Fadi Alaruri will be back). Alaruri was covering the demonstration regularly.
7. (January 13) - Palestine Media and Communication company direct broadcasting two cars, were burned by armed Palestinian group, and they shoot fire at Maher Shalabi home, the owner of the company, in Ramallah city, where one car was damaged completely and the other one was damaged partially.
8. (January 22) - Alarabiya channel office in Gaza city was damaged, by armed Palestinian group, who detonated an explosive device in front of its entrance, this has resulted in huge losses in the office, no body was hurt due to absence of the employees , because they received many threats in the week preceding the incident.
A group calling itself the Suyoof Alhaq (swords of the right), declared responsibility for the incident, through a statement distributed by them, accusing the Alrabiya of (playing no less dangerous role than the role of the occupation army in the holly land), and it is one of lying, infidelity and hypocrisy platforms. The group has claimed responsibility for the bombing of Internet cafes in Gaza Strip during last year. The offices of Alrabiya had received many threats after the publication of news related to Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, quoted from local news agency, Hamas and the Palestinian government has denied it, and demanded Alrabiya apology , or the government will lawsuit it , but they condemned the attack on Alrabiya office.
9. (January 26) - (Wafa) agency reporter Sami Abu Salem was beaten with rifle butts, by masked men, who introduce themselves as Alqassam brigade members , during his coverage of clashes between supporters of Fatah and Hamas, in Jabalia town (Gaza Strip).
10. (January 26) - Ramatan agency photographer Mustafa Khabisa , was wounded with rubber bullet, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida photographer Muhib Barghouthi was wounded with sound bomb shrapnel in the head, Free lance British journalist Jessen was beaten, by Israeli occupation forces, during their coverage of the anti apartheid wall weekly demonstration, in Belain village (Ramallah).
11. (January 27) - Palmedia photographer Hazem Blidi, Ma’an local agency photographer Muayad al-Ashqar, and local television cameraman Alfajer al-Jadeed Mohamed Alfar,were insulted by members of Palestinian Preventive Security, during their dispersing of Hamas supporters demonstration in Tulkarem city(West Bank) .
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