The most prominent manifestation of the violation of media freedoms during last September: large number of attacks, arrests and summonses for the investigation, looting of equipment
Last September witness a rise in violation of media freedoms in Palestinian territories over the previous month, the most prominent manifestations was large number of attacks, arrests &summonses to investigation, and looting of equipment and devices, in addition to continued threats, the reason for that is continuing of the conflict between Hamas on one hand, Fatah and other PLO factions from other hand, where each party has continued to intensify its efforts to attract a broader sector of the masses, whether in Gaza or the West Bank, through various forms of public activities, such Friday prayers in public squares, marches or sit-ins.
The transition form of conflict from military means to peaceful ones, is optimistic sign, but what raises concern is that the parties do not want media coverage for peaceful activities in areas under their control , because each one of them consider that is curtails his ability to control the situation, and therefore he suppress the participants in the activities and journalists covering it, although the two sides repeated at every opportunity their respect for freedom of opinion and expression.
Several journalists were arrested in West Bank and Gaza strip, others were summoned for investigation by security service, especially who work with Aqsa channel in West Bank, they were warned not to do any work for it in pretext it is a banned Channel.
Threat campaigns continued either in West Bank or Gaza Strip, but what was remarkable that Hamas supporter the university professor Dr. Jamal Alzubdeh threatened journalist Fathi Sabah twice and attacked him once.
A number of media institutions were either stolen or attempted theft in Gaza Strip, it does not known, whether that was just theft, or it is to show the inability of Hamas to control security in Gaza Strip, especially that the institutions affected close to Hamas, Fatah and Islamic Jihad, and the perpetrators know that the theft of these institutions will Highlighted abnormally, and this is what happened in practice.
Mada Center is expressing concern about the escalation of attacks against journalists and media outlets, confirms that the non-prosecution of perpetrators in past months and years, whether by Israeli occupation forces or from Palestinians parties, led to increased violations of media freedoms in Palestinian territories.
Mada condemn all attacks on journalists, and:
- Calls on the Palestinian authorities to investigate these crimes and to bring those responsible to justice.
- Renews call for journalists to adhere to professional standards, and not align to party at the expense of another, to promote dialogue, tolerance, non-violence and peaceful resolution of differences.
- Demands concerned Palestinian bodies, to respect freedom of opinion and expression, and to allow closed or prevented from distribution Media outlets, to work and distribute again freely and safely.
• Calls on the international community to pressure the Israeli government, to stop its violations of media freedoms in Palestinian territories
Summary Monthly Report
1. (September 6) – Mass Press Center for Studies and Information, in Tulkarem city, was closed by the Governor of the city, the office is owned by Aqsa TV director in West Bank Mohamed Ishtewi. Ishtewi was arrested by Palestinian security service on the second of last July, and gunmen opened fire on his office on the 13th of last June.
2.(September 6)- Palestinian Organization for Culture and Media office was raided by the executive force in Dier Albalah city (Gaza Strip), several computers were confiscated.
3.(September 7) Ramtan agency cameraman Ibrahim Yaghi, his assistance Salam Abu Tahoun, WAFA agency photographer Hatem Mousa, Pal Media correspondent Mohamed Al Goff and its cameramen Samir Albouji and Mohammed Jaber, Russia Today television cameraman Abdel Latif Shurafi, were attacked and arrested by the executive force, during their coverage of to the executive force dispersal of citizens attempts to perform Friday prayers in public squares in Gaza city, which was called for by Fateh and PLO factions, they also attacked Ramtan Agency crew Abdel Salam Shehada, Zakaria Abu Herbeid, Moemen Sharafi, Mohammed Abu Seydou (sabotage his camera), A’laa Abu Smahdanh, ARD German television cameraman Sawah Abu Seif ( vandalized his camera), and tried to assault Al-Hayat Al-Jadida photographer Mowafaq Matar, , in addition Hamas supporter attacked and threatened Al- Hayat newspaper correspondent (issued in London) Fathi Alsabah.
4.(September 10)- AP photographer Nasser Alshioukhi, France press photographer Hazem Bader, Reuter’s photographer Maa’mon Wazwaz & its cameraman Yusri Al-Jamal, and Al-Amal TV in Hebron cameraman Imad Amayreh, were attacked by Palestinian security services members, and prevented from covering student sit-in, organized by the Islamic bloc, in front of Hebron University campus, to protest the raising of university fees.
5.(September 10) - Director in Palestine Public Television Faeq Jaradah, was arrested by the executive force in Gaza city, they believed that he was filming security members to be sent to officials in Ramallah, when he was filming with his group near security site.
6.(September 12) – Al- Hayat newspaper correspondent Fathi Alsabah, was threatened and insulted by Hamas supporter Prof. Jamal Zubdah, Inside the Islamic university Campus, in Gaza city.
7. (September 12) -Aqsa TV correspondent in Hebron city A’la Altiti, was summoned for investigation by Palestinian security services for several hours, they told him, thaht he is prevented from work with Aqsa TV.
8. (September 14) –Journalist Baha Abu Amsha from Rowwad press office in Nablus city, was arrested by Palestinian security services from his home.
9. (September 14) -Alwatan press office owned by journalist Imad Ifranji, was raided by unknown persons in Gaza city, they tampered with its contents. Ifranji had received message through his mobile telephone signed by Samih Almadhoun group threatening to kill him, in 08-31-2007.
10. (September 16) - TV director in West Bank Mohamed Ishtewi was summoned for interrogation, by Palestinian security services in Tulkarem, where they informed him of Salam Fayyad government decision banning Aqsa TV in West Bank, in pretext it broadcast sedition and incitement, he also has been told that they will detain and bring to justice any reporter, who continue his activity for Aqsa TV.
11. (September 16) - Felesteen newspaper reporter in Bethlehem Mamdouh Hamareh was summoned for interrogation, by the Palestinian security services, which continued several hours.
12. (September 17) - Aqsa radio correspondent in the north West Bank Tariq Shahab was summoned for interrogation, by Palestinian security services for several hours, in Tulkarem city.
13. (September 20) -Aqsa TV employee in its Ramallah office Mohamed Enjas, was summoned for investigation by Palestinian security services then arrested. Enjas was also arrested with two of the office workers on 06-13-2007.
14. (September 23) - Ramatan news agency crew Hadi Aldebs and Kamal Alazraq, were detained for several hours at Israeli occupation forces checkpoint near Hewara town south of Nablus city, on the pretext that they wear a helmet and protective shield, such as those used by the occupation soldiers.
15. (September 26) - Journalist Abdel Rahman Musleh was arrested from his family’s house in El-Bireh city, by Israeli occupation forces, who searched the house and tampered its contents.
16. (September 27) – Al_Isteqlal (independence) newspaper headquarters in Gaza city was raided, by unknown gunmen, who stole the contents of the headquarters of equipment and devices, and tampering with its contents, the news paper is belonging to Islamic Jihad.
17. (September 28) – Donia Alwatan electronic newspaper headquarters in Gaza city was raided, by unknown gunmen, who stole the contents of the headquarters of equipment and devices, and tampering with its contents.
18. (September 29) –Al-Hayat Al-Jadidah newspaper columnist Yahya Rabah was arrested, by the executive force from his house in Gaza city.
