In the past three and half years (January 2008- June 2011) Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have committed a total of 428 violations against Palestinian journalists. Types of violations are divided into 11 categories, and of the incidences monitored in the reporting period, the highest reported violations against journalists by the IOF are physical attacks, detention, arrests, raids and the confiscation or destruction of property and equipment; and the prevention of coverage.

Total number of IOF violations against Palestinian journalists in the reporting period

Of these incidences, the majority of violations occur while journalists are covering events in Hebron, Ramallah and Jerusalem. It is important to add that during this reporting period 5 journalists have been killed in the line of duty by Israeli Occupation Forces, and scores severely injured.

Incidences of top 5 IOF violations in the reporting period

Over the past three and a half years, a reduction can be seen in the number of violations against journalists, with significant decreases in the frequency of arrests, raids and property/equipment destruction and confiscation. However, in these cases where some violations have been seen to drop by 50% or more, incidences of physical attacks have skyrocketed, with numbers tripling between 2008-2010 alone. Of the 504 total reported IOF perpetrated violations against journalists in the reporting period, 33.7% involved physical attack and injury.

Percentage of top 5 violations of total IOF violations

Throughout 2010 and for the first 6 months of 2011, 184 IOF violations against journalists have been monitored, indicating that in 18 months the proportion of physical attacks have reached a staggering 60% of all violations. This increase in the number of attacks suggests that in any given context journalists are now more likely to face violence than any other violation.

A significant proportion of attacks occur while journalists are covering the weekly demonstrations in various villages affected by the Wall and/or illegal Settlements. By targeting journalists at these protests the IOF aims to both limit media coverage in order to minimize their publicity and popularity, and conceal the violations committed against civilians whilst exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. In addition to beatings, many of the injuries sustained by journalists come as a result of the IOF’s excessive and inappropriate misuse of crowd control weapons such as tear gas and concussion grenades, and in particular, the growing trend of IOF personnel firing or throwing these projectiles directly at persons.

The ramifications for these attacks are not limited to the immediate physical injury of the journalists, but also include the loss of focus or the ability to continue covering an event, long term injury affecting future reporting, discouragement in continuing their work for fear of the on-going threat of attack and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

IOF impunity in international and military law

Despite the continuing frequency of IOF violations against journalists and the significant increase in the number and brutality of physical attacks, IOF forces - including both military/security personnel and settlers - continue to act with impunity. Of the 504 violations monitored since 2008 only one case of IOF misconduct has ever been brought to court; the case concluded with Israeli judges issuing the verdict that the IOF personnel involved were innocent of all charges. These violations and the lack of accountability of their perpetrators constitutes an absolute breach of international human rights laws, which guarantees freedom of expression and opinion and the right of journalists to operate safely and without hindrance, and serves to encourage and perpetuate IOF abuses.

As of yet, not a single settler or soldier has been held accountable for their actions against Palestinian journalists; this continuing impunity points to not only the lack of justice available to journalists in the region, but also to the reality of the IOF’s institutionalized practice of violence against the Palestinian population.

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