5 February 2011 – Ramallah: Six journalists were attacked by Israeli soldiers while covering clashes between Israeli Occupation Forces and Palestinian youths after Friday prayer in the Bab Al’moud area of Jerusalem.

Israeli Occupation Forces threw tear gas canisters and concussion grenades in the direction of the journalists, one hitting Japan agency photographer Mu’amar Awad on his hand, causing burns. Other journalists present at the scene, Quds Net correspondent Diala Jwehan, Alquds newspaper photographer Mahmud A’lian, Silwan Net website photographer Muhammad Abu Snenah, MNB agency photographer Ahmad Jaber, and Freelance photographer Mahfouth Abu Turk - who also was hit by a stone threw on the Israeli occupation forces by Palestinian youth – suffered sever asphyxiation by the high concentration of gas.

“We were brutally and deliberately targeted. We were standing with each other, then some of a Gas and Sound bombs were thrown on us" said Mu’amar Awad.

The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) strongly condemns Israeli forces’ continuous attack on journalists and their attempt to employ various methods preventing them from covering events. MADA also calls the International community and Human Rights organizations to exercise a real pressure on Israel to halt its attacks against Palestinian journalists, and to observe article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression.

Contact:
Riham abu
Aita Public relation officer
riham@madacenter.org
www.madacenter.org
00970 2 2976519