Ramallah- 21 November 2012:Yesterday was a bloody day for journalists in the Gaza Strip. In light of the international community’s inability to ensure the protection of journalists and Palestinian civilians (Israel killed more than 130 Palestinians and wounded more than 900 according to Palestinian rights organizations), occupation forces continued targeting journalists and media outlets. Al-Aqsa TV cameramen Hossam Mohamed Salamah (30 years) and Mahmoud Ali Al-Komi (30 years) were both killed when an Israeli warplane bombed their car. Program director at Quds Educational Television, Mohammed Mousa Abu Eisha (24 years), was also killed when Israeli aircraft bombed his car in the city of Deir al-Balah. Two further buildings in Gaza City were bombed, one of which housed the headquarters of a number of media organizations.
MADA lawyer Karem Nashwan, who was positioned approximately 20 meters from the bombing, stated that the Israeli occupation forces targeted the Ministries Complex in the Abu Khadra area of Gaza City; six rockets were fired, one of which targeted Alja tower near the offices of Al-Jazeera, causing significant structural damage.
Nashwan added: "they bombarded, Nea’meh Tower located in Al Wahda Street in Alrimal neighborhood, which also caused serious damage to the offices of the France Press Agency which is located in the tower." Nashwan stated: "most of the press offices in Gaza are empty now, journalists are working from the street and from other places".
According to Associated Press photographer Khaled Alashqar, missile fragments penetrated the office building located on the eleventh floor of Nea’meh Tower, breaking glass, panels and damaging some of the equipment. Al-Hurra correspondent Wisam Yassin, who was in the office at the time, suffered from shock.
Journalists in the West Bank were also subjected to attack from the occupation forces. Shingua News Agency photographer Fadi Alaa’roria and WAFA Agency photographer Iyad Jadallah were assaulted yesterday during their coverage of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli occupation forces at the Atara checkpoint north of Ramallah. Jadallah informed MADA that they were physically assaulted (pushed), prevented from reporting and were treated punitively by Israeli soldiers, despite the clear display of press badges on their chests. Jadallah added: "We have made a complaint to the officer on the checkpoint, he registered our testimony and our personal cards numbers".
The Palestine News Network (PNN) has reported eighteen attempts to penetrate its news website since yesterday and has lead to the suspension of the site for intermittent periods of two hours. PNN Chief Editor Monjed Jado told MADA: "We are still facing problems, so far intrusion continues. The Technical Officer for the site could locate the pirates in Petah Tikva city in Israel, provider of internet service from the Israel company 'Bezeq’”.
MADA strongly condemns the crimes of the occupation against journalists and media outlets, and reiterates its call to the international community and in particular the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression at the United Nations Mr. Frank La Row, for urgent action to ensure protection for journalists and media outlets. Article 79 of the Additional Protocol to the Geneva Convention 1949 for the protection of civilians during military conflicts states that “Journalists engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict shall be considered as civilians…They shall be protected as such under the Conventions and this Protocol, provided that they take no action adversely affecting their status as civilians”.
Furthermore, MADA emphasizes UN Security Council Resolution 1738, which affirms "media equipment and installations constitute civilian objects, and in this respect shall not be the object of attack or of reprisals”.
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