Israel committed 27 violations against journalists in January
RAMALLAH, Feb 09, 2020 (WAFA) — The Palestine News and Information Agency (WAFA) said in a report today it has documented 27 violations committed by the Israeli occupation forces against journalists and media institutions working in the occupied Palestinian territories during January.
It said in its report on Israeli violations against journalists that these violations included use of live fire, rubber-coated bullets and teargas canisters against journalists, in addition to physical beating and arrest.
WAFA said 14 journalists were either injured by live fire or rubber-coated rounds, suffocated by teargas or beaten by Israeli forces during the month, while 13 journalists were either arrested or targeted by Israeli gunfire but were not injured. Other journalists, meanwhile, had their press card revoked by Israeli soldiers.
On January 6, Israeli soldiers assaulted several journalists while covering the dismantling by Israeli army of residential and agricultural facilities in the village of al-Auja, north of Jericho in the occupied West Bank.
On January 13, Israeli intelligence summoned photojournalist Abdul-Muhsen Shalaldeh for questioning and threatened him of murder in the event he continued photographing near the flashpoint Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, south of the West Bank.
On January 19, Israeli army raided the home of Muammar Orabi, the editor-in-chief of local Wattan news agency, after smashing its door. The attacking soldiers arrested Orabi’s son, Osama, and savagely beat him across his body.
On January 24, Israeli police raided the home of journalist Abdul-Karim Darwish in the occupied Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina. Darwish was arrested by the police and was summoned for a couple of hours regarding his work in journalism. He was only released on bail after signing a guarantee worth $1600, and on condition that he stays away from Al-Aqsa Mosque in the city for 10 days.
On January 25, Israeli army arrested journalist Tha’er al-Sharif and attacked him with pepper gas after raiding his home. He was released on the following day.
“The series of violations is still ongoing against journalists, in an accurate and planned manner, aimed at covering up the crimes committed against innocent, defenseless civilians in Palestine. These attacks against journalists are considered a direct violation of international law,” the report said.
