ICSPR: ISRAELI FORCES COMMIT MORE THAN 680 ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS, MEDIA INSTITUTION DURING 2017

Israeli Occupation continues to violate press freedom in the occupied Palestinian territories.

 ICSPR: Israeli forces commit more than 680 attacks on journalists, media institution during 2017

 The International Commission to Support the Palestinian People Rights (ICSPR) has followed with great concern the continuous Israeli targeting of Palestinian and non-Palestinian journalists and media staff throughout 2017, with 680 attacks on journalists and press organizations in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Palestinian journalists continue to be subjected to various Israeli violations by repressive methods such as arrests, incursions, closures, detention of crews, beatings, gas and sound bombs, without any international pressure to stop Israeli ongoing violations of international and legal conventions that promote freedom of expression especially the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949, and the rules of special protection guaranteed by the 1977 Additional Protocol V of The four Geneva.

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have stepped up its repressive measures against the media and press crews since the beginning of 2017. These included violations of the right to life and personal safety of journalists. Journalists were subjected to beatings and other forms of violence or humiliation and degrading treatment, as well as detention, IOF did not comply with international laws that preserve the right to freedom of expression and provide protection for journalists. These actions also met with the silence and helplessness of the international community, which is considered a green light for the Israeli occupation state to continue its actions..

ICSPR affirms that October 2017 was the month which witnessed the most committed to Israeli crimes and violations against journalists and press organizations, and then directly in December 2017, when more than 110 violations against journalists since the US administrations decision to declare Jerusalem as the capital of the occupation state , including the injury of about 70 journalists directly during their of  the protests. The following details of the total violations monitored monthly between January 1, 2017 and 30 December 2017 were recorded.:

1- January 2017: (43) Israeli violations against journalists: During this month, 5 cases of assault, injury and suffocation were recorded, including one journalist, recording 21 cases of arrests, (2) cases of incitement to close and delete sites and accounts of journalists and activists, (3) cases of intimidation and harassment against journalists detained in Occupation prisons.

2- February 2017: (43) Israeli violations against journalists: During this month, IOF arrested 14 journalists, including 2 administrative detention cases, (5) cases of denying coverage, (10) incursions, raids, confiscation of equipment and press cards, closing 1 account of a  journalist from Hebron, and 11 cases of harassment and insults in Israeli prisons.

3- March 2017: (57) Israeli violations of the rights of journalists: arresting of 11 journalists, photographers, including two journalists, extending the detention and postponing trail against 8 journalists, wounding and assaulting (14) journalists, storming 17 media institutions, preventing 3 journalist from doing their work,  and (3) cases of harassment of journalists detained inside Israeli prisons were documented.

4- April 2017: 76 Israeli violations against journalists: 8 arrests, extending detention of 5 cases, 27 cases of assaults and injuries, (13) cases of storming, destroying and confiscating equipment and, (3) cases of travel ban whether to receive treatment or to participate in international events and conferences. The month also witnessed 6 cases closing media offices and blocking  institutions under the pretext of supporting terrorism , in addition to the attacks and harassment committed by the occupation against the detainees journalists in the prisons of the occupation, which was (8) cases.

5- May 2017: (57) Israeli violations against journalists: More than 17 journalists, including 3 female journalists, were injured during their work. The Israeli occupation forces arrested 9 journalists, including two who were subjected to house arrest. IOF stormed and confiscated 8 houses, establishments, and printing presses. IOF  prevented (4) cases of practicing their work, including a foreign journalist who was prevented from entering the Gaza Strip. April recorded (3) travel ban against journalists from Gaza. ICSPR documented violations and harassment in 11 cases of harassment in Israeli prisons against journalists.

6- June 2017: 34 Israeli violations against journalists: arrest and detention of 4 journalists, renewal of detention and postponement of 4 cases, and 9 attacks on journalists. The number of cases of prevention of coverage amid insults and harassment reaches (7), (3) cases of closing threats, threatened (5) journalists detained in Israeli prisons, and imposing fines against 2  journalist.   .

7- July 2017: 70 Israeli violations against journalists: More than 61 cases of attacks and injuries against journalists were reported, including 15 journalists were attacked directly.  The injuries varied between 18 cases of suffocation and 18 cases of beatings with batons (9) cases of sound bombs, and (5) cases of spraying of wastewater. Journalists were subjected to more than one case of aggression. ICSPR recorded that (5) journalists were arrested while (2) was sentenced and the trial of (1) was postponed. Journalist Mohamed Al Quiq was prevented for his family.

8- August 2017: 28 Israeli violations: detaining 6 journalists were monitored, expanding the arrest of Nidal Abu Akkar from Bethlehem for six month. Expanding the detention and postponing the trial of 6 journalist. The journalists are Ibrahim al-Abd and five of Sanabels radio crew. In addition, 2 journalists were injured. ICSPR documented 6 incursions, raiding and destruction of press organizations, 7 cases of confiscation and seizure of press equipment.

9- September 2017: 48 Israeli violations against journalists: 8 Palestinian journalists were directly injured during their work, and a number of journalists were suffocated while covering a sit-in at Khirbat Qalqas south of Hebron. Several journalists were injured by rubber bullets during their coverage of Kafr Qaddum weekly , and a number of others were beaten and suffocated while covering events near the Haram al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. In addition, 11 journalists were arrested, detained and summoned by the Israeli occupation. Four journalists were arrested, including Ragheed Tabisa from Qalqiliya, Abdel Rahman Awad, who was released, the sister of Mohammed Awad, both from Ramallah, Alaa Badarneh from Tubas, and (4) others, while three journalists were summoned to security interview. In addition, the Israeli occupation forces prevented 6 journalists from covering events, marches, and threatened 4 journalists..

10- October 2017: 111 Israeli violations against journalists: 10 arrests and detentions of journalists were recorded, 3 journalists were summoned, 31 cases of extension of detention and postponement of trial and sentence were documented. 4 Cases of injury and assault, including Omar Al-Amour, Ahmad Jalajal, and journalist photographer Shaher Tamimi. ICSPR also monitored more than 14 cases of denial of coverage and the exercise of press functions. IOF also prohibited (1) journalist from traveling. Ten journalists institutions were closed and 15 cases of equipment confiscating.

11- November 2017: 33 Israeli violations against journalists: 5 arrests of journalists, 9 arrests, registration of 1 house arrest, (2) cases of  ban travel, both from Gaza, (1) rejection of the decision to stop the closure of Radio Liberty in Hebron. On the side of the attacks, there was a case of  beating and verbal abuse against journalist Kayed Hassanein. ICSPR documented 2 cases of storming the house of journalists Mustafa al-Kharouf and Basha al-Tawil before their arrest.

12- December 2017: 110 Israeli violations were observed in various Palestinian cities, the most prominent of which was the injury of about 69 journalists directly during the coverage of the protests. The injuries happened through targeting live bullets, Rubber bombs, poison gas bombs, sound bombs, as well as injuries recorded with direct physical assault on journalists. Three arrests were recorded among journalists, three cameras were destroyed, one international press card was confiscated, and 34 cases of were detained and prevented from doing their job.