Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine
ANNUAL2020 REPORT Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine ANNUAL REPORT 2020
Conducted by: General Supervision and Audit Mousa Rimawi Prepared and Edited: Ghazi Bani Odeh Coordination: Shireen Al-Khatib Project coordinator: Sharif Haj Ali Documentation: Field researchers in the West Bank and Gaza MADA’s coordinator in Gaza Strip: Ahmad Hammad Dissemination: Rasha Sarhan Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine ANNUAL REPORT 2020
© All rights reserved 2020 The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms MADA
This report has been prepared with the support of European Union The content of this report does not reflect the official opinion of the European Union.
29 ...... Violations of Details
...... Recommendations 28
27 ...... Questioning and Summoning
25 ...... Torture and Arrests
24 ...... Assaults Physical
22 ...... Strip Gaza in Violations Palestinian
21 ...... Bank West the in Violations Palestinian
20 ...... Violations Palestinian
18 ...... Violations Company Facebook
16 ...... Coverage from Prevention
15 ...... Agencies Media Targeting
...... Arrests 13
...... Assaults Physical 10
The Most Serious Israeli Violations Israeli Serious Most The ...... 9
...... Violations Israeli 8
...... Introduction: 5 OF TABLEفهرس CONTENTSالمحتويات
INTRODUCTION
Despite the decline in the number of violations that were monitored and documented during the year 2020, the state of media freedoms in Palestine has not witnessed any real positive and tangible developments that would serve to move away from the path of practices and trends that prevailed during the preceding years. The decline in the number of violations that were recorded this year was not a result of conditions that reduced the contact between the media, journalists and perpetrators of attacks, but rather, it was a result of the spread of the pandemic, and the measures to combat it through lockdowns and limiting movement. Another reason is also the halting of Gaza’s “Great Marches of Return” which are peaceful protests that took place near the separating fence in the Gaza Strip.1 The year 2020 began with a nearly full closure, during which citizens were locked home for nearly two months. Therefore, all aspects of activity and potential contact were almost completely paralyzed, which led among other results to reducing the chances of violations against journalists that occur mostly in the field and decreasing them to almost zero. The same applies in varying degrees over most of the months of the past year, as almost every month of the year 2020 has witnessed various lockdown measures depending on the overall situation, this included complete closure of certain governorates. The pandemic has also led to a general decrease in the number and size of various popular protest activities which usually entail interaction and direct contact with journalists that often lead to attacks against journalists who cover them. In addition to the repercussions of the Corona pandemic and the measures it imposed, the stopping of the Great Marches of Return in Gaza Strip has led to a reduction in the Israeli violations in the Gaza to reach zero, unlike previous years, due to the absence of almost any opportunity for contact, as well as the continuous blockade on the Gaza that reinforces the “absence of direct contact”. With regard to social media companies, they have continued the same approach in fighting Palestinian content; which is portrayed in closing and blocking dozens of pages of journalists or media institutions, with various arguments related to what they call “violating their publishing standards” or claiming that this is a result of what they consider “incitement.” î Violations: The year 2020 witnessed a decline in the total number of violations against media freedoms in Palestine. This was a result of three main factors as the following:
1 The Peaceful marches of return were launched on 3/30/2018 and continued to be organized on a weekly and semi-regular basis with the participation of thousands of citizens until they stopped at the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020. The marches witnessed widespread attacks affecting dozens of journalists and that were covering the event, which amounted to the death of two journalists who were covering the marches by the Israeli soldiers.
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 5 First: The decrease in popular activities against the occupation and settlements in the West Bank, and the cessation of popular marches at the borders of the Gaza Strip, which led to the disappearance of the Israeli occupation’s attacks there, knowing that the Israeli Occupation is considered the primary perpetrator and one with the most dangerous attacks committed against journalists and the media in Palestine. Second: The lockdown measures that have been taken as part of the public endeavors to combat the Corona pandemic and the consequent reduction in the opportunities for direct contact between journalists and security services. Third: The operations of fighting Palestinian content carried out by social media networks, foremost of which is Facebook, and what it has done during the past years in terms of blocking and closing the pages of hundreds of journalists, pushing Palestinian journalists to practice self-censorship over what they publish; out of fear and anticipation of closing their pages or banning them from publishing through them, which led, in one of its results, to a decrease in the number of violations committed by Facebook against Palestinian journalists, compared to what it was in the previous year.2 (Violations against media freedoms in Palestine in the year 2020 based on the party that committed the violation) Israel Israel Palestinian Palestinian Social Media Party Others Total (WB) (GS) parties (WB) parties (GS) Platforms
Number 210 5 37 59 95 2 408
2 Note: Facebook’s violations against media outlets and journalists decreased relatively from last year, despite the fact that the general total number against various Palestinian groups increased, indicating that the decline did not come from Facebook as much as it was the result of extra caution by journalists and their practice of self-censorship for what they post.
6 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine (Violations against journalists and media freedoms in Palestine during the past ten years) Social Palestinian Occupation’s media Year Parties’ Others Total violations platforms violations violations 2011 100 106 0 0 206 2012 164 74 0 0 238 2013 151 78 0 0 229 2014 351 114 0 0 465 2015 407 192 0 0 599 2016 249 134 0 0 383 2017 376 154 0 0 530 2018 455 129 0 0 584 2019 297 200 181 0 678 2020 215 96 95 2 408 Total 2765 1277 276 2 4320 During the year 2020, the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms “MADA” has monitored and documented a total of 408 violations in the West Bank (including occupied Jerusalem) and Gaza Strip, of which the Israeli occupation committed 215 attacks (equivalent to about 53%)3 while various Palestinian parties committed a total of 96 violations in the West Bank and Gaza (about 24%), and social media companies committed 95 violations (about 23%), while other parties committed other violations.4 These attacks affected a total of 250 people, including 230 (male) journalists, 20 (female) journalists, and 6 media institutions employing dozens of journalists, making such attacks that are targeting media institutions among the most serious violations of press freedom; due to its direct, indirect or far-reaching results and repercussions. For example, the Israeli occupation authorities closed off the offices of Palestine TV in the city of Jerusalem and continues to prevent it from operating there, as well as prohibiting the work and appearance of all its staff members there for the second year in a row.5 3 When calculating the percentage of violations by each side, the fractions were rounded to the nearest whole number. 4 These two violations are: the burning of the car of the writer, Nadia Harhash, while it was in front of her home in Jerusalem by an unknown party, and the second is the dismissal of journalist Iyad Hamad by the administration of the Associated Press. 5 On November 20, 2010, a force of the Israeli occupation police and intelligence raided the Palestine TV office in Jerusalem, which is hosted by the Al-Arz Company, searched it, confiscated its contents, interrogated and summoned television workers, and closed it by a decision issued by the Israeli Minister of
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 7 Violations in 2020 based on the party that committed the violation
Facebook Inc. ٢٣٪
Israeli Occupation ٥٣٪ Palestinian Parties ٢٤٪
Despite the general decline in the total number of violations committed by various parties during the year 2020, but a look at the distribution of the rates of decline shows that it came mainly as a result of a tangible decrease in the number of Palestinian violations as well as the decrease in the number of violations by social media companies. Therefore, it was not primarily the result of the decline of Israeli occupation violations, as the violations committed by the Israeli Occupation alone constitute the largest bloc of the total number of violations in Palestine (53% that is over the half). The number of Palestinian violations decreased during the year 2020 by 48% (about half) compared to the year 2019, and Facebook violations decreased by almost the same percentage, while the rate of decline in Israeli violations was approximately 26%. While the general average of all violations over the past ten years was 36 violations per month, the violations that were documented in the year 2020 remained at approximately the same rate, as over the past year an average of 34 violations were recorded per month. The Israeli occupation committed an average of 18 violations of them every month, while Palestinian parties in the West Bank and Gaza Strip committed an average of 8 violations per month, and an average of 8 violations were committed by social media companies.
Interior for six months, it was renewed twice after its completion. Note that the last renewal of the TV shutdown was delivered to TV reporter Christine Rinawi after being summoned on 11/2/2020, meaning that the closure and the ban on work will continue until May 2021, making it a year and a half of the closure if it is not renewed as expected.
8 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine Over the past ten years, the Israeli attacks accounted for 64% of the total violations that were monitored and documented by “MADA” Center, while the Palestinian violations accounted for about 30% of them, and the violations of social media companies accounted for 6%, noting that monitoring and documenting social media companies’ violations have only been reported as a violating party of the media freedoms in Palestine few years ago. ISRAELI VIOLATIONS
The number of Israeli attacks against media freedoms in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (including the city of Jerusalem) decreased during the year 2020, by approximately 26%, from 297 violations in 2019 to 215 violations in the last year (2020). As indicated in the introduction of this report, this decrease does not reflect an improvement or a positive development in the policies and practices of the Israeli occupation forces and authorities towards freedom of journalistic work in Palestine or respect to their rights, but rather, it is a natural result of the pandemic and its related closures and lockdown measures that led to the reduction and limitation of Palestinian-Israeli direct contact, where most violaionts usually take place that It usually witnesses attacks against journalists. This is also comes as a result of the stopping of the popular Great Marches of Return at the borders of the Gaza Strip. A look at the map of the distribution of Israeli violations shows that no real positive change has occurred from the side of the Israeli occupation authorities regarding respect for media freedoms in Palestine. This can be seen in the level of violence and gravity that characterizes many of the Israeli attacks, among which are physical injuries, the arrest of journalists and the closure of institutions (which still constitute the largest bloc of all Israeli attacks). In addition to those violations that clearly demonstrate the absence of any respect for freedom of journalistic work, such as the prevention of coverage, the prevention of journalists from reaching the places of events, or their detention as well as other attacks. (Israeli violations during the past ten years)
Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Total
Number 100 164 151 351 407 249 376 455 297 215 2765
î The most dangerous Israeli violations The Israeli attacks during the year 2020 came in 10 types, (in addition to several other different attacks that were included under the heading “other attacks”), driven by one idea, and all led by one general goal, which is to obscure and prevent coverage, and withhold the image of what is imposed and implemented by the occupation forces policies and attacks in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 9 Israeli violations during the past ten years 500 450 455 400 407 376 350 351 300 297 250 249 215 200 164 150 151 100 100 50 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Among these types, four types can be noted to be considered the most dangerous to the lives of journalists and media freedoms, which are: physical attacks and injuries (including targeting and injuries with live ammunition), arrests, closure of institutions and confiscation, and detention or destruction of work equipment. The total of attacks that fall within the four mentioned types amounted to 101 violations, which together represent 47% of all Israeli attacks during the year 2020, which is about the half. Israeli violations during 2020 based on the type of violation Number Type of violation Total 1 Prevent coverage - targeting to prevent coverage 81 2 Injuries - physical assaults 77 3 Arrest - detention - administrative transfer 16 4 Detention (often interspersed with interrogation) 13 13 5 Summon and interrogation 11 6 Confiscation- detention- destruction of equipment and vehicles 6 7 Delete material and content 3 8 Shut down and destroy an institution 2 9 Banishment from Jerusalem 2 10 Raid a foundation- house 1 11 Others 3 Total 215
10 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine Israeli violations in 2020 based on type and number
90 81 80 77 70 60 50 40 30 20 16 13 11 10 6 3 2 2 2 3 0 1 houses Travel ban Travel institutions questionong other assaults destruction of destruction Human shields Summoning and Physical assaults Physical Arrest-detention Seizure-detention- Deletion of material Raiding institutions/ Closure-destruction of Closure-destruction Prevention of coverage Prevention detention of Journalists detention
î Physical Assaults Physical attacks targeting journalists are considered the most serious among all other types of violations that affect or may target media freedoms, despite a relative decline in their number and percentage from the general total of Israeli violations, due to the circumstances witnessed last year, especially the stopping of the popular Great Marches of Return in the Gaza Strip6. However, during the year 2020, a total of 77 physical attacks and injuries (some of them with live ammunition) were recorded among journalists while they were carrying out their work, or 35.8% of all Israeli violations, noting that physical attacks formed over the past ten years a rate of 44.7 of the total number of documented Israeli attacks.
6 Most of the Israeli attacks that were recorded during the previous years were part of the physical attacks, and this matter stopped or almost stopped during the year 2020 due to the stopping of the popular marches, which reflected a decrease in the number and rate of recorded physical injuries.
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 11 Israeli Physical Assaults during the past 10 years and its percentage of the total Israeli violations Year Total Israeli violations Physical assaults Percentage
2011 100 55 55%
2012 164 80 48.7%
2013 151 87 58%
175 including 17 2014 351 49.8% murders
166 including one 2015 407 41% murder
58 including one 2016 249 murder23.3%
2017 376 139 37%
2018 455 242 53%
2019 297 159 54%
2020 215 77 35.8%
Total 2765 1238 44.7%
Physical Assaults of the the total Israeli violations in the past 10 years
500 455 450 400 407 376 350 351
300 297
250 249 242 200 215 175 164 151 166 159 150 139 100 100 80 87 77 55 58 50 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Total Violations Physical Assaults
12 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine Of the total number of physical injuries amounting to 77 attacks committed by the Israeli occupation forces against journalists during the year 2020, 29 of the victims of these attacks were wounded with live bullets, metal and rubber bullets and teargas canisters fired at their bodies, meaning that the occupation forces used live ammunition or the most violent, dangerous and lethal means in about 38% of its physical assaults against journalists, in addition to other group of physical attacks that are no less dangerous. The firing of suffocating gas bombs used by the occupation forces on a large scale in the suppression of Palestinian demonstrators and targeting journalists may be seen as a “simple” type of physical attack that journalists are usually exposed to in their various field coverage. However, the way in which the occupation forces use this type of weapon often brings it to the same danger as the army’s use of live and metal bullets, as soldiers often fire gas canisters directly at the bodies of journalists or throw them in front of them, which causes them to have serious injuries and severe suffocation, which often led to loss of consciousness and severe injuries. For example, the photojournalist Tariq Youssef Sarkaji, and while he was covering a peaceful march against settlement in the northern town of Asira on 07/17/2020, was hit by a teargas canister in his left leg; and the bomb was one of 7 bombs that the soldiers fired next to him, while he was only about 20 meters away from them. The bomb shrapnel penetrated his pants and wounded him in the leg. Many direct casualties indicate an intentional targeting operation to harm journalists, as photojournalist Nidal Shtayyeh was hit, for example, with two metal bullets, one in the right side and the other under the armpit, fired by the occupation soldiers at him while covering a demonstration against settlements in the town of Kafr Qaddum on 9/25/2020. Additonaly, journalist, Sari Jaradat, was also injured on December 29, 2020, with a rubber-coated metal bullet in his left shoulder. He was shot by an Israeli soldier while covering a house demolition in the city of Yatta, knowing that the journalist Jaradat was present at a visible distance of 80 meters to the soldiers, from where the soldiers were. î Arrests During the year 2020, there were a total of 16 arrests of Palestinian journalists, a decrease of 10 points from the year 2019, which witnessed 26 arrests of journalists. This decrease is due to a general decline in the number of violations due to the exceptional circumstances that accompanied the spread of the Corona pandemic. Among these detainees is journalist, Bushra al-Tawil, who was arrested on 11/8/2020 at the Israeli army checkpoint near Nablus while she was returning from Jenin to the city of Al-Bireh, where she lives. Noting that the journalist Bushra al-Tawil was arrested by the Israeli occupation administratively for seven months and a half, as she was released on July 28, 2020 (that is, only about three months before her last arrest).
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 13 Israeli arrests of journalists during the past ten years Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Total
Number 12 13 13 13 20 46 33 41 26 16 233 Some of these arrests were accompanied by severe assaults, similar to what happened, with the presenter of Palestine TV, Thaer Abdel Nasser Al-Sharif, who was arrested and taken to an Israeli army base at the entrance to Al- Aroub camp, where he was subjected to physical assaults that continued throughout his detention, which lasted about 5 hours in the cold weather. The presenter of the programs on Palestine TV, the journalist Thaer Abdel Nasser Sharif (28 years old), arrived on the evening of 01/25/2020 to his family’s home, located 10 meters away from the bypass road (60) in Al- Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, and upon his arrival there was two occupation soldiers and an officer in front of his family’s house, and they were detaining two Palestinian youths. The officer asked journalist, Thaer, to move towards him and to show his identity card, so the journalist obeyed and showed his identity, but the officer asked Thaer to bend and place his identity on the ground, which was rejected by the journalist Thaer al-Sharif, and after minutes of argument, the officer began to count .. 3-2-1, then one of the soldiers attacked Thaer and punched him with his hand on the neck, and then the other soldier attacked and dropped him on the ground while the officer pressed his neck with his knee, the two detained youths started screaming at the soldiers. Then the two soldiers pointed their weapons towards the two young men, while the journalist started shouting at his family, and immediately his father and three of his sisters rushed to him, while the journalist was able to push the officer away and get up. Then the officer took a bottle of pepper gas from his pocket and started spraying the journalist and his family, and forced them to enter the house, while his father, who spoke fluent Hebrew, remained arguing with the soldiers. Minutes later, the officer handcuffed the journalist who was suffering from suffocation as a result of spraying him with pepper spray, punched him with his fist on his neck and took him towards the military tower about 50 meters away from the place, while the two soldiers followed him and beat Al-Sharif with their hands on his head, back and sides, until they reached the military tower. There, the officer made the journalist enter a narrow corridor, blindfolded him, walked for several meters and pushed him hard, so he hit his head against a concrete wall, and he forcefully kicked the Al-Sharif on his knees several times, dropping him to the ground, and continued hitting him on his feet while the Al-Sharif was screaming from the severity of the pain in his feet and in his right hand (as he suffers from amputation of hisfingers as a result of an old work injury). Half an hour later, the beating stopped, but the soldiers kept cursing him. One of the soldiers asked the Al-Sharif to stand, but he could not because of the pain in his legs and right hand as a result of beatings and the severe cold,
14 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine so two soldiers helped him to stand and then asked him to sit again, so the journalist tried to sit slowly because of the pain, but one of the soldiers hit him violently again. He kicked his legs and fell on the ground, after that, the journalist was beaten by a soldier on the stomach, head, and back, slapped with hands. At around 7:00 pm, one of the soldiers took him to a small room and made him sit on a chair with a plastic seating. The journalist was able to look from under the cover fixed on his head, and found himself in a bathroom, and after a short time he started screaming at the soldiers from the severity of the pain in his feet and hands, so one of the soldiers opened the door and began to insult the journalist and hit him on the head several times. After a few minutes, the journalist began to feel a state of collapse from the severity of the cold and pain, so he shouted at the soldiers, and one of them came and spat on him several times and hit him again. The insults and spitting by the soldiers continued intermittently for about an hour, after which the soldiers took the journalist out of the bathroom, and they walked for several meters, and sat him on a tin plate that was very cold and wet, and after a short time the journalist tried to stretch his legs to comfort them, so he felt something hit him hard on his testicles, so he screamed from the severity of the pain, while the soldiers continued to beat him with hands and spit on him several times, and the journalist was hearing in the meantime the sound of taking pictures from the phone of one of the soldiers as if he was photographing him while assaulting him. At around 10:00 pm, one of the soldiers helped him get up and walked for several meters and removed the blindfold from his eyes, and he removed the plastic handcuffs from his hands, and asked him to go to the officer who was standing on the other side of the road. The journalist was unable to move, and he felt dizzy so one of the citizens approached him in the street and helped him pass, blocking the road until he reached the officer who started his speech threatening him with arrest and beatings if he “violated the soldiers’ orders.” The journalist returned to his family home at ten o’clock, and was in a state of exhaustion as a result of beating and exposure to severe cold. The arrests involve clear targeting and abuse of journalists, especially the administrative detentions, similar to what happened with the journalist Bushra al-Tawil and the journalists Mujahid al-Saadi, who was arrested from his home at dawn on 6/24/2020, six days after he was transferred to administrative detention for six months, and Osama Shaheen, who was arrested on 7/9/2020 and transferred to administrative detention for four months, in addition to the abuse and unjustified attacks that sometimes accompany the arrests, similar to what happened to Thaer Al-Sharif, and others, such as Muhammad Osama Melhem, who was beaten by soldiers while covering a march against the deal of the century on 2/2/2020, then the soldiers arrested him and transferred him to Kiryat Arba settlement center, to continue his detention for 11 days until he was released on bail of 5,000 shekels.
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 15 Israeli arrests during the past 10 years
50 46 45 41 40 35 33 30 26 25 20 20 16 15 12 13 13 13 10 5 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
On 2/2/2020, after the demonstration began, the soldiers began chasing the demonstrators, while journalist Muhammad Melhem was standing close to the soldiers, so about six soldiers approached him, shouting at him: “Give yourself up”. The journalist did not move and told them that he was a journalist, but the soldiers started hitting him with their hands, legs, and rifle butts on his face, neck, and back, which caused bruises and broken teeth. Melhem took out his press card and showed it to the soldiers and the officer, so the officer took it and arrested him and transferred him to the “Kiryat Arba” settlement in the center of Hebron, and from there he was transferred to the “Etzion” detention center, and two days after his arrest he was brought before a military court that ordered his release due to the absence of any evidence on his participation in “acts of sabotage,” as the soldiers claimed, “but based on the prosecutor’s request for an extension, his detention continued for 11 days (until 2/13/2020), when the Israeli Military Court decided to release him on bail of 5,000 shekels. There is a wide and varied range of pretexts for the occupation to arrest or prosecute journalists and the conditions of their detention. For example, journalist Tamer Obeidat was arrested from his home in Jerusalem at dawn on 5/5/2020 and he remained detained until afternoon hours. In the meantime, he was subjected to investigation on the charge of “providing assistance to the needy under the measures of Corona.” The occupation forces arrested the journalist Mujahid Mufleh, on 26/2/2020 who was at the Za’tara military checkpoint on the Ramallah-Nablus road
16 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine while he was accompanied by his wife and two children while they were on their way to where his family resides, and that is under the pretext of incitement via social media, where the journalist Mujahid stayed in prison for 9 days, during which he was investigated about some of what he published on his Facebook and Twitter pages, claiming that he was “inciting”, and in particular he was investigated about a comment he had written about calls by Israeli settlers to storm Jabal Al-Arma area in his home town and seizing it, what the Israeli authorities considered incitement necessitating his arrest while ignoring the settlers ‘calls and their storming of the citizens’ lands in the town with protection from the army, despite the ensuing confrontations and injuries among the Palestinian citizens. î Targeting Media Institutions Targeting media institutions is considered one of the most dangerous attacks on media freedoms, given the fact that these attacks directly and indirectly affect large numbers of journalists in a single action or attack, as well as their long-term impact in undermining or weakening the general capacity for the continuity of media activity. Investing in or going into this sector is a matter fraught with prosecution and targeting, and thus to quit that, and it is the essence of what the Israeli occupation authorities aim to target and pursue Palestinian media institutions and journalists in general. For the second year in a row, the occupation authorities continued to close the Palestine TV office in Jerusalem, preventing it and all its staff from working in Jerusalem, and forbidding its crews to even provide any messages or coverage to television from there, at a time when summons for many workers with the TV continued under various pretexts. The occupation authorities, by a decision of the Israeli Minister of Interior, closed the office of the (official) Palestine TV for six months, after they stormed the headquarters of AlAraz Media Services Company, which hosts the TV office in its offices in occupied Jerusalem, and summoned a number of TV workers and the aforementioned company and interrogated them. After the end of the first closure period (lasting 6 months), the occupation authorities summoned Christine Rinawi on Monday 11/5/2020 to “Room No. 4” and there, an Israeli investigator photographed and fingerprinted her, and then handed her a decision issued by the Israeli Minister of Internal Security Gilad Erdan. The decision stated the renewal of the closure of the Palestine TV office and the banning of all its activities everywhere in Jerusalem and the interior for another 6 months, which was followed on 11/10/2020 by calling the TV reporter Christine Rinawi again, as she was informed of the extension of the TV shutdown period and preventing her from working in Jerusalem for the third time, as before, and the period is six months as well. As a direct result of this, the television activity and its team completely stopped operating in Jerusalem, which is one of the most important centers of events and local and international media attention, for the second year in a row, noting that Palestine TV is the largest Palestinian media institution among the Palestinian institutions operating in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 17 Violations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (including Jerusalem) during 2020 by month and by party
Israeli Palestinian Other Facebook Inc. Total Occupation Parties parties
Month WB* GS* WB GS WB & GS WB &GS
January 22 1 0 4 0 0 27
February 31 0 6 1 1 0 39
March 4 0 2 9 16 0 31
April 1 0 5 2 0 0 8 1 May 18 0 4 5 46 (Associated 74 Press) June 45 3 2 7 1 1 (Unknown) 59
July 4 0 1 12 3 0 20
August 3 1 1 5 1 0 11
September 13 0 9 6 3 0 31
October 31 0 2 0 5 0 38
November 22 0 3 2 8 0 35
December 16 0 2 6 11 0 35 *WB: West Bank. *GS: Gaza Strip. î Banned from Covering: The blocking or prevention of coverage is the goal and the main driver of the various types of Israeli attacks targeting media outlets and journalists in Palestine, and to achieve this goal, the occupation forces and authorities resort to physical attacks, arrests, prosecutions, targeting of journalists in the field, the closure or destruction of media institutions, and other sorts of violations. When the mentioned attacks do not succeed in deterring and stopping journalists from reporting on the ground of the practices of the occupation, it is often resorted to direct prevention of coverage and to remove journalists and the media from the places of the event in order to prevent the transmission of what is happening. During 2020, the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms “MADA” monitored and documented a total of 71 Israeli violations related to the direct prevention of the occupation forces from covering various events in the field. In addition to this, during the past year, a total of 32 other violations were monitored, represented by deleting materials after photographing them, destroying or confiscating equipment, and detaining or targeting journalists
18 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine to prevent them from covering in the field. In addition to that, two cases of banishment from Al-Aqsa Mosque, in order to prevent coverage of what is happening there, and this measure is considered one of the serious attacks, especially since the number of journalists who cover events there is relatively limited (due to the general Israeli measures in this regard), and given that the prevention process does not end with the end of a specific event, but rather extending for weeks and sometimes months, with what these long periods of events witness, what is happening in them is indirectly obscured, through the prior absence of the media and journalists from the location of the event. In other words, last year witnessed no less than 105 Israeli attacks, directly related to the prevention of coverage or the attempt to conceal the image of what is happening on the ground in terms of practices and events. î Facebook Inc. Violations During the year 2020, a total of 95 violations against media freedoms were monitored and documented in Palestine, which were committed by social media companies, specifically Facebook, targeting the closure, blocking, or banning of publishing for different periods of time, private pages of journalists or media institutions, under the pretext of “violating Facebook standards” or what the company considers “incitement”. Many of these violations came in connection with publications dating back to previous periods, in addition to the fact that many of the violations are taking place automatically through electronic programs linked to some “key” terms and vocabulary, according to which any texts or comments that appear in these terms are of an inflammatory nature incites “terror”, such as the names of some political parties, leading figures or armed Palestinian formations, without any consideration to the axiom that many of the news contain such terms, which makes their circulation (regardless of the context or the nature of the text) sufficient to close this account or block it and consider its owner “inciting” terrorism according to the custom of Facebook company, which adopts the Israeli definition of incitement and terrorism or relies on it in its procedures. In addition to this, hundreds of other pages that belong to other Palestinian citizens have been affected by closures and prevention of publication, in the same way and for the same arguments. The number of violations committed by Facebook against journalists during the year 2020 is quite similar to what various Palestinian parties committed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 19 Table7 showing the Israeli requests to Facebook and the percentage of accepting these requests Number of Israeli Facebook’s acceptance Time period requests percentage 1st half of 2018 697 71% 2nd half of 2018 624 73% 1st half of 2019 709 76% 2nd half of 2019 675 79% 1st half of 2020 913 81% Total 3618 75%
Numberof Israeli requests sent to Facebook during two and a half years
1000 913 900
800 709 697 675 700 624 600
500
400
300
200
100
0 0 1st half 2nd half 1st half 2nd half 1st half 2018 2018 2019 2019 2020
Last year, Facebook turned into a major violator of media freedoms in Palestine, following the understandings reached by the Israeli government with Facebook in 2016, under the banner of fighting “incitement” through social media, which made media freedoms and freedom of expression in Palestine since that time subjected to three main parties targeting it, the first and most dangerous of which is the Israeli occupation forces and authorities, and secondly social media networks and companies, in particular Facebook company, which has become another (almost direct) gateway to more Israeli violations against Palestinian content and media freedoms in Palestine. The third party is represented by the various Palestinian parties in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. 7 The figures in the table were taken from the transparency report issued by Facebook periodically - The statistics related to the second half of the year 2020 have not yet been announced, so they did not appear here.
20 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine Facebook's response percentage to Israeli requsets
82% 81%
80% 79% 78% 76% 76%
74% 73%
72% 71% 70%
68%
66% 1st half 2nd half 1st half 2nd half 1st half 2018 2018 2019 2019 2020
Additionally, the violations of Facebook do not target only Palestinian journalists and media outlets, but rather they target Palestinian content in general, and therefore they have become a direct and severe threat to freedom of expression in Palestine, especially since social media platforms, specifically “Facebook”, have become the most prominent, important and widely used platform. Between Palestinians to communicate, express and publish their views, especially if we remember that about two million Palestinian residents of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which number about five million, have private accounts on Facebook. The transparency report issued by the “Facebook” company itself on some of its business shows part of the size of this problem, as the report indicated that Facebook received during the first half of 2020 a total of 913 Israeli requests to delete or block sites / pages on Facebook network or to take any other measures against it, and Facebook dealt with 81% of the total of these requests by accepting them. According to the same source (the transparency report issued by Facebook), and going back to the previous two years, the observer notices a significant increase in the number of Israeli requests directed to Facebook, as well as the high rate of Facebook response to what the Israeli occupation authorities requested from them. Regarding the year 2019, Facebook had stated in its report that during the first half of 2019 it had received a total of 709 Israeli requests, and that it “dealt” with 76% of them, and during the second half of 2019 it received a total of 675 other Israeli requests, and dealt with 79% of them. Going back to the previous year (2018), Facebook received during the first half of it a total of 697 Israeli requests to delete or block websites / pages on the Facebook network, and that Facebook handled with 71% of these requests (it responded to them and implemented them). In the second half
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 21 of 2018, Facebook received 624 other Israeli requests that “dealt” with 73% of them, as stated in its report. The comparison shows that Facebook used to receive every six months (every half year) of the years 2018 and 2019 an average of 676 Israeli requests, but this number witnessed a clear jump during the first half of the year 2020, as the number of Israeli requests received by Facebook increased to 913, an increase of 237 requests above the previous rate, or an increase of 35%, which was accompanied by an increase in Facebook’s response to these requests which reached 81%. It is clear from the foregoing that, over the course of two and a half years (between early 2018 and mid-2020), Facebook was receiving more than 120 Israeli requests in this regard every month, and it was responding to three out of every four Israeli requests it received. It is also noticed that the response rate of Facebook to what Israel requests from it in this regard rose by 10 degrees within two years and jumped from 71% in the first half of 2018 to 81% in the first half of last year 2020. î Palestinian Parties’ Violations The number of Palestinian violations of media freedoms in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the year 2020 witnessed a significant decrease, dropping to less than half of what they were in the year preceding 2019. During 2020, MADA monitored and documented a total of 96 violations committed by Palestinian parties in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, a figure equivalent to only 48% of all Palestinian violations in 2019, which amounted to 200 violations. Palestinian parties’ violations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the past ten years Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2010 Total
Number 106 74 78 114 192 134 154 129 200 96 1277 In other words, the number of Palestinian violations has decreased by about 52% from what it was in the year 2019, despite its importance, but it did not bear significant indications of different trends or policies, as there has been Palestinian parties' violations during the past ten years 200 200 192 154 150 134 129 106 114 100 96 74 78 50
0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
22 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine no change in several important files related to media freedoms, most notably the adoption of the law on the right to obtain information, which the current Palestinian government (for example) announced that it had “put it on the table” and will work towards its endorsement. In addition, no amendment has been made to the Cybercrime Law, in addition to the continuation of violations, albeit at lower rates, although this decline is partly due to the general situation associated with the spread of the Corona pandemic, and in the other part to a better understanding from the current government of the issue of freedoms and the need to maintain them.
Palestinian Parties' violations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the past 10 years 140
119 120 116 113 100 88 90 86
80 87 64 59 60 76 50 37 40 44 48 41 37 35 37 20 28 24
0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 West Bank Gaza Strip
The Palestinian violations during the year 2020 came within 11 types that were presented as usual by the summons and interrogations, which amounted to 37 cases recorded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which constitutes about 38% of the total Palestinian violations, followed (in terms of number) the arrests and arrests, which totaled 17 cases. The ban on coverage and deletion of media materials amounted to 13 incidents that were recorded in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. î Palestinian Parties’ Violations in the West Bank In the West Bank, a total of 37 violations of media freedoms were recorded during the year 2020, equivalent to about 43% of what was monitored in 2019, which witnessed 87 Palestinian violations in the West Bank. While the blocking of dozens of websites (49 websites) in 2019 constituted the largest block of the total of violations at the time, the year 2020 did not witness any new blocking process, which was also accompanied by
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 23 a significant decrease in the various other types of violations that were detected in the West Bank. Palestinian Parties’ Violations in the West Bank during the past ten years
Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2010 Total
Number 44 37 28 90 116 86 119 88 87 37 732 The Palestinian parties’ violations that were monitored in the West Bank were distributed into several types, most notably the summons and interrogations, which amounted to 13 cases, arrests, which amounted to 4 cases, and the prevention of coverage and deletion of materials that amounted to 6 cases, in addition to one physical assault and one case of torture that Ayman Faisal Qawareq on the hands of Preventive Security officers during his arrest because of charges of “defaming the authority” due to his posts and comments on Facebook, as his detention lasted for three days, during which he was beaten and ill-treated. During the past year, it was noticed that the threats against journalists from different and unknown sides continued, as the West Bank witnessed three cases. The most prominent and most dangerous of which was the exposure of the “Ma’an” TV channel journalist and head of the Freedoms Committee of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, Muhammad al-Lahham, to threats of kidnapping and murder by citizens of Al-Ja’bri family, following the broadcast of a video clip related to one of the elders of the family mentioned in his program “Text by Text”, which he presented on the satellite screen “Ma’an” on December 10, 2020. Palestinian Parties’ Violations in Gaza Strip The number of Palestinian violations committed by Hamas agencies in the Gaza Strip during the year 2020 decreased by 41% compared to the previous year 2019, when it decreased from 113 violations to 59 violations. Despite the decline in the number of violations in the Gaza Strip, it did not reflect any real trends related to the respect and maintenance of media freedoms by the ruling authority there, in addition to the fact that the frequency of violations and when compared to their counterparts in the West Bank remains relatively high, especially if one takes into account the difference in population, number of journalists and media institutions in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip8. Perhaps the decision that was addressed to journalists issued by the Ministry of the Interior in Gaza on 12/11/2020 regarding the curfew on Fridays and Saturdays as part of the anti-Corona measures in the Strip, reveals part of the authority in place there for journalistic work and media freedoms, as the decision stipulated preventing the movement of journalists and the media, as well as preventing any field coverage during that time. Soon after this statement was issued and its content was translated on the ground, clearly showing the status of the press and media freedoms as well
8 The population of the West Bank constitutes about 60% and the Gaza Strip about 40% of the total Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
24 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine as the respect and concern of these freedoms; as the police in Rafah in the Gaza Strip arrested the journalist, Muhammad Omar Qandil, while he was photographing an empty street of pedestrians near his home (Friday afternoon) - 11/12/2020), under the pretext of violating the curfew imposed as part of the anti-Corona measures, after he left his home and began to take pictures of the street without pedestrians, and pictures of cats on the road. The photographer was taken to the Tal al-Sultan police station, and there he was admitted to a cell measuring 1 x 1.5 meters, which smelled extremely bad, and was held for about 7 hours, after which he was handed over his camera and phone, and he signed a pledge not to go out and photograph under the curfew, otherwise he would expose himself to arrest and pay financial bail; then he was released. Palestinian Parties’ Violations in Gaza Strip during the past 10 years Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Total
Number 62 37 50 24 76 48 35 41 113 59 545
Palestinian Parties’ Violations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2020 based on the type Number Type of Violation West Bank Gaza Strip Total
1 Physical assault 1 3 4
2 Arrest 4 13 17 Detention –often accompanied with 3 1 2 3 interrogation and ban from coverage 4 Summon and Interrogation 13 24 37
Confiscation - seizure of 5 3 1 4 equipment
6 Incitement-Defamation 1 1 2
Raiding a house or 7 1 1 2 institution
8 Institutions’ closure 0 2 2
9 Ban from coverage 5 3 8
10 Delete material and content 1 4 5
11 Torture and mal-treatment 1 2 3
12 Threats 3 2 5
13 Others 3 1
Total 37 59 96
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 25 Total Palestinian Parties' Violations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2020 by type and number 40 37 35 30 25
20 17 15 10 8 5 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 0 houses Travel ban Travel institutions questionong other assaults destruction of destruction Human shields Summoning and Physical assaults Physical Arrest-detention Seizure-detention- Deletion of material Raiding institutions/ Closure-destruction of Closure-destruction Prevention of coverage Prevention detention of Journalists detention î Arrests and Torture During the year 2020, a total of 17 arrests and detentions were recorded (4 of them in the West Bank and 13 in the Gaza Strip), three of whom were subjected to torture and ill-treatment during their detention (one in the West Bank and two in the Gaza Strip) and they are: Amin Khaled Al-Hajin and Ismail Fayez Al-Bazam in the Gaza Strip, and Ayman Qawariq in the West Bank. For example, journalist Amin Khaled Al-Hajin, who was arrested by Internal Security in Gaza on 9/20/2020, a day after he was held in a cell, was interrogated by three interrogators about his writings on the general situation in Gaza Strip, and during that time he was beaten with a piece of leather “falaka” and he was forced to call his brother Ahmed and ask him to delete a post in which he indicated that he had been arrested, and that evening he was transferred to Kamal Adwan Hospital due to his sudden fatigue (shortness of breath, dizziness, emaciation, and cramps), and there he was examined and given the necessary treatment, and then he was taken back to the Internal Security headquarters and placed in the cell again, and in the afternoon of the third day, he was released. Palestinian Parties’ Arrests of Journalists during the past eight years 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Total WB 8 14 18 15 24 17 15 4 115 GS 14 1 13 6 8 0 31 13 86 Total 22 15 31 21 32 17 46 17 201
26 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine Palestinian Parties’ Arrests of Journalists during the past eight years in the West Bank and Gaza Strip
35 31 30
25 24
20 18 17 15 15 15 14 14 13 13
10 8 8 6 5 4 1 0 0 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 West Bank Gaza Strip
Summon and Interrogate As in past years, the summons and interrogations of journalists, most of which are accompanied by detention operations that extend for several hours and sometimes until the hours of the night, have remained unchanged in terms of what they represent as one of the most prominent and widespread types of Palestinian violations. There has been no change in the number of summons and interrogations that were recorded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the year 2020, reaching a total of 37 cases, which is similar to what was recorded in the year 2109, when there were 36 cases. Summons and interrogations in the year 2020 constituted about 38% of all Palestinian violations, noting that the largest part of them (24) took place in the Gaza Strip compared to 13 summons and interrogations in the West Bank. Summons, investigation, and detention in the West Bank and Gaza during the past seven years 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Total WB 19 25 23 23 28 21 11 13 163 GS 5 6 15 28 4 20 25 24 127 Total 24 31 38 51 32 41 36 37 290
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 27 Summons, investigation, and detention in the West Bank and Gaza during the past seven years
60
50 28
20 40 15 24 25 6 4 30 5 28 25 20 23 23 21 19 11 13 10
0 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 West Bank Gaza Strip
Closure of Institutions Among the most severe and prominent violations that were recorded in the Gaza Strip during the year 2020, was the banning of Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath news channels by the Ministry of Interior in the Gaza Strip, on 7/15/2020, from working in the Strip, and prevented any journalist from appearing on the screen of he two channels, and its threat to pursue any party providing media services to the two channels in the Strip, following the publication of information by the Al-Arabiya channel that it obtained information related to the issue of the escape of a field commander from the Hamas movement to the Israelis, although the channel offered Hamas leaders to comment on the news, as they refused and did not deny it at the time, but Hamas issued a statement later (7/12/2020) in which it considered what had been published “fabricated news” and accused the channel of “practicing deception and working to spread rumors and lies.” On Wednesday (15/7/2020), the official of the Al Arabiya channel office in the Gaza Strip, Adel Al-Zanoun received a phone call from the Ministry of Interior in Gaza to close the office of the “Al-Arabiya” and “Al-Hadath” channels, and to inform companies and advertising institutions to ban dealing with the two channels. Ziad Al-Halabi, director of the Al-Arabiya channel office in the Jerusalem office, received a text message on his phone, via the WhatsApp application, with the same content.
28 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine DETAILS OF and ask them to stay away: The Syrian News Channel Staff VIOLATIONS: consisting of the reporter Jeries Khaleel Azer (30 years old), the î January: Channel cameraman Mutasem Sameer Saqf Al-Hait (32 years old), (6th Jan.) The occupation soldiers Palestine TV reporter in Qalqilya assaulted a number of journalists Ahmad Othman Shawer (33 years and prevented them from covering old), and the freelance photojournalist a Palestinian protesting march Mahmoud Fawzi Ismail (30 years organized at the entrance of Nabi old), the Colonization & Wall Ilyas Village, eastern Qalqilya. Resistance Commission cameraman According to the investigations Mohammad Jihad Hamdan (29 years of MADA researcher, a peaceful old). demonstration was organized to (6th Jan.) The occupation soldiers take place on the afternoon of 6th assaulted a number of journalists Jan. 2020, on the settlement street and prevented them from covering 55, that passes near the entrance of the demolition and dismantling of Nabi Ilyas Village, eastern Qalqilya, a number of houses and facilities of and that many journalists and Palestinian citizens in Al-Auja Village, media agencies arrived to cover the northern Jericho. demonstration. In the meantime, at around 12:00PM on that day, while According to the investigations of ROYA TV staff, consisting of the West MADA field researcher, a force of Bank reporter Hafeth Mahmoud Abu the occupation army arrived in the Sabra (32 years old), his coworker morning on Monday corresponding the cameraman Ashraf Mohammad 6th Jan. 2020 to Al-Auja Village, Saleem Dar Zaid (35 years old), northern Jericho, and started was presenting a live statement demolishing three brics and during the newscast, a group of dismantled more than 15 housing soldiers approached and one of the units of citizens in the village. A soldiers pulled out the cable of the number of journalists arrived to live broadcasting device while the cover the events, including Reuters staff was going on air, and thus cut Cameraman Adel Ibrahim Abu the feed to the TV studio. Not only Neima (52 years old), from Jericho. this, but the soldier also pushed the At 9:30, while the journalist Abu reporter Abu Sabra and ordered Neima was alongside a number of them to stay away by a distance of colleagues who were filming the no less than two hundred meters demolition (was not wearing the claiming that it is “a closed military PRESS helmet and vest), and they zone”. Furthermore, the occupation were next to a number of the village soldiers also prevented the residents, while the Israeli soldiers remaining journalists from covering were firing gas bombs, rubber the demonstration which involved coated metal bullets and live bullets assaulting some demonstrators and at the residents not to mention citizens by settlers. The prevention they arrested a number of them from coverage escalated to pushing including journalist Adel Ibrahim Abu the following journalists very hard Neima. One of the Israeli soldiers
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 29 handcuffed Abu Neiman and took Bethlehem, where an intelligence him by force to one of the military officer detained him for half an hour. jeeps, detained him in there for two The Israeli officer told Shalaldeh that hours, preventing him from covering filming around the Ibrahimi Mosque the demolition. At around 2:30PM and the detainees bothers the (Israeli on the same day, one of the soldiers Intelligence Services and Army), and arrested three journalists, pushed threatened him to stop and that this and prevented them from covering was his last warning. When Shalaldeh the events, namely: WAFA Agency left the headquarters, another cameraman Sulaiman Mahmoud officer threatened with murder and Sulaiman Abu Srour (37 years old), told him that it was the last he will who was threatened by the soldiers be questioned, next time he will be to be arrested if he did not leave the “assassinated”. Abulmuhsen asked area forcing him to move away by the officer whether he was serious 700 meters from the event location. or not, and the latter replied that he They also impeded the arrival of his was serious and things might end up coworker, WAFA reporter Nadeem with assassination. Ahmad Mousa Alawi (25 years old). (14th Jan.) Doctor at Jordan Hospital Furthermore, the soldiers assaulted informed the cameraman Attia Al-Awda TV reporter, and employee Mohammad Darwish who was injured of Colonization & Wall Resistance by a gas bomb in the face fired at him Commission Mohammad Jreir Tawfiq by one of the occupation soldiers Hamdan (40 years old), as one of a year ago that he completely lost the soldiers sprayed a number of sight in his eye and there is nothing citizens with pepper spray including that can be done about it. Hamdan resulting in his suffocation. According to the investigations (13th Jan.) The Israeli Intelligence of MADA field researcher, Attia summoned the photojournalist Mohammad Ali Darwish (32 years Abdelmuhsen Tayseer Shaladeh old), a freelance photojournalist and threatened him with murder working for several institutions if he continued filming around the including AL-Ray Agency in Gaza, Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. has arrived in the afternoon of According to the investigations of Friday corresponding 14th Dec. 2018 MADA researcher, the photojournalist to Malka eastern Gaza to cover the Abdelmuhsen Tayseer Shalaldeh (28 peaceful return march organized years old), from Hebron, works for G weekly in Gaza Strip. At around Media and Al-Jazeera Documentary, 5:00PM on that day, and while he received at around 6:00PM, on was 300 meters away from the Sunday 12th Jan. 2020 a phone call separation fence on the other side from an Israeli officer who informed of which the Israeli soldiers were him of the need to come to Gush deployed, taking photographs of Etzion Settlement Cluster, the Israeli the demonstrators, he was injured Intelligence Investigation Center, at by a gas bomb in the face (lower 10:00AM, on the following morning his left eye) fired at him by one of Monday corresponding 13th Jan. the occupation soldiers. It should be 2020. The journalist Shalaldeh went noted that Darwish was in the known on the said schedule to Etzion Press uniform (helmet and vest). Investigation Center, southern Upon his injury, he was immediately
30 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine transferred by an ambulance to Dar in Beit Hanoun/Erez checkpoint, Al-Shifa Hospital, where he was Gaza Strip to cover the release of taken to the ICU. Two days later prisoner Alaa Abu Jazar from the (Sunday, corresponding 16th Dec. Israeli Occupation Prisons, through 2018) he underwent a surgery to Beit Hanoun Checkppoint. remove the fragmented bone and According to the investigations of place platinum in his face. He stayed MADA researcher, Dunia Al-Watan in the hospital until 21st Dec. 2018, e-Newspaper reporter, Mohammad and then he was transferred to the Mahmoud Shaban Awad (30 Palestinian Red Crescent Al-Quds years old), and the cameraman of Hospital, where he stayed for a week Gaza Media Agency Mohammad under supervision. Then he was Hazem Sami Al-MAsri (22 years discharged and returned home on old) have arrived on the afternoon 28th Dec. 2018. Given his inability of Wednesday 15th Jan. 2020, to to clearly see post the injury, and what is known as (5/5) Point of the since his attempts to get a medical Palestinian Authority Services, at transfer to the Eye Hospital in Cairo Beit Hanoun Checkpoint, Gaza Strip, have failed, he traveled in February to cover the arrival of prisoner Alaa 2019, at his own expense, to Egypt, Abu Jazar after he was released where the doctors informed him that from the Israeli occupation prisons there is nothing that can be done where he spent 17 years of his life. to his eye given the fragmentation At around 2:30PM, the security caused to it as a result of the injury officer evacuated the citizens and not to mention that a relatively long journalists given the limited space. time passed since he was injured. This resulted in altercation between He returned to Gaza Strip. On the journalists (Al-Masri and Awad) Wednesday, corresponding 15 Jan. and one of the security officers where 2020, he left Gaza Strip through one of the Palestinian Authority Rafah Land Crossing and went to Security officers and three of his Jordan to receive treatment, after he colleagues assaulted the journalists got a medical transfer through the Awad and Al-Masri by beating and Palestinian Authority. On 18th Jan. cursing, even though the journalists 2020, he was admitted to Jordan entrance was coordinated by the Hospital in Amman, and once he was Palestinian Authority competent diagnosed, the doctors informed bodies to facilitate their mission. him that “there is not hope to treat Their cell phones were seized by one his eye” and that he completely lost of the police officers when they tried sight and it will always be like this. to contact the Crossings General Darwish stayed at Jordan Hospital Director Nathmi Muhanna. They for one month as it was decided to were taken out of (5/5) point to the perform a plastic surgery to his face external gate. At that moment, the and hearing since it was affected by Director of Intelligence (Abu Ibrahim the injury. Al-Zaanain) came, and ordered the (15th Jan.) The Palestinian Authority journalists to be taken to listen to Security officers have assaulted the their statements to find out what journalists Mohammad Awad and happened. After about half an hour, Mohammad Al-Masri while they members of the National Security were in what is known as “Point 5/5” Agency came and asked the
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 31 Director of Intelligence “Al-Zaanain” vehicle and arrested Yazan. Yazan’s to take the journalists to another family contacted the complaints investigation room where 4 security office in Jerusalem and learned officers of the intelligence and that “currently” he was at Jalama preventive security were present. Investigation Center. They talked to them about what (22nd Jan.) Preventing Palestine TV happened, and in the meantime staff from preparing a press report on the security office (with whom the the death of a citizen whose house altercation took place along with roof fall above her due to the heavy three of his colleagues) entered. rain and other losses caused by the His colleagues took him out of the depression by officers who said they room and continued questioning were from the “Internal Security” in the journalists about what had Khan Younes, Gaza Strip. happened and them took them out to According to the investigations of continue their coverage of releasing MADA researcher, Palestine TV staff, the prisoner Abu Jazar. However, consisting of: reporter Mohammad the security officer who assaulted Salim Abu Hatab (48 years old) them tried to come in their away and cameraman Hossam Attia Al- again, which forced the intelligence Masri (43 years old), both of whom director to ask the National Security are residents of Khan Younis camp, officer to accompany the journalists have arrived at around 9:30AM in Awad and Al-Masri on their way the morning on Wednesday 22nd out to the gate of Point (3/3) of Jan. 2020, to the house of citizen Hamad Security, where two Hamas Hind Kassab, who died as a result security officers questioned them of the collapse of her house roof about what happened with them at in Khan Younis, due to the rains, to the Palestinian Authority Security prepare a press report, after asking point, but they refused to respond the neighbors for permission. During unless in their institutions or in the filming (approximately at 9:45AM in presence of the Syndicate, and then the morning - that is, fifteen minutes they went home. after their arrival in the place), two (21st Jan.) The occupation forces civilians, dressed in civilian clothes, arrested the journalist Yazan Abu arrived and said that they were Salah, on his way back from Ramallah officers of the “Internal Security”, City to his house in Arraba, southern and they asked Palestine TV staff Jenin. to stop filming and leave the place According to the investigations of immediately. The security officers MADA researcher, at 2:00PM, on 21st asked the TV reporter, Mohammad Jan. 2019, while Yazan Jafar Fawzi Abu Hatab, for his identity card. The Abdullah Abu Salah (24 years old), latter refused at first, asking them to from Arraba, Jenin, a reporter of show proof of being officer of the Ramallah News Newspaper, and Al- internal security, but they refused to Hadaf Magazine on Facebook, was respond to him. So the journalist Abu on his way home from Ramallah Hatab showed his card and gave it to Arraba, two Israeli military jeeps to one of the officers who checked it followed the vehicle Yazan was riding and gave it back. One of the security on the road after Zatara checkpoint, officers showed a card that did not southern Nablus, pulled over the clearly reveal the identity of holder.
32 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine They asked the staff to leave the launched by activists to perform dead citizen’s house and the staff Al-Fajir prayers. This is all part of responded. While the staff was Palestinian attempts to suppress leaving the house, one of the security semi-daily attacks by settlers in Al- officers made a phone call, and Aqsa Mosque. At around 6:15AM, immediately asked the cameraman and after large forces of the Israeli Hussam Al-Masri to delete whatever occupation security and police he has filmed in front of him. The raided several places in Al-Aqsa cameraman responded and deleted squares, the cameraman Abu the filmed material. Meanwhile, Shalbak went from the square of the journalist Abu Hatab informed one farthest mosque to the Dome of the of the security officers that he and Rock square (150 meters away from his colleague intend to go to Salah where he was at) and there he saw El-Din Street near the European dozens of soldiers carrying weapons Hospital in Khan Younis, to prepare in the square forcing the prayers and a report about an area that wad women to leave and assaulting them drowning in rain water, for the by beating and firing rubber bullets. sake of their report that they were While he was doing his work there, trying to prepare about the weather one of “Al-Yasam” Israeli military unit conditions, but one of the officers approached the cameraman Abu told him: “you are not allowed to Shalbak and smacked him with a film anything in Khan Younis at all, stick on his right leg. Then another neither you nor the TV, if you want security officer approached and to film, go see the Internal Security smacked him again while yelling Office in the governorate and ask for “do not film… do not film… get out authorization to film”. This forced the of here…het out of her”. Note that staff to stop working and cancel the these officers of the Israeli unit were report they were about to prepare. smacking prayers violently and The reporter then informed the TV hysterically in the meantime. After Management –Gaza Strip Office of about a minute, a third security the incident, and they left the place officer attacked the cameraman Abu at around 10:10AM on the same day. Shalbak, slapped him with his hand (24th Jan.) Israeli security officers on his face and pushed him toward assaulted the photojournalist Iyad the stairs leading to the farthest Abu Shalbak, while he was covering mosque square, amid threatening the participation of hundreds of him of arrest if he continued filming. citizens at Al-Fajir Prayer, Al-Aqsa The cameraman Abu Shalbak Mosque, Jerusalem. suffered bruises and scratches in the face and leg as a result of this attack, According to the investigations and he received first aid in the field of MADA researcher, Iyad Hassan by volunteer paramedics who were Abu Shalbak (39 years old), the in the squares of Al-Aqsa Mosque in cameraman of ROYA TV, arrived at an the meantime. early house, on the morning of 24th Jan. 2020, to the square of Al-Aqsa (25th Jan.) The Israeli occupation Mosque to cover the participation of forces arrested journalist Thaer thousands of citizens in the prayers Abdel Nasser Al-Sharif, 28 years old, of Al-Fajir on Friday as part of the and detained him for several hours, campaign “Al-Fajir Al-Atheem” during which they subjected him to
34 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine severe abuse, after they sprayed him soldiers. Few minutes later, the and his family with pepper. officer asked the journalist Al-Sharif, According to the investigations who was suffering from suffocation of MADA researcher, Thaer Abdel due to inhaling gas (pepper) and his Nasser Ahmad Sharif (28 years family, to step against the wall and old), from Arroub Refugee Camp, raise his hands up to be searched. northern Hebron, a show presented The officer searched him and then at Palestine TV, arrived at 5:30PM, handcuffed his hands to the back on Saturday, corresponding 25th with a plastic cuffs, and tried to bend Jan. 2020 to his family house 10 him down, but the journalist refused meters away from the bypass road to respond. So, the officer punched (60) in Arroub Refugee Camp, him on his neck and took him to northern Hebron, to meet one of the military tower 50 meters away. the persons working at his place in While the two soldiers followed him, the second floor of his family house. and beat him up with their hands When he arrived the house, two of on his head, back, and sides, until the occupations soldiers and one they reached the military tower. officer were in front of his family The officer walked the journalist Al- house detaining two young men, the Sharif into a narrow corridor, and the officer asked Thaer to step forward soldiers started arguing, then the and show his personal identity card, officer began insulting the journalist and Thaer responded and showed with humiliating words, and then his ID. However, the officer asked blindfolded him with a piece of Thaer to bend and put his ID on cloth, walked several meters and the floor, but Thaer refused to do pushed him forcefully, until his head so. After few minutes of argument, hit a concrete wall, and then asked the officer counted 3-2-1, and one him to sit on the floor. As soon as of the soldiers assaulted him and the officer finished talking, one of punched him on his neck. Then he the soldiers kicked Al-Sharif strongly was assaulted by two soldiers who on his knees several times, until he grabbed him from his hands and fell on the ground, and continued dropped him down on the floor beating him on his feet while Al- while the officer squeezed his knee Sharif was screaming in pain of his against Thaer’s neck. The young feet and right hand, whose fingers men started shouting at the soldiers are amputated as a result of an old and the latter pulled their weapons work injury. Half an hour later, the at the young men. The journalist Al- beatings stopped, but the soldiers Sharif started shouting for his family, continued to insult him. One of the and immediately his father and three soldiers asked the journalist to stand of his brothers rushed to him. In the up, but he could not, because of the meantime, the journalist managed pain in his legs and right hand, as a to push away the officer and got result of the beating and severe cold. up. Then the officer pulled out of Two soldiers helped him stand up his pocket a bottle of pepper gas, and asked him to sit down again. Al- sprayed the journalist and his family, Sharif tried to sit down very slowly and forced them into the house, due to the pain he was feeling, but while his fluent Hebrew-speaking one of the soldiers violently kicked father remained arguing with the him on his legs and he fell on the
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 35 ground. After that, the journalist was pass the road until he reached the assaulted with hands by one of the officer who started threatening him soldiers on his abdomen, head and with arrest and assault in case of back. At around 7:00PM, a soldier “violating the orders of the soldiers.” took him to a small room and sat Al-Sharif returned to his family house him on a chair with plastic flooring. at 10:00, and he was exhausted and The journalist was able to look from tired as a result of being beaten and under the cover fixed to his head, subjected to severe cold. and found himself inside a bathroom. (29th Jan.) The occupation forces Shortly after, he started screaming detained three press staffs and at the soldiers because of the pain prevented them from reaching Al- in his feet and hands, and one of the Maleh area in the northern Valleys soldiers opened the door and began to cover a peaceful event organized to insult the journalist and slapped there to protest against Washington him on his head several times. Few deal of century, which included minutes later, the journalist Al-Sharif enabling Israel to annex the Jordan began to feel a state of breakdown Valley region. They also prevented due to coldness and pain, so he the press staffs to cover another shouted at the soldiers, and one of protest taking place in Al-Auja, on them came, spat on Al-Sharif several the same day. times, and beat him again. The According to the investigations of insults and spitting by the soldiers MADA researcher, the journalist Fathi continued intermittently for about Khaleel Barahma and Omar Ahmad an hour, after which the soldiers took Hassan Abu Awad, who work for the journalist out of the bathroom, Palestine TV, as well as the journalist walked him several meters and sat Adel Abu Neima who works for him on tinplate that was very cold Reuters Agency, and journalist and wet. Shortly after that, Al- Sulaiman Mahmoud Sulaiman Abu Sharif tried to spread his legs to Srour, who works for WAFA News relieve them, but he felt something Agency, all from Jericho, have took strongly smacking his (testicles), he off, at 9:00AM, on Wednesday screamed in pain while the soldiers corresponding 29th Jan. 2020, from continued to assault him with hands Jericho towards Al-MAleh area and spitting several times on him. (eastern Tubas), northern Valleys, In the meantime, the journalist was to cover a peaceful popular protest hearing pictures being taken from called for by the Colonization & Wall one of the soldier’s cell phones, as if Resistance Commission and Tubas the soldier was filming the assault. At Governorate against the deal of about 10:00PM, one of the soldiers century announced by Washington helped him get up and walked under which the Israeli occupation several meters by him, removed the can annex to its territories the blindfold from his eyes, removed the Valleys. At 9:40, the journalists who plastic cuffs, and asked him to go to were together in the Palestinian the officer who was standing on the Broadcasting Corporation vehicle other side of the road. Al-Sharif was arrived to Al-Jiftlik Village (located unable to move, and he felt dizziness, on the road to Al-Maleh area where until one of the citizens in the street they were heading). The Israeli approached him and helped him soldiers who had set up more than
36 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine one checkpoint to prevent the at the location of the journalists and citizens from going to Al-Maleh area ordered them to leave the place and to participate in the protest, stopped not to film, claiming that the place the journalists and asked them for is a “military zone”, and the soldiers their press and personal cards, and a threatened the driver of Palestine soldier photographed the same on his TV vehicle Samer Asaad Issa Abu mobile phone, and then he returned Salman, to seize his driver’s license, the cards of the journalists, Adel Abu and the vehicle, and give him a ticket Neima and Fathi Brahma. He asked of 1000 NIS if he did not leave the the journalists, Sulaiman Mahmoud place, which prompted him to leave Abu Srour and the journalist Omar the place immediately. Abu Awad, to get off the vehicle and (30th Jan.) The cameraman Rabee forced them to sit in a place about Hassan Mouneer was suffocated 25 meters away from the vehicle. until he passed out while he was The soldier was accompanied by an covering a demonstration at Al-Bireh Israeli policeman and three people in entrance that the soldiers attacked civilian clothes. The two journalists, more than once with a barrage of Abu Awad and Abu Srour, were suffocating gas bombs. pushed and threatened with arrest According to the investigations by the soldier and his companions of MADA researcher, at around if they saw them in the Valleys 1:00PM, on Thursday corresponding region. They seized WAFA Agency 30th Jan. 2020, a march called for press card from Abu Srour, and the by the national and Islamic forces Journalists Syndicate card of Omar was launched to condemn “the Abu Awad claiming they are invalid deal of century” announced by the (expired on 31st Dec. 2019) and American President Donald Trump. forced them all to go back to Jericho About 200 people took part in the and prevented them from arriving to march, which was launched from Al-Maleh area where they heading. the medical products company in On their way back, when they Al-Bireh, and headed towards “Beit approached Fasayel Village, which is El military checkpoint, located at a adjacent to Jericho, at approximately distance of about 200-300 meters 12:00PM, they watched a popular away from the launching location. march of Palestinian citizens at When the march arrived “City INN” the entrance to the settlement of Square at around 1:30PM, three “Maali Ephraim”, which is adjacent Israeli military vehicles came from Fasayel Village. They stopped and the DCO gate and started firing a got off the vehicle to cover the barrage of tear gas bombs at the march, but the occupation forces demonstrators causing multiple that were in the place prevented cases of suffocation among them. the cameramen Omar Ahmad Abu The heavy firing of gas bombs Awad and Sulaiman Mahmoud Abu wounded the cameraman of “Al- Srour again to cover the march. Arabi” TV, Rabee Hassan Mouneer, While an Israeli police officer tried (38 years old), with a state of severe to seize the camera of Palestine suffocation, as he was transferred TV, and prevented the journalist by paramedics to an ambulance Fathi Brahma from covering the of the Palestinian Red Crescent, event. About 20 soldiers gathered which was parked at a distance
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 37 of about 30 meters, and there he 12:00PM, on Friday, corresponding was provided with first aid until his 31st Jan. 2019, to cover a peaceful situation stabilized, and he returned march called for by the national to continue his work and cover the forces in the camp to condemn “the events of the demonstration again. deal announced by the American At around 2:30PM, a large force President Donald Trump”. Once of the occupation army raided Friday prayer ended, the march the site again and fired heavy gas moved and arrived the Distribution bombs at the demonstrators and Center of UNRWA where the journalists, resulting in dozens of demonstrators started throwing cases of suffocation among the stones at the occupation soldiers demonstrators. The journalist Rabee and the latter responded with sound was injured again with suffocation, and gas bombs randomly at them and shortness of breath until he and the journalists who arrived passed out (fainted) which forced to cover the events. This forced the ambulance staff in the area to Palestine TV staff to go to one of quickly transfer him to Al-Mostaqbal the buildings near the clashes, and Hospital, 2 kilometers away from the they went up on its roof on the third demonstration, where he received floor to cover what was going on. first aid and a respirator (Oxygen) Meanwhile, the soldiers fired a gas was placed for him until he regain bomb at the building where Palestine consciousness. At about 4:00PM, TV staff was located, resulting in he was transferred to the Palestine suffocation. Minutes later, the staff Medical Complex in Ramallah, returned to transmit the events live, as he was suffering from chest during which three soldiers went up aches as a result of this injury. He to the roof of the building, and they received further aid, examinations, asked the staff to stop broadcasting. Electrocardiography, and x-ray The soldiers tried to prevent them images to check his status that the from broadcasting by placing their doctors described as minor. He hands on the camera, the soldiers stayed in the hospital until 6:30PM continued to harass the staff until and then he was discharged. The they forced them to leave the doctors recommended him to go see building after they threatened the a pulmonologist and cardiologist. staff to use force, should it not obey (31st Jan.) The occupation soldiers the orders. Meanwhile, journalists assaulted and prevented Palestine were forced to leave the camp due TV staff from covering the clashes to the heavy tear gas bombs. taking place in Arroub Camp, î February: northern Hebron. (1st Feb.) The two cameramen, According to the investigations RajiAsfour and Abdullah Fawadleh, of MADA researcher, Palestine TV were suffocated by gas bombs by staff, consisting of the journalists: the Israeli occupation soldiers while cameraman Fadi Taleb Khilaf (33 they were covering clashes at the years old), cameraman Thaer entrance of Al-Bireh. Yousef Arjan (38 years old), and reporter Azmi Waleed Banat (24 According to the investigations years old), went to Arroub Refugee of MADA researcher, Al-Jazeera Camp, northern Hebron, at around TV cameraman, RajiOdehAsfour
38 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine (38 years old), his assistant the 9:30AM, on Saturday 1st Feb 2020, cameraman Abdullah Fawadleh (42 to the Israeli section at Al-Karamah years old), have arrived at 10:00AM crossing (bridge), on his way to in the morning of 1st Feb. 2020, at Jordan, where he was detained for the entrance of Al-Bireh, where an hour without being questioned clashes were taking place between before letting him continue his way groups of Palestinians and the Israeli to Jordan. Two days later, (Monday occupation soldiers. They began 3rd Feb. 2020), on his way back to take pictures of these events from Jordan to the West Bank, after they wore safety equipment the Israeli Intelligence seized the while the occupation jeeps were passport of the journalist Sami firing heavy gas bombs towards Al-Saei again about three hours, the Palestinian demonstrators. Their during which he was questioned by coverage lasted for several hours, an Israeli intelligence officer, who during which the occupation soldiers asked him about his work, and the were harassing and screaming at party he works for, to where and journalists, demanding that they why he traveled to Jordan and leave the area, and they targeted where he stayed there and which them more than once by firing sound places he visited. The interrogator bombs and rubber-coated metal said to him: “Sami, why were you bullets at them without causing imprisoned in 2016 and sentenced any injuries.At 3:10PM, the situation for 6 months?”Sami replied that calmed down and there were no this was on charges of “incitement”. clashes, but the two journalists, The investigator told him: “so, you Asfour and Fawadleh, were surprised remember”. Sami replied yes, and by the occupation jeeps firing heavy then the officer threatened him by gas bombs automatically towards saying: “It is clear that you do not them, as they were unable to put remember, because your file is ready in the masks to protect themselves for a new arrest - and I advise you, to from suffocation. As a result, they take care of your wife and daughters, suffocated severely, and the soldiers’ and do not write. If you stay like this, heavy gas firing hindered the arrival you will come back to us once again of the staff of the Red Crescent (we will arrest you)”. He took the Societywho came to take them. They name of Sami’s page on Facebook, were transported by the staffaway and then allowed him to continue his from the location, where they were way back to the West Bank. provided with the necessary aid in (2nd Feb.) The Journalist the ambulance in the field. AbdelmuhsenShalaldehwas (1st Feb.) The Israeli Intelligence wounded by a rubber-coated metal Service detained the freelance bullet in the head, while he was journalist Sami Al-Saei twice on covering a peaceful march in Ras Al- his way to and from Jordan, and Jora area northern Hebron. questioned him. According to the investigations of According to the investigations of “MADA” researcher, Abdelmuhsen MADA researcher, the freelance Tayseer Abdelmuhsen Shalaldeh, journalist Sami Saed Abed Al-Saei (28 years old), a cameraman for “J (40 years old), also a field researcher Media” Office for media services, a at MADA, has arrived at around resident of Sa’ir, north of Hebron,
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 39 went to a peaceful march organized in the city. There he underwent by Hebron University students, at medical examinations and x-rays, 11:30AM on Sunday, 2nd Feb. 2020, which showed the presence of a in condemnation of the “Deal of the diastolic fracture in the skull, while Century” announced by US President the doctors stitched the place of the Trump, and the demonstrators went injury in his head with 5 stitches and towards Ras Al-Jora area, northern placed him under observation for 24 Hebron.When the march arrived hours. the area of Al-Shaarawy Mosque, The cameraman Abdelmuhsen large forces of the Israeli occupation Shalaldeh intends to file an official army were deployed there, and complaint against the occupation the journalist Shalaldeh, who was army soldiers for being targeted and wearing his complete press uniform, injured after he was threatened to came with a number of his fellow be killed when he was summoned to journalists to the place where the investigation on 13th Jan. 2020 by soldiers were located, so a number of the Israeli Occupation Intelligence. soldiers approached the journalists (2nd Feb.) A force of the Israeli and began shouting at them in occupation army arrested the Arabic asking them to leave. One of journalist Mohammad Osama the journalists spoke to the officer Melhem for 11 days after assaulting that they wanted to be in a place him while he was covering a peaceful that keeps them safe from fire, and march in Halhoul protesting against the officer replied “The last thing I the century deal. care about is your safety” and forced the journalists, including Shalaldeh, According to MADA researcher, to move away to a place where Mohammad Osama Melhem (30 they were visible to the soldiers. years old), from Hebron, a reporter Meanwhile, some of the protesters of “Al-Marah” Radio and works in the began throwing stones towards the sound engineering section, went on soldiers, a number of whom passed Sunday 2nd Feb. 2020, to Halhoul to by the journalists, and approached cover a peaceful march organized towards the demonstrators, and to protest against the deal of the fired gas bombs randomly towards century, through voice messages the stone-throwers. In the meantime, forwarded from the field to the radio the journalist Shalaldeh placed his station. After the march began, camera on the ground and wore a the soldiers started chasing the gas mask, so one of the soldiers from demonstrators, while the journalist an estimated distance of 30 meters, MohammadMelhem was standing fired a rubber-coated metal bullet near the soldiers, as about six in the direction of the journalist soldiers approached him, shouting at Shalaldeh, injuring the left side of him, “Turn yourself in”. The journalist his head.Shalaldeh fell immediately did not move from his position and to the ground, and he suffered from told them he was a journalist, but seizure and loss of consciousness. the soldiers started beating him with The two journalists Sari Abdel their hands, legs, and rifles, on the GhaffarJaradat and Ahmad Halayqa, face, neck, and back, which caused rushed and took him to a private him bruises and broken teeth.Melhem vehicle all the way to Al-Ahli Hospital took out his ID and press cards, and
40 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine showed them to the soldiers and liked by 30,000 users. On 3rd Feb. the officer. The officer took the card 2020, the page received a warning and arrested Melhem in the jeep. from «Facebook» Company about While he was being transferred to a number of posts claiming they KiryatArba settlement located in the “violate the general policy of center of Hebron, to the intelligence Facebook”. Soon later, the page center, Melhem was subjected to was closed as the admins reported, verbal abuse and humiliation by knowing that during 2019, three the soldiers, and when they arrived pages belonging to Al-Hurriya Media to KiryatArba Center, the journalist Network were deleted by Facebook, Melhem tried to persuade the claiming they violate the content investigator that he is a journalist, policy. and that he holds a media certificate (6th Feb.) The journalist and and is working to cover the events. cameraman Mohammad Zaki Abu He asked them to bring his papers Ghania was injured by a metal bullet from the houseand the radio office to in the abdomen, which was fired prove his journalistic work but they by an Israeli soldier while he was did not pay attention to that as they covering a raid and clashes in the transferred him to Etzion detention city of Bethlehem. center. He did not see anyone in the According to the investigations first two days, as he was detained of MADA researcher, Mohammad for two days. Journalist Mohammed Zaki Abu Ghania (47 years old), Melhem was brought before the a cameraman of Reuters, from court on Tuesday 4th Feb. 2020, Bethlehem, along with a number when the judge ordered his release, of journalists, at around 7:30AM, as there is no evidence that the in 6th Feb. 2020, went to cover a journalist participated in «sabotage» raid carried out by the occupation as the soldiers claimed. However, army to several areas (including the the military prosecution requested surrounding of Al-Arja Factory, the that his detention be extended presidential headquarters and the for 72 hours, which was repeated Ducks Garden in Beit Jala). They subsequently (the extension of his first went to cover the raiding in the detention) at Ofer Prison Court Garden area, and there the soldiers until Thursday 13th Feb. 2020, when did not encounter them,thesoldiers the Israeli military court decided to tried to prevent the journalists from release the journalist on a bail of filming when they raided the house. 5,000 NIS, and a trial session was However, the journalists refused to set for him on Sunday (8th March comply with their orders and told 2020). them that the area is not closed (3rd Feb.) Facebook Company military zone to prevent them from closed Al-Hurriya Media Network filming, and after the raiding ended claiming that it publishes material in that area they left. At 10:00AM in violating Facebook’s General Policy. the morning that day, the journalists According to MADA researcher, went to cover the raiding in the Al-Hurriya Media Network,is an presidential headquarters, where advertising socio-political media clashes erupted. Groups of Palestinian organization, that has a Facebook demonstrators threw stones at the page created in 2019, followed and Israeli army’s patrols, while soldiers
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 41 fired sound and gas bombs as well as Israeli occupation soldiers, while rubber bullets. During their coverage the occupation soldiers were firing of these events, the journalists were gas and sound bombs, metal and standing in a central area between live bullets, heavily towards the the soldiers and the stone throwers demonstrators, wounding a number who were separated by about 100 of them with live bullets.At around meters (about 50 meters away 15:10PM, while he was covering from each side). They wore the these events at a distance of about press uniforms and helmets on their hundred meters and on the other heads. In the meantime, one of the side of the corner, clashes was taking soldiers fired a metal bullet towards place in the first square area in the Reuters cameraman Mohammed town (about 200 meters away from Abu Ghania, injuring him directly the center of the town). in the abdomen. Immediately, a As soon asSarkaji tried to approach Palestinian Red Crescent crew in the the clashes not surrounded by area rushed to provide him with first demonstrators, he was injured by a aid in the field. rubber-coated metal bullet in the left The journalist Mohammatd believes thigh. Shortly after he was injured by that the soldier targeted him another metal bullet in his left thigh deliberately especially since he was as well, only few centimeters away wearing the press uniform which from the place of the first injury. He makes it obvious for the soldiers realized that he was targeted by what was he doing. soldiers and retreated to the back (7th Feb.) The journalist Tareq next to the rest of his colleagues Yousef Khaled Sarkaji (34 years who were standing near the square old), was injured by two metal directly behind the demonstrators. bullets in the thigh, fired at him by One hour later after his injury the occupation soldiers while he (almost at 16:15) Tariq left the site was covering events that erupted in of the clashes without going to the Azoun town, eastern Qalqilya. Red Crescent’s ambulance. After he arrived the house and took a rest, According to the investigations of Tariq began to feel severe pain in the MADA researcher, Tareq Yousef place of the injury which was heavily Khaled Sarkaji (34 years old), works reddened. So, he went to Rafidia for Jmedia Agency and Al-Jazeera Hospital at 7:30PM, and there he Live, has arrived at 14:25PM, on was provided with the necessary Friday 7th Feb. 2020, to Azoun treatment as compresses were place town, eastern Qalqilya, to cover on his injury to relieve the pain. The the events taking place there after doctors recommended him to rest funeral procession of 1st Sergeant for three days. of PCP TareqBadwan who was shot by the occupation soldiers bullets. (10th Feb.) The Internal Security Sarkaji was wearing the helmet Service summoned the journalist and vest marked Press. There was LoayNahed Al-Ghoul and questioned great number of demonstrators in him for several hours about his the town, dozens of them went to work at the Palestinian Syndicate of the entrance of the town (Azoun), Journalists. and began throwing stones at the According to the investigations
42 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine of MADA researcher, LoayNahed about each one of them. The session Mohammad Al-Ghoul (40 years lasted for an hour and then he was old), the Director of the Palestinian taken back to the “Bus/Al-bas”. Syndicate of Journalists in Gaza Twenty minutes later, he was taken Strip, has received on 12:00PM, back to the detention room and on Sunday 9th Feb. 2020, while stayed until 2:30PM on the same he was at his house located in Al- day when he was released after his Shate’ Camp a notification from identity card, cell phone, and other the Internal Security Service. His belongings were given back to him. brother Saleh Al-Ghoul received the (10th Feb.) The Israeli occupation notification and it says that Loay soldiers detained a media student must go to the headquarters of of Al-Khadouri University, named the Internal Security at 8:00AM, in Ihab Al-Alami, for several hours, and the morning, on Monday 10th Feb. deleted the material he filmed of the 2020 and to bring along his cell soldiers closing the entrance to Al- phone and identity card, without Aroub camp in the West Bank and clarifying the reasons. Indeed, on the preventing people from entering or said schedule, Al-Ghoul went to the leaving the camp. headquarters of the Internal Security According to the investigations of where he first encountered a police MADA researcher, the media student officer who took his identity card, at Al-Khadoori University, IhabIssa cell phone, and the money he had. Mahmoud Al-Alami (22 years old), He wrote down all of his information from Beit Ummar, northern Hebron, and after ten minutes, he took him was on his way home at around to a place called “Bus/Al-bas” where 11:00AM, on Monday 10th Feb. 2020, individuals are detained. He stayed after he finished classes at the there for an hour and a half, along college. When he arrived the main with another four persons. gate of the college, the one leading At around 10:30AM, a police to the settlement bypass road officer came and took Loay to the (60), across the western entrance investigation room where an officer of Arroub Camp, northern Hebron, in civilian clothing was waiting. He Al-Alami saw two of the Israeli started questioning him about his soldiers standing at the entrance work, the central movement office of the mentioned camp which was of journalists, the activity of the closed by an iron gate, to prevent Syndicate in Gaza and his political citizens to come in and out. Al- affiliation. The officer was recording Alami approached to see what was the answers and the session lasted happening, and he saw the soldiers for an hour. The officer then took him preventing an old woman to pass to another room where he stayed for through an opening next to the 40 minutes. At around 12:10PM, the gate. Al-Alami called a number of policeman brought him back to the his journalist friends and asked them same officer who re-questioned him to come to Arroub Camp to film the again about the journalists’ central events. He opened his cell phone movement office, who to contact in and started filming the soldiers’ case of a certain event. The officer harassments of citizens. While he showed him photos of some of the was filming, one of the soldiers office personnel (11) and asked him shouted at him, approached him and
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 43 asked him to stop filming. Al-Alami and deleted all the materials related inquired about the reason but the to the soldiers and they also deleted soldier refused to talk to him. He took the filmed material he made at the the cell phone and asked Al-Alami entrance of the camp. to follow him to the entrance of (11th Feb.) Six journalists were the camp 20 meters away from the severely suffocated and injured college’s entrance. When Al-Alami by rubber bullets while they were got closed to the soldiers, one of covering a demonstration organized them asked him to sit on the ground. at the entrance of Al-Bireh City. Half an hour later, Al-Alami started According to the investigations feeling pain in his back as he had a of MADA researcher, at around condition in the spine vertebras. He 12:00PM, on Tuesday 11th Feb. 2020, asked the soldier to let him stand up, a march was launched from the but the soldier refused. Two minutes center of Ramallah in which 200 later, he allowed him to stand up for persons were involved, to condemn less than a minute and then asked and protest against the “deal of the him to sit on the ground again. In the century”. The march headed towards meantime, Al-Alami was listening Beit El Military Checkpoint, at Al- to the conversation of the soldiers Bireh entrance, 4 kilometers away in Hebrew, which he knew. One from the center of Ramallah. The of them addressed the other “just demonstrators approached the “City release him, why do you even have Inn” square, 300-400 meters away him?” the other solider answered from the checkpoint, and a number “let’s just have fun”. Soon after, of journalists accompanied them in the European Agency cameraman the march to cover it, while another Abdelhafeeth Al-Hashalmoun, number of journalists arrived later. arrived and told the soldiers that Al- Once the march arrived to “City Alami is a journalist and asked them Inn” square, several Israeli patrols why were they detaining him but the near the military checkpoint fired soldiers refused to reply. At 1:00PM, a barrage of tear gas bombs and Al-Alami’s parents arrived after they rubber bullets at the demonstrators, saw photos of their son through the which resulted in the injury of two of social media. His father addressed them by rubber bullets and 8 with the soldiers in Hebrew: “why didn’t suffocation. you take him to a detention center if he is arrested, otherwise release Some of the demonstrators started him”. The soldier replied “I am throwing stones at the army patrols sending him to your God” and asked that continued firing tear gas the parents to stay away. Shortly bombs and rubber bullets at the thereafter, a military vehicle arrived demonstrators and journalists. At at the checkpoint, and the soldier around 2:30PM, while the journalist handed over Al-Alami’s cell phone FatenAref Abdullah Alawan (38 to one of the soldiers inside the years old), Al-Hurra TV reporter, vehicle, and around 2:00PM, the was a live broadcasting from the soldier asked Al-Alami to leave the field to the TV, several Israeli patrols place, and gave him back his cell approached the demonstrators phone. After he left, Al-Alami found and fired a barrage of tear gas that they had opened his cell phone bombs. Due to several bombs falling
44 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine near her, she was injured and so fired at him by one of the occupation her cameraman NidalMohammad soldiers. Immediately, the volunteer Ramadan Hassan (32 years old), paramedics transferred him to the with severe suffocation. She ambulance and gave the necessary stopped broadcasting and moved first aid. He later came back to cover quickly towards the Red Crescent the events and did not go to the ambulance which was parked 50 hospital. But during the night hours meters away from her. She got in he felt severe pain, so he went to the ambulance and was provided the Palestine Medical Complex and with the necessary first aid. Shortly imaged the injury, and the doctors after, at around 3:15PM, while ROYA reassured him, gave him a painkiller TV reporter, Hafeth Mahmoud Abu and then he was discharged. Sabra (32 years old), was near a Moreover, Palestine TV cameraman gathering of journalists transmitting Ahmed Manasra was also slightly to the channel live along with his suffocated while he was covering colleague, the cameraman Wisam the events. Abed Rabu, things escalated in the (16th Feb.) A force of the Israeli area and in the West Bank in general. occupation Army prevented The occupation patrols started firing Palestine TV staff to access a barrage of tear gas bombs at the DeirNitham Village to cover an event demonstrators who were relatively taking place there. far from the journalists. Suddenly, According to the investigations of one of the military jeeps directed MADA researcher, Palestine TV staff, the vehicle towards the journalists including the reporter and journalist and started randomly firing bombs Haneen Al-Helo (29 years old), and one of which injured the foot of the cameraman Mohammad Radi journalist Abu Sabra after hitting the (35 years old), went on 16th Feb. floor. Other bombs fell near him and 2020 to DeirNitham Village in made him severely suffocate. He was Ramallah, across the street close shouting and calling his colleagues to “Halmeesh” settlement, where a for help, as he was feeling dizzy and military checkpoint is established threw the microphone. Soon later by the Israeli army since the he lost consciousness and when occupation forces closed the he woke up, he found himself on a village entrances, even though the carrier surrounded by a number of mentioned checkpoint used to allow Red Crescent volunteers providing vehicles to pass. The staff arrived him with first aid. He had a headache to the checkpoint at around 11:30, after that for several hours. In the and when the soldiers saw they meantime, Mohammad JreirHamdan were journalists, they asked them (30 years old), a cameraman who to show their press cards, seized works for the Colonization & Wall the key of their vehicle, told them Resistance Commission arrived at they were not allowed to access, around 3:00PM the entrance of Al- and detained them for more than an Bireh to cover the events. He was hour. While they were detained, the wearing the Press mask. Ten minutes occupation soldiers provoked the upon his arrival he started filming the journalist Haneen and her colleague incidents, and then he was injured by Mohammad, when they started a rubber bullet in the left shoulder the alarm of the vehicle more than
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 45 once, by pressing the vehicle’s seized their equipment and private key they seized earlier, and by phones, detained them in the rain cursing and insulting the Palestinian and interrogated them about the President Mahmoud Abbas, kicking reason they were in the place and the front of the vehicle. One of the for what agency they work. They soldiers threatened the cameraman remained in detention for an hour Mohammad Radi addressing him “if in the cold and rainy conditions, and we see you in the area, we will beat then they released and instructed you up” claiming that he films the them to leave the place. soldiers. While one o the settlers (20th Feb.) The Preventive approached the detained journalists’ Security Service summoned the vehicle but the soldiers asked him to photojournalist Nidal Al-Natsheh move away. During their detention, and questioned him about his press the soldiers seized the cell phone work. of journalist Haneen Al-Helo for According to the investigations about 15 minutes when they saw of MADA researcher, at her calling the TV Administration to around 10:00AM, on Thursday, inform them of what had happened corresponding 20th Feb. 2020, claiming that they thought she was “France 24” TV photojournalist Nidal filming the soldiers. After one hour Mahmoud AbdelhafeethAshmar (32 of their detention, the Palestinian years old), from Hebron, learned DCO intervened and released them. from a relative, through a phone (19th Feb.) A force of the Israeli call, that the Palestinian preventive occupation forces detained «Al- security service came to his house Jazeera Live» staff and prevented and delivered a written notification them from coverage, while the staff to his family. The notification stated was carrying out live broadcast that Nidal must appear at the about settlement and settler attacks headquarters located in Hebron, in Tormusaya, West Bank. on Sunday 22nd Feb. 2020, at According to the investigations of 10:00AM. Accordingly, Nidal went to MADA researcher, journalist Alaa Al- the headquarters of the Preventive Rimawi (41 years old), and cameraman Security in Hebron, and when he Mohammad ShukriAwad (32 years arrived they took his personal old), from Tormusaya, have arrived at card and took him to a detention around 11:30PM, on 19th Feb. 2020, room, where there were a number to live broadcast for Al-Jazeera of wanted persons waiting. Nidal Live, with a citizen from Tormusaya, waited until 12:00PM, and one of the who possesses lands in the eastern guards took him to a room where part of the town threatened to one of the investigators was. The be seized and confiscated by the investigator started his conversation occupation authorities. About 25 with journalist Nidal, about the nature minutes after the live broadcast of his work, the media agencies with to Al-Jazeera started, three Israeli which he works as a cameraman, how military patrols arrived and the he receives his salary and its value, soldiers were accompanied by the people working with him in the members of the Israeli intelligence, same job, how to communicate with who immediately asked them for workers in the channels he works for, their ID cards and press cards, and and the emails he uses to send the
46 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine filmed material. Nidal answered that hard disks, 2 cell phones, and 8 USBs. he works with known agencies and The investigator informed him that that the Preventive Security Service he will contact him the next week can inquire about anything from the about the said belongings. Nidal left Prosecution if it wants as it is the sole the headquarters at 3:15PM. party having the right to investigate (20th Feb.) A force of the Israeli with him about that. After that, the occupation army detained the investigator asked Nidal about a freelance photographer Mahmoud post on his Facebook page, about Mutan on his way to his town at his nephew Mutasem who was night, for five hours, and questioned arrested by the Service Security four him. months earlier, claiming that Nidal According to the investigations emphasized on the word (abduction) of MADA researcher, Mahmoud in the post whichis inappropriate Mohammad Mutan (34 years old), a coming from a journalist. Nidal freelance journalist and cameraman, replied that he posted what exactly at 11:30PM on Thursday 20th Feb. happened which was not arrest. The 2020 was on his way to his town investigation session lasted for 15 Burqa eastern Ramallah where he minutes. Then the journalist went lives. When he arrived DeirDebwan back to the waiting room, which was bridge, there were Israeli military very small considering the number patrols. They stopped him and of persons who were waiting the soldiers asked him to show his and which exceeded 20 persons. identity card. They got him off the Journalist Nidal stayed until 2:15PM, vehicle, searched it thoroughly and after which he was taken again to an fifteen minutes later, the soldiers investigation room in which another handcuffed and blindfolded him. investigator was present. He asked They took him to one of the military him the same questions that were vehicles and detained him for five discussed during the preliminary hours under investigation. investigation session, but this time focusing on the nature of the press The occupation army arrested the reports he prepares, how he receives cameraman Mutan on 17th April 2019 his salary, and how he communicates for 11 days in Ashkelon prison, and with the media agencies he works during his arrest, the Israeli soldiers with.During the investigation, seized computers and an amount the investigator told Nidal that of 11,000 NIS from his home at the his cell phone was monitored, time and he was unable to return the and Nidalreplied “The Preventive amount of money. Security has no right to monitor my (21st Feb.)The journalist Mohammad phone» and that if he managed to Mahmoud Inaya (28 years old) was be certain that indeed his phone is injured with rupture and bruises monitored, he will go to the judiciary. in his feet when the occupation The session lasted about 30 minutes, bulldozer pushed large rocks at the and before the journalist left the demonstrators and journalists during investigation room, the investigator a demonstration in KufrQadoum, asked him about his belongings they Qalqilya. kept from the time of his previous According to the investigations arrest about 3 years ago: a laptop. 4 of MADA researcher, Mohammad
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 47 Mahmoud Inaya (28 years old), rushed to move him away and take Palestine TV cameraman, arrived at him to the ambulance that was around 11:40PM, on Friday, 21st Feb. close to them. It was found later 2020 to KufrQadoum to cover the that both of his feet were injured. He weekly march organized every then was immediately transferred to Friday against the closure of the Darwish Hospital, Qalqilya, where he village entrance and the settlement. was imaged an x-ray. He stayed at He was wearing the helmet and blue the hospital until Sunday 23rd Feb. vest marked Press, and there was 2020 to make sure he does not feel great number of demonstrators. any complications. A CT scan was Immediately, Mohammad Inaya done for him and it showed ruptures started filming the events between in both of his feet. The doctors the demonstrators and the recommended him to avoid walking occupation soldiers. Dozens of for a week as he could not stand up citizens were in the march that was of pain. moving towards the closed street (25th Feb.)Around five journalists at the town’s entrance (the street were suffocated by gas bombs overlooking Qadomem settlement in fired deliberately at them by the KufrQadoum territories), and there occupation soldiers while they were the occupation soldiers attacked the covering a peaceful march against demonstrators with gas and sound settlement eastern Tubas, northern bombs as well as rubber-coated valleys, West Bank. metal bullets heavily and randomly According to the investigations of which resulted in the injury of a MADA researcher, the Colonization number of demonstrators. In the & Wall Resistance Commission meantime, when it was 12:30PM, the called for a march in solidarity with demonstrators retreated dozens of the families of the northern valleys meters to the back because they to protest against settlement. On were suppressed by the army. 25th Feb. 2020, several busses, The cameraman Mohammad in a peaceful march, went to that Inayaand a number of journalists area located eastern Tubas. The were close to these events. Forty Israeli occupation army closed the minutes later (at around 1:10PM), road to the demonstrators near while he was at 100 meters away from the checkpoint and suppressed the Omar Bin Al-Khattab Mosque, where march by firing a barrage of rubber the marches usually begin, an Israeli bullets and tear gas bombs towards military bulldozer raided the area and the demonstrators in the march, attacked the demonstrators driving which was attended by a number of very fast and pushing large rocks at journalists. The occupation soldiers them. The cameraman Mohammad deliberately fired gas bombs at the was standing few meters away media staffs while they were covering from them filming what was taking the suppression of the army to the place. Then he was surprised with peaceful march. This seemed flagrant the bulldozer pushing one of the to an Israeli officer who approached rocks at him which made him fall to Mutasem Sameer HamdiSaqf Al-Hait the ground. His camera completely (31 years old), the cameraman of the smashed as well as the camera Syrian News Channel, while he was tripod. Some of the demonstrators few meters away from the gathering
48 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine of demonstrators. According to the investigations Without warning, the Israeli officer of MADA researcher, Mohammad sprayed pepper spray directly Anwar FathiMuna (38 years old), and deliberately at the face of a reporter of Sanad News Agency, the cameramanMutasem, which received at around 12:00 midnight, resulted in severe suffocation, his 25th Feb. 2020, a phone call to his colleagues rushed to transport him house phone in Zawata Nablus. The to an ambulance, knowing that this moment he asked the caller his name, assault was documented by a video the latter hung up. Fifteen minutes clip. Moreover, Al-Ghad Channel later, he received another call, and cameraman HazemImadHusni the caller who introduced himself Nasser (30 years old), was injured to be from the “Preventive Security” by a gas bomb in the right thigh, asked him to open the house door, while he was filming an interview and he immediately did. He saw an his coworker the Channel reporter officer in military uniform who gave Khaled Saleh Mahmoud Budair (31 him a paper and told him it was “an years old) was conducting with authorization from the prosecution one of the demonstrators when the to search the house”. He informed occupation soldiers fired several him that there is an arrest order bombs at them, one of which injured against him and asked him to bring the cameraman Hazem in the right his identity card and cell phone. The thigh directly, which is why he was officer seized the laptop, cell phone taken to the Turkish Hospital in Tubas and identity card of journalist Muna. to receive treatment. His coworker While other Preventive Security Budair was severely suffocated and officers, in 20 minutes, searched the he received the field first aid by house except for the children’s room. the Red Crescent crews. In similar Furthermore, his wife’s (who is a circumstances, while Palestine TV teacher and uses the laptop for her cameraman, Loay Abdel HafeezAref work) laptop was searched as well. Al-Samhan (40 years old), and his They arrested the journalist Muna and colleague Ameer Shaheen were took him to Junaid Prison in Nablus. preparing a report about the march He arrived there at 1:00AM. He was in the same place, the occupation brought before the medical services soldiers fired several gas bombs to be medically examined. Then he towards them, which caused Loay was taken to the Preventive Security to severely suffocate and suffer headquarters in Nablus, where he shortness of breath and fall to the signed a paper on what has been ground. He was given first aid and seized from his house, including the was taken to the Turkish Hospital for laptop, two cell phones, and a Sony treatment. video camera. They took him to a cell where he stayed until 10:00AM (25th Feb.) The Preventive Security the next morning, and he was not Service arrested the reporter of allowed to go out to use the toilet, as «Sanad» News Agency, Mohammad no one answered his calls regarding Anwar Muna, detained him for this. At ten in the morning, he was about 20 hours, and re-summoned questioned by a person called Jihad him more than once after he was Bani Odeh (legal adviser) who released. asked him about the reason for his
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 49 arrest without explaining anything director SuhaibFuad, the preparer to him, and then he was returned OsaidSbaih, the broadcast engineers to the cell. At around 5:00PM that IyadHadeeb and HishamMughannam, day, an officer who was in a civilian the cameramen OdayHarbeyat, dress called him and took from him Mohammad Al-Arouri and Ahmad a statement about his name, the Habiba, the lighting engineer Ahmad names of his children and their ages, Al-Nashef, the sound engineer the name of his wife and her work, MutazShehada, the transportation the nature of his work, the agency personnel Mohammad Rawashda he works for, how much he received and Mohammad Radwan, arrived at as a salary, the agency’s orientation, around 1:00PM, on 25th Feb. 2020, the names of his brothers and sisters the entrance of DeirNitham village and their work, and about his arrest in three vehicles, to film the episode by the Israeli occupation and the of the program with the families of reason thereof, and his arrests by the village. When they arrived the the Palestinian Authority and the entrance, near Halmesh settlement, reasons. After about three hours (at the Israeli soldiers, who were setting around 8:00PM) they summoned up a military checkpoint in the area, him again and handed him a stopped them, detained them and notification to go to the Preventive seized their personal cards, took Security Service at 10:00AM in the copies of the same. After about 40 morning on Thursday 27th Feb. minutes of their detention, Ahmad 2020 and released him after an Al-Nashef spoke to one of the officers arrest that lasted for 20 hours. On the and asked him about the reason for mentioned date (Thursday 27th Feb. their detention. The officer told him 2020), the journalist Muhammad that Palestine TV crews are “inciting Muna went to the headquarters of against the Israeli army” and showed the Preventive Security Service in him on his cell phone some pictures Nablus and there he was detained and reports that were broadcasted until 5:30PM without even seeing on the TV, claiming that they “incite him by anyone. Then he was given against the Israeli soldiers”. While a new appointment on Sunday the staff members explained to the 1st March 2020 at 10:00 after they officer that they cover the practices took his identity card. of the Israeli army as part of their (25th Feb.) A force of the Israeli press coverage, and that they have occupation army detained Palestine the right to move freely and do their TV staff and prevented it from professional work as necessary. accessing DeirNitham Village, where After more than two hours of their it was about to record an episode of detention, Harbeyat said they told «Today›s File» program, claimibng the officer that they will not film. that Palestine TV was inciting in The officer photographed all of its programs against the Israeli the staff members and told them occupation. that he will share their photos at all military checkpoints to prevent According to the investigations them from access. Accordingly, the of MADA researcher, a large army released the staff members, staff of Palestine TV included 13 provided that they return to the city employees: the program presenter, of Ramallah and stop their filming, journalist Salam Al-Deek, the
50 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine but the TV Administration insisted His detention was extended. And his on filming the episode and the trial was adjourned until Thursday episode was filmed from an area in 5th March 2020. the neighboring village Nabi Saleh (28th Feb.) A Preventive Security close toDeirNitham, but instead force raided the family house of the of conducting interviews with the freelance journalist Ayman Qawarek people of the village of DeirNitham at night, in order to arrest him, but as decided, it was sufficient to host he was not home at the time, and the head of the village council, who told him to come by himself to the was able to reach the location of headquarters the next day. filming in Nabi Saleh. According to the investigations of (26th Feb.) The Israeli occupation MADA researcher, a force of the police arrested the journalist Preventive Security, after the middle MujahidMuflih at a military of the night, on 28th Feb. 2020, checkpoint on Ramallah-Nablus raided the house of the freelance Road, while he was accompanied by journalist[1] Ayman Faisal Mahmoud his wife and two children. Qauarek (33 years old) with the According to the investigations of intention to arrest him. But at the MADA researcher, the occupation time, he was in Howarah town to soldiers stationed at Za’tara cover an assault carried out by Checkpoint, on Ramallah-Nablus settlers there. He received a phone Road, have stopped, at about call from one of his brothers while 5:00PM, on 26th Feb. 2020, he was in a live broadcast to Quds Mujahid Mohammad BaniMuflih (30 News Network. He did not pick years old), who works as an editor up and dismissed the calls many for Al-Quds.com Website, and times. But at 12:05, he received a AltraPalestine News Website, on his call from a number not registered way to his town Beta along with his in his cell phone, so he stopped the wife and two children. They arrested live broadcast, and answered the him, seized his cell phone, and his call. The caller introduced himself wife’s cell phone, took him to the as a preventive security officer and Ariel settlement police station, while that they were in his family›s house, his wife and two children remained in to arrest him. Qawarek said that he the car until one of his relatives (his was in Howarah to cover the assault uncle, Islam Al-Shurafa) came and carried out by settlers against drove the car and brought Mujahid›s the citizens there. The Preventive wife and two children to the family’s Security told Qawarek family that house in Beta. He then learned that Ayman should come by himself to the journalist Mujahid contacted the headquarters and they seized the Palestinian Prisoner Club from two cell phones and two computers the investigation center in Ariel from the house. When the journalist’s settlement and told them that the father asked to be given a document occupation police was questioning proving that they had seized the him on charges of “incitement devices, they wrote a handwriting through his social media page”. On paper but did not give it to him. Sunday 1st March 2020, the journalist Journalist Qawarek did not go the MujahidMuflih was brought before next day to the Preventive Security the Israeli Military Court in Salem. headquarters in Nablus until Sunday
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 51 3rd Feb. 2020. It should be noted According to the investigations that he posted about the raiding of MADA researcher, Mohammad of his family house on his personal Zuhair Yousef Sayeh (34 years old), page. from Nablus, the cameraman of An- (29th Feb.) The Institutions Security Najah TV, has arrived before Sunday Department summoned the reporter afternoon corresponding 1st March of WAFA Agency, but the latter did 2020 to Mount Al-›Arma located not respond, as the summons was in Beta to cover clashes that have later canceled after the Journalists erupted between the families of Beta Syndicate intervened. and the settlers who were seeking settlement in the territory and According to the investigations were protected by the occupation of “MADA” researcher, the forces. Al-Sayeh was in his press Administration of WAFA News uniform. At around 11:30, along with Agency, on Saturday 29th Feb. his coworker, An-Najah TV reporter, 2020, contacted the journalist Rami Othman Jamal Othman Al-Shuaibi Samara, one of its employees, and (28 years old), the anchorman and informed him that the Institutions preparer of programs at the TV, they Security Department at the were at 15 meters away from the Palestinian General Intelligence soldiers broadcasting a message to contacted WAFA on Thursday An-Najah TV on the events taking 27th Feb. 2020 and summoned the place there in live broadcast, while journalist Samara to come on Sunday the Palestinians demonstrators and 1st March 2020. At around 2:00PM protestors were 150 meters away. on Saturday (29th Feb. 2020), the One of the Israeli Army patrols Palestinian Journalists Syndicate approached them quickly and contacted journalist Samara and suddenly, and when it reached 4-5 informed him that it had contacted meters away from them, one of the the Institutions Security Department soldiers shouted at them and cursed and canceled the summons. them to leave the area immediately Journalist Rami Samara said that he and fired a tear gas bomb at them. does not know what is the reason for They ran away, as far as they could summoning him by the Institutions from the soldiers. Only few seconds Security Department, and that no later, one of the soldiers looked at one from the Department contacted them, shouted and cursed them him to inform him about the matter and asked them to leave again. Al- after the Syndicate canceled the Sayeh pointed to the soldier that summons. he is walking away but the latter î March: pulled up his gun immediately and fired a rubber bullet deliberately and (1st March) Photojournalist directly at him. Al-Sayeh was injured Mohammad Zuhair Sayeh was in his right leg (tibia). The moment injured by a rubber bullet fired at he was injured, Al-Sayeh tried to him by one of the Israeli occupation move away but fell to the ground soldiers directly and deliberately and remained on the ground for five while he was covering the raiding minutes waiting for the ambulance. of settlers and occupation forces to However, one of the occupation Mount Al-›Arma in Beta, southeast soldiers fired two gas bombs directly Nablus.
52 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine at them which resulted in the injury him. Without showing any official of Al-Sayeh and his coworker with document or notification, they severe suffocation. Five minutes later searched the Radio and raided the (at around 12:00PM), the soldiers entire headquarters. They seized the moved away from them for 200 cell phone of Baha Al-Ruzi by force meters. The demonstrators were and took the number of his coworker able to reach them and move them Fayeq (who is wanted according to in an ambulance. Al-Sayeh and his the imprisonment order). Before coworker Othman Al-Shuaibi were leaving, their explained that they transferred to An-Najah Hospital came due to an order by the Public after they were given the first Prosecution given the imprisonment aid. In the hospital, Al-Sayeh was order against Fayeq, noting that the imaged an x-ray and he was given raiding took half an hour and then the pain killers and medications. He they left. was discharged after two hours of (2nd March) The Preventive Security hospitalization. Services arrested the journalist (2nd March) The security services in Ayman Qawareq from Aurta for Gaza Strip raided the headquarters three days during which he was of Sawt Al-Watan Radio to execute questioned about his posts on the an imprisonment order against an social media even though a force employee working as the sound of the Preventive Security raided technician in the Radio. Qawareq’s house on 28th Feb. 2020 According to the investigations of at night to arrest him but he was MADA researcher, Baha Al-Deen not home then and notified him to Fathi Ismail Al-Ruzi (32 years old), surrender himself on the following the sound technician at Sawt Al- day but he did not until he was Ghad Radio in Gaza Strip, located arrested after few days in Beta. in Dawoud Tower, 14th Floor, has According to the investigations of arrived to his workplace at 12:00PM, MADA researcher, Ayman Faisal on Monday 2nd March 2020 to Qawareq, a teacher and freelance continue his work. At around 2:45PM journalist working for Quds News on the same day, four officers of the Network and Arab 48 Website, Internal Security Services in Gaza while at around 11:30PM, on (who were in their official uniform Monday 2nd March 2020, was in carrying clubs) raided the Radio Beta, a person in civilian clothing headquarters without clarifying approached him and asked him to in the beginning why they were stop and accompany him when a there. In the headquarters, Al-Ruzi blue civilian vehicle approached was accompanied by his coworker them immediately. There were two Reem Al-Sakani. When the four persons inside the vehicle in addition security officers entered the Radio to the driver. He pushed him towards headquarters, they asked Al-Ruzi the vehicle and quickly drove away. about his coworker Fayeq Kuhail After driving 50 meters, the vehicle against the imprisonment order is stopped next to another vehicle to issued, Al-Ruzi told them that he which the journalist Qawareq was was not there and that he was in transferred. Inside the vehicle, his the morning present but then went hands were tied to the front and home, but they did not believe he was taken to the Preventive
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 53 Security headquarters in Nablus. third post criticizes the chief justice He was taken inside an office where Mahbmoud Al-Habash and other his handcuffs were removed and he posts. Qawareq replied that he is a received his personal belongings. journalist and he is expressing his Two minutes later, officers (tall and view according to the law and Basic black skin) started beating him up Law, after each investigation session violently on his shoulders, chest and they took him back to the same head. At the same time, other officers cell. On the following day, he was also were involved in beating him, summoned at 11:00PM before “the one of them tried to suffocate him legal counselor of the Preventive by pressing his hands to his throat. Security Services” who introduced He was beaten for several minutes himself as “Captain Asem Ramadan”. and then “drawn along behind on The legal counselor asked Qawareq the ground” by force between the what he was asked and questioned corridors of the offices; they even in the previous day while Qawareq stepped on his body while laid on asked about the charge attributed the floor screaming. After that, the to him and the counselor told him person who first saw him in Beta that he was accused of “contempt of the moment he was detained sat authority” and he was writing down on him to allow his coworkers to tie the answers of journalist Qawareq on his hands painfully and tightly. Then a piece of paper that was in front of one of the officers pushed him to him. Then he was asked to sign the the ground floor where they sat him statement, but Qawareq refused to on a chair and tied his hand behind do so and asked to read it. However, and transferred him to Al-Junaid the investigator considered that Prison. The moment he arrived the Qawareq “did not want to sign and prison, he was taken to the medical no need to read the statement”. After clinic and then to a (meter/meter) 12:00PM, he was taken and brought cell. Few minutes later, he was before the Public Prosecution in taken to another cell that was very Nablus after waiting for two hours. cold, with not mattress or cover, MADA’s lawyer Majd Qirmaz who was and with iron beds only. He stayed defending him was also present. The in that cell until the evening hours Public Prosecution accused him of during which he was questioned “contempt of authority” and showed three times by an investigator who several posts of his on the social introduced himself as “Abu Al-Majd, media including “plant Oslo and you the Director of Investigation in the will reap the century deal” and the Preventive Security of the northern post of criticizing Palestine partition area”. He was questioned about his map. The journalist Qawareq denied press work and his personal views all of the charges attributed to him posted on Facebook especially and told them that he was violently that a number of his posts must assaulted by the Preventive Security not be published even if according officers and that the abuse impacts to the law, because the “law is not were still evident on his body. He was always correct”. He was questioned then taken back to the Preventive about three posts, one of which Security headquarters to a cell about Oslo Accords and the other where he stayed until the evening. about the Century Deal while the He summoned again to investigation
54 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine and felt like throwing up so they Wednesday 11th March 2020, the took him to the restroom and then occupation army patrols and the back to the cell where he stayed until settlers stormed Mount Al-›Arma the third day of his arrest (Thursday while the occupation soldiers were – 5th March 2020) when he was firing a barrage of gunshots, metal brought before the court where bullets as well as sound and gas the Public Prosecution requested bombs to disperse the protesting to extend his detention for 15 days landlords and families up the Mount. but MADA lawyer objected and At 6:10, while the journalist Abdelhaq presented what justifies his release was standing near the Red Crescent rather than extend his detention. tent to present a report to the TV on The judge refused the Public the updates, his coworker shouted Prosecution’s request and issued his and told that one of the soldiers is release decision. Qawareq was then pointing his gun at him but he could taken back to Al-Junaid Prison. Three not move then as the distance was hours later, he was summoned to very close to the soldier, about one investigation and asked him to give meter. He was injured in the left urgent statement about his personal leg, and one of the Red Crescent posts and views. He replied the same paramedics rushed to provide him as the previous investigation session. with medical assistance but the Then he was taken to the Preventive soldier forced them to leave the Security headquarters where he area. Abdelhaq was unable to walk met one of the officers and they on his left leg due to the injury while discussed together the freedom of the soldiers continued firing gas opinion and publishing. At 6:30PM bombs at them. Abdelhaq was taken on the same day, he was release. by one of the paramedics walking 2 (11th March) The journalist kilometers. They were followed by Mohammad Sabah Abdelhaq was the soldiers, and when they became injured by a rubber bullet fired at him close to them, one of the soldiers by one of the occupation soldiers approached Abdelhaq and spit on while he was covering a sit-in against his face and gave him the finger. settlement in Mount Al-›Arma, Beta. Abdelhaq tried to talk to the officer, but the latter refused to listen to him According to the investigations of and threatened him to fire a sound MADA researcher, Baker Mohammad bomb at him if he would not move Sabah Mamdouh Abdelhaq (30 away. The journalist Abdelhaq along years old), the reporter of Palestine with other injured persons were TV at Nablus, has arrived at around taken via an am balance to Rafidia 8:30PM, on Tuesday 10th March Governmental Hospital to which 2020 to Mount Al-›Arma to cover they arrived at 7:00AM. Abdelhaq a sit-in that landlords of Mount was out of consciousness and Al-›Arma and the families of Beta he received the first aid, oxygen have organized to take place up and ventilation (due to the gas he the Mount to protest against the inhaled). It was found that the gas threats of the settles to occupy the caused him severe infection in the Mount for settlement purposes. He respiratory airways as to the rubber was sending short reports about bullet fired at his leg, it caused minor the peaceful sit-in and he stayed in fracture to his tibia. He stayed at the the place. At 5:00AM, at dawn, on
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 55 hospital until 11:00AM, and then went Nusairat fire and deleted it later. The home after receiving the necessary Prosecution and Judiciary extended treatment. his detention for 15 days. This is not (13th March) A force of the police the first time Abu Sharkh is arrested. of Jabalia Al-Nazlah Center in Gaza He was before arrested by the Strip arrested the author Abdullah security services in Gaza more than Mohammad Abu Sharkh at his house once due to his writings. According located in Al-Saftawi towers, near to MADA lawyer, the Attorney UNRWA agency/northern Gaza. He General of Gaza issued a detention is still under arrest until the present order against the author Abdullah time (1st April 2020). Abu Sharkh on the background of his post about Al-Nusairat fire. According to the investigations of His detention was extended for MADA researcher, a force of the 48 hours. On 16th March 2020, he police of Jabalia Center, at around was brought before the detention 10:30PM, on Friday 13th March 2020, judge who extended his arrest for arrested the author, Mohammad 15 days even though the Public Abdullah Abu Sharkh (56 years old), Prosecution accused of “misusing married with three children, lives in the technology means” according a house located in Al-Saftawi towers to Article 262 repeated Of 1936 in northern Gaza Strip, without warning, addition to the charge of “passing and without showing any arrest order along rumors and lies disrupting according to the rules and law. The reassurance” in contrary of Article author Abu Sharkh used to work as 62 of Law Of 1936. It started a teacher. He was subject to assault investigation and questioned him and detention more than once as about his “post” that was circulated well as threatening by anonymous by dozens of pages even though he parties on the background of his deleted the mentioned post several posts on the social media and new minutes after posting it and asked media on issues of democracy, his friends to do the same and social and political development. delete it the moment he realized “it The moment he was arrested, his did not make sense”. MADA lawyer wife (Basma Shehda AlBayari/Abu attended the investigation sessions Sharkh) contacted several parties of Abu Sharkh at the General including MADA center represented Investigations in Jabalia Al-Nazlah by its lawyer Ihsan Abu Sharkh, Center and so the investigation to follow up on his case, visit and sessions before the prosecutor of contact him in prison. His family northern Gaza Prosecution Office. learned from MADA lawyer, who was He asked for his release since he defending him, that he was arrested denied the accusations attributed to in Jabalia Center (later he was taken him and since there shall be neither to the Central Prison northern Gaza criminalization nor punishment known as “Abu Obaida” central unless under a provision, not to Beit Lahia) as requested by the mention that the above mentioned Public Prosecution for charges of articles do not apply to the incident, writing essays and publishing them the subject of investigation. on his Facebook page, especially Furthermore, the author Abu Sharkh the post he copied and pasted for did not have the deliberate intention three minutes on his page about Al-
56 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine as stated in Articles 62 and 262 – h 36. been closed since 2003. The soldiers The lawyer further presented a legal started firing tear gas bombs, memo to object on the detention rubber bullets and sound bombs order to the Attorney General and at the demonstrators to disperse did not receive any response until them while the demonstrators were the moment. He also filed for a bail throwing stones at the occupation according to the rules to Northern soldiers. In the meantime, the Gaza Magistrate Court. The special journalist was standing near the hearing took place on 23rd March demonstrators 60 meters away from 2020, however, the judge denied the soldiers (the firing and stones). the request and accordingly the After he completed taking pictures lawyer appealed the issued decision of the events, he went back to the before Gaza Court of First Instance area where the march was launched in its appeal capacity and renewed at around 1:30PM. On his way back, the appeal request. A hearing was one of the soldiers who was hiding in scheduled on 9th April 2020, MADA the olive trees fired rubber bullet at lawyer reported that he intends to him intentionally without any reason. start food strike starting from the The cameraman Ishtayya was injured morning of Wednesday 1st April in his leg from the back (behind the 2020 and asked him to officially knee) even though he was wearing announce this to the public. the press uniform and the safety (13th March) The cameraman and press means. Immediately, he was journalist Jafar Ishtayya was injured taken by an ambulance where he by a rubber bullet fired at him by received the first aid in field and was one of the occupation soldiers while taken to his house. He completed the he was covering the weekly march treatment with a specialized doctor events against settlement and who lived next door. closure imposed on Kufr Qadoum in (15th March) Some of the security Qalqilya. and police officers in Rafah, Gaza According to the investigations Strip assaulted the journalist Yasser of MADA researcher, Jafar Zaher Abu Athrah, seized his cell phone Hussein Ihstayya (52 years old), works while he was filming a protest against as a cameraman for the French News using two schools as centers for Agency, northern the West Bank, corona virus patients in Gaza Strip. went on Friday 13th March 2020 to According to the investigations of Kufr Qadoum, eastern Qalqilya to MADA researcher, the journalist cover the weekly march organized Yasser Sulaiman Abu Athrah (33 by the families several years ago years old), from Al-Shabourah protesting against settlement and Camp in Rafah, a cameraman and the closure of their town’s entrance reporter for Kanan News Agency, by the occupation army. After the arrived at around 3:00PM, on march was launched in front of Sunday 15th March 2020, Al-Nasser Kufr Qadoum mosque at around Village eastern Rafah to cover the 12:00PM, the Israeli occupation sit-in there protecting against the soldiers intercepted it east of the government procedure of turning village where the demonstrators Ghasan Kanafani and Marmarah were heading to protest against the Schools to quarantine centers for closure of their entrance which has corona virus patients. When the
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 57 journalist Abu Athrah arrived, he 2020) he retrieved his cell phone and did not see any security officer in received a phone call from a person the location of the protest in front who works at the Interior Media of the schools and he immediately Office in Gaza, he asked him to come started filming the protestors and see someone working in the Ministry conducting interviews with them Media Office-Rafah Office to get his on the cause of their protest and cell phone. He went there and indeed their demands. Twenty minutes took his cell phone, and he found the later, while he was interviewing one material he filmed of the protest near of the protestors, he saw a number the quarantine center deleted. Days of citizens running from security later, the Interior Media Office asked officers in military uniform carrying him to come, and a representative of weapons and sticks. They were the Office, Iyad Al-Bazm apologized running towards him, so he stopped to him for what had happened. filming immediately and suspended (25th March) The General the interview he was conducting. Investigation and the Police northern He closed his phone, moved away Gaza arrested the caricaturist Ismail and stopped 50 meters away from Al-Bazm from his house located in the security forces (in Salah Al-Deen Jabalia Camp, Al-Falouja, twice in a main street overlooking the buildings row. of the schools). In the meantime, a According to the investigations of person in civilian clothing, unarmed, MADA researcher, and based on the approached him, and without statements of his brother (Rabah), introducing himself, attacked the the caricaturist Ismail Fayez journalist and tried to seize his cell Mohammad Al-Bazm (36 years phone even though Abu Athrah old), married with two children, a loudly said that he is a journalist. caricaturist, was arrested by the Soon after, five police officers came, Investigation Services at his house pushed Abu Athrah and assaulted in Jabalia, at around 8:00PM, on him with their hands on his chest Friday 20th March 2020, by two and back without even considering persons who arrived his house the fact that he is a journalist. He was in civilian clothing and then took injured with bruises and suffered him to Jabalia Police Center. On pain in his chest. They seized his cell Saturday, at around 8:30PM, the phone by force, and left him in the prison attorney was treating the location and went to the protest to detainees and prisoners very badly, join the remaining of officers who repeating to them “I do not want to were trying to disperse it. Abu Athrah hear any of you”, addressing them tried to contact the administration of with profanity. Ismail intervened the institution he works for, and with and objected, and one of the police some of the officers to give him back officers assaulted him violently. After his cell phone. He also contacted that, the prison attorney ordered the Head of the Palestinian Media to take Al-Bazm to a solitary Assembly Alaa Salamah for the confinement, that was filthy, with same purpose but could not reach dirty water and with no lighting. He him. At 4:00PM, the police officers remained there for twenty minutes, forced him to leave the area. On the and then was taken back to a cell following day (Monday 16th March that was 5 meters with 11 prisoners
58 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine inside. During his detention, he was brother and introduced himself as not questioned, and he was released a police officer of Jabalia Military on Sunday 22nd March 2020 at Center. He asked him to open Ismail around 2:00PM, without returning Facebook page and post an apology his cell phone or personal belonging. to the Attorney General as follows “I But he learned that he was arrested apologize to the Attorney General under a complaint by the Attorney for the misunderstanding that had General without knowing the reason happened in the earlier incident”. of the complaint. Two days later, His brother asked the police officer specifically at 1:00PM, on Tuesday why should he post such an apology corresponding 24th March 2020, and what had Ismail even done to Ismail Al-Bazm went to the Police the Attorney General? And whether Center to receive his personal Ismail was arrested under a complaint belongings and indeed he took by the Attorney General? And what them and left the center heading offence he had committed? The home. In the evening of Tuesday Police officer replied that once this corresponding 24th March 2020, post is shares, Ismail will be released. at around 8:00PM, the police sent Once the apology was posted, him a notification to come again to the Attorney General’s attorney the police center. In the morning contacted Al-Bazm and told him that of the following day, Wednesday he will be released after the apology. 25th March 2020, he received Al-Bazm tried to know what was another notification from the police the reason and mistake did he do center to come again. His brother, to the Attorney General whom he Rabah, received the notification does not even know personally (as and called Ismail and told that he is he stated) but he did not receive any wanted and must go to the police answer or explanation and remained center. At 12:30PM, on Wednesday, in detention without even knowing 25th March 2020, a police force the reason and without being (composed of three jeeps with 30 questioned during his detention. He police officers) stormed the house was released at around 2:30PM on violently searching for Ismail. He Sunday 29th March 2020 and his was arrested and they did not allow cell phones as well as his personal him even to change his clothes. belongings were given back to him His brother, Rabah, followed them as they were seized when he was to the police center with some arrested. clothes for Ismail, and to ask why (29th March) The journalist Mutasem his brother was arrested again. The Daloul was subject to a series of police officer told him that it was prosecutions and summons by because “of an old Facebook post” security and official authorities in without clarifying the reasons. On Gaza due to posting a comment the same day, his family contacted on the fall of a girl at her school. He MADA center, represented by its was notified that he will be arrested legal counselor in Gaza Adv. Ihsan if he does not bring a waiver from Abu Sharkh, to follow up on the case the Ministry of Education on a case it of arresting Ismail and release him. filed against him on this regard. At 11:00PM on Thursday, 27th March According to the investigations of 2020, someone called Ismail’s MADA researcher, the journalist
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 59 Mutasem Ahmad Ibrahim Daloul, that what the Ministry said made who works for “Al-Monitor” Website, no sense and that an investigation received on Sundary morning committee has to find out the 29th March 2020, a phone call from circumstances of the incident. The “Al-Tufah Al-Daraj” Police Center in Ministry spokesperson threatened Gaza telling him the need to bring him “if you do not delete the posts a waiver from the Ministry of High I will beat you up”. When Daloul Education in Gaza on the case came back to his house, he reposted filed against him to close his file, it (after he had deleted it earlier). otherwise, he will be imprisoned on Two days later, Daloul received on the background of a complaint the 15th Feb. 2020 a phone call from Ministry has filed against him for the Attorney General’s Bureau defamation in connection to the Director Diaa Al-Madhoun,who death of Rahaf Zaino at Fahed Al- praised the efforts of journalists Sabah School, in February 2020, and asked Daloul to delete the post who fell from the 3rd floor at her and come to the headquarters of school. Journalist Daloul posted on the Attorney General’s Office to his Facebook page a comment on have a look at the details. Indeed, Wednesday 12th Feb. 2020 asking journalist Daloul went on 16th Feb. the Ministry of Education to open 2020 where they told him that the serious investigation in the case of Prosecution opened an investigation the mentioned girl, Rahaf Zaino. On in the incident under the supervision the following day 13th Feb. 2020, of the Attorney General, and once he received a phone call from the they complete the investigation, her spokesperson of the Ministry of family will be notified and the details Education, Mutasem Al-Minawi, will be published. When Daloul came informing him that the Ministry of back to his house he posted a new Education has nothing to do with the comment saying that there might be case and that the girl’s family is the hope to reveal the truth after he met party to be held responsible as the with the Attorney General in Gaza. Ministry of Education has evidence. Then he saw some comments of He summoned him to come to the officials at the Ministry of Education Ministry to have a look at the details. on their personal pages “defaming” On the following day, Daloul went to the girl. On 19th March 2020, Daloul the Ministry after deleting the post received a phone call from “Al-Tufah as requested in the aforementioned Al-Daraj” Police Center asking him phone call. In there, they talked to to come to the police center in Al- him in general that the girl “was Zayton Neighborhood. When he suffering from psychological issues arrived, he was questioned about with her family and attempted what he had posted on Facebook suicide several times, and that on the case of the student Zaino and the Investigation Police opened a that he is accusing the Ministry of serious investigation and informed Education for her death. He replied her family that they caused her that he commented that Zaino was suicide, and that we do not wish to murdered at her school by falling make this huge although we have the from the 3rd floor and that he evidence but we are ashamed to tell demanded to open investigation to her family the truth”. Daloul replied find out the truth of the incident. He
60 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine was told that a case is filed against violating privacy and Facebook him by the Ministry of Education policies. Abu Warda tried to at the Prosecution and the police activate the account with the asked him to bring a waiver paper assistance of specialists but with from the Ministry to close his file but no use. Furthermore, the live he told them that he is not going to broadcast was also shut down at the Ministry and came back home. his account for 7 days (starting Last Sunday, 29th March 2020, he from the abovementioned date) received another phone call from without any clear reasons. the police telling him to bring the 3. Journalist Hafeth Abu Sabra (31 paper otherwise he will be arrested years old), a reporter of because the case file is not closed ROYA TV, received a message yet. from Facebook Company (23rd March) Facebook Company Administration preventing him has executed a broad campaign from posting or reacting through of preventing posting and live his account on Facebook starting broadcast. This has affected not from 26th March 2020 until less than 16 accounts of the below 29th March 2020claiming that journalists claiming they violate he violates the posting policies. the criteria of Facebook without The journalist did not create clarifying to most of them the direct any alternative account as the cause of preventing them from prevention period was short as posting and broadcasting: he believes. 1. Journalist Najeeb Farraj, from 4. Journalist Aseel Subhi Eid Bethlehem, a reporter of Al-Quds (28 years old), from Qalandia, Daily Newspaper, prevented from northern Jerusalem Ramallah, publishing and commenting works for Palestine TV, a through his account for a month volunteer at Qalandia Media starting from 23rd March 2020. Center, prevented from reacting He received a notification and live broadcasting through that said “you cannot post or her personal account for a week comment for 30 days, since your starting from 26th March 2020. last 34 posts have not followed The Facebook Administration did Facebook criteria”. This is not not contact her but she received the first time he is prevented a message claiming that she from posting “which represents “violates the Facebook criteria”. part of my job as a journalist as She was also prevented from I post news and reports away scheduling news on the news from views” as he stated. pages she is admin in, including the page of Qalandia Media 2. Journalist Ameen Abdelaziz Center which was closed three Ameen Abu Warda (5 years old), times in varying periods during from Nablus, works for Asda the past years even though it is Press Website. He was prevented followed by tens of thousands of from posting at his account users. on 26th March 2020 without clear warning even though 5. The freelance journalist Bilal he received notifications on Al-Taweel (29 years old), from
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 61 Hebron, prevented from posting in Hebron, prevented from live for a week as well as from live broadcasting through his page broadcasting for six months, for three months starting from starting from 26th March 2020. 26th March 2020. He received He received a message that he a message from Facebook violated “Facebook criteria in Company explaining the reason the news, images and names which was violating Facebook he posts” for some martyrs. policy. He contacted Facebook Furthermore, his Youtube Administration and filed an Channel was also closed on objection but did not receive any 6th March 2020 for unlimited reply on this regard. period and without prior warning. 10. Journalist Rami Samarah (35 6. Journalist Raed Ramzi Al-Shareef years old), from Ramallah, works (35 years old), from Hebron, a for WAFA News Agency and reporter of Al-Ghad News TV. Ajyal Radio, prevented from He was prevented to comment posting and commenting for and post on his page for a three months not to mention week starting from 26th March blocking him from using live 2020 claiming that he violates broadcast noting that this was “Facebook” policy. not the first time. 7. Journalist Dana Ghazi 11. Journalist Thaer Abu Alfellat (27 Mohammad Abu Shamsiya (32 years old), from Halhoul, works years old), from Jerusalem, for Al-Hurriya Media Network works for Palestine TV, prevented in Hebron, prevented from live from posting on her page on broadcast on his page due to 23rd March 2020 for 7 days. Just an old post he shared which like the rest of the journalists, was an image of the funeral of a she received a message that Palestinian martyr. Abu Alfellat she violates Facebook policy in was notified to close the live posting the news. broadcast on 26th March 2020 8. Journalist Ameed Sami Dweikat without specifying the term. (38 years old), from Nablus, 12. Journalist Abd elrahman Abd works as anchorman at Tareq elkareem Mohammad Hassan (32 Al-Mahaba Radio broadcasting years old), from Bethlehem, from Nablus, prevented from works as a reporter of An-Najah posting on his page for three TV and Al-Quds Today as well days starting from 26th March as a freelance photographer. 2020, and he is also prevented Facebook Administration from live broadcasting on his prevented him on 26th March page for several months due to 2020 to post on his page without old posts, some of which were sending him a message clarifying posted several years ago. the reasons. 9. Journalist Qusai Yacoub Al- 13. The Media Student at Birzeit Halaiqa (36 years old), from University Naem Saed Hebron, the owner and publisher Miqdadi (19 years old), works of “Watan Weather Website”, an for “Eye Palestine News” and anchorman at Al-Hurriya Radio “Palestine Times”, received
62 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine on 1st Jan. 2020 a message prevented from commenting from Facebook Administration and live broadcasting through preventing him to live broadcast his page for 90 days starting for 90 days claiming he violates from 26th March 2020 claiming the policy of Facebook and that that he violates the criteria and his account will be closed if he policies of Facebook noting does not respond. that this was not the first time 14. Journalist Sami Saed Abdelsae, his reaction through his page is from Tulkarem, works as a restricted. reporter for An-Najah TV in î April: Nablus, and a field researcher for MADA, received on 26th March (11th April) WAFA News Agency 2020 a message from Facebook issued a decision on referring two Administration preventing him to journalists working for it, namely: post and comment through his Jafar Sadaqa and Rami Samarah, page for 90 days, however the to an investigation committee, prevention did not take place. following the end of the state of Soon afterwards, he received emergency. Their salaries were also another message extending his suspended claiming they breached prevention to live broadcast the state of emergency, according for 90 days claiming that “he to the correspondence both Sadaqa violates the Facebook Policy” and Samarah received, but they and apparently the fault was in believe that it is related to their posts the wording of the message only. on the Facebook. He did not contact Facebook According to the investigations of Administration or any other MADA researcher, the economic party to solve the problem. journalist Jafar Sadaqa, received on 15. Cameraman and journalist Issam 9th April a copy of the investigation Rimawi (36 years old), from committee letter through WhatsApp, Ramallah, works as a cameraman since he was at the time in Jenin, sent and journalist for Anatolia News to him by the Agency Management, Agency, and as a field researcher signed by the Director General of for MADA, prevented from the Financial and Administrative live broadcasting through his Affairs of the Agency, Ayman Al- page for 56 days starting from Thaher. The letter was basically a 26th March 2020 claiming that notification to the journalist that he violates Facebook criteria an investigation committee will as explained in the message he be formed “for not abiding by the received on this regard, noting emergency instructions” provided that he was prevented from live that committee initiates its work broadcasting several times and once the state of emergency ends. his prevention was renewed and It seems that what they mean by extended several times the last breaching the state of emergency is of which was on 17th Dec. 2019. what Sadaqa posts in his Facebook, as he was told by Ahmad Assaf, 16. Journalist Imad Jabreen (38 the Official Media Officer, some of years old), from Bethlehem the close people Sadaqa knows. works as a freelance journalist, Two days later, (11th April), the
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 63 Journalist Sadaqa sent a message to suspend the salary. to the Prime Minister, Mohammad As to the journalist Rami Samarah, Ishtayya, through the Government on 13th April he received a phone Spokesperson, Ibrahim Melhem, call from his Line Manager in the to inform him of the decision Department Khaled Al-Khaldi, he received. The Government informing him to come to the Spokesperson contacted Sadaqa, Agency to receive a letter on and told him that it was not accepted forming an investigation committee or approved by the Prime Minister for him. Samarah went to the Ishtayya, and that it will be resolved. Agency headquarters, specifically to On 14th April, Sadaqa found out, the Director General of the Financial through one of his friends, that and Administrative Affairs Ayman his salary might be suspended, Al-Thaher, to receive the letter. There and he contacted the Head of the were two more persons other than Financial and Administrative Affairs Al-Thaher at the office, Samarah Line at WAFA Al-Thaher, who refused to Manager Khaled Al-Khaldi, and a give him any details on breaching security officer Fadi Al-Na’san, of the the instructions of the state of Presidential Guard. Before Samarah emergency. Even when he insisted, received the letter, Al-Na’san asked Al-Thaher told him that he did not Samarah several questions about know any details and it is the Director his Facebook posts, it was more like General, Ahmad Assaf who knew an investigation with him, mostly everything about this matter. As to about his posts related to Palestine the salary, Al-Thaher was surprised TV, even though Samarah did not to find that Sadaqa knew about post anything about Palestine TV this especially he was not informed (neither critical nor offensive). The about it. He told him that a letter discussion between then escalated, was issued on the 9th of April to the until Samarah received the letter Ministry of Finance asking the latter and left the Agency headquarters. to suspend his salary, and asking After he left, Samarah contacted one about the legality of this procedure of those working at the President even though there were no results Office to inquire about Al-Na’san’s by the investigation committee. Al- job and capacity that authorize him Thaher told Sadaqa “there are now to come to the Agency and question laws, we’re in an emergency state”. Samarah (noting that it was the Sadaqa contacted the Ministry of second time he did that). Shortly Finance and it confirmed that it thereafter, Al-Na’san contacted indeed received the letter, but it Samarah and told him that his issue was issued by Ahmad Assaf not the with WAFA Agency is administrative Personnel Affairs Bureau. “Sadaqa”, rather than security, which means who is working from home, received that what Al-Na’san acted alone not assurances from the Government by commission of the Institution. Spokesman Ibrahim Melhem that the Few minutes later, Samarah received matter was with Dr. Ishtayyeh, which a phone call from the officer Fadi Al- is unacceptable. Also, on April 15, Na’san, who apologized to Samarah, Melhem, in a press briefing in which and told him that he was there by the Minister of Finance Shukri Bishara personal capacity and informed participated, asked the Minister not him that his issue with WAFA is
64 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine administrative not security. The next cameraman Mohammad Ziad Issa after receiving the letter (13th April), Nassar (42 years old), at about Samarah asked his coworker Jafar 12:00PM, on Saturday (25th April Sadaqa, who received a similar letter 2020) were conducting interviews earlier, to make a phone call with the with some citizens in Al-Tars area, Ministry of Finance to check whether northern Gaza Strip, as part of the Ministry received a letter on a report they were preparing on suspending their salaries. Indeed, Ramadan in Gaza in light of Corona Sadaqa made that phone call, and pandemic. They were detained by found that the Ministry received a three of Hamas security officers, letter on suspending Sadaqa’s salary after an argument and altercation while with regard to Samarah, the between the staff and the security Ministry did not receive anything officers on the nature of their work yet. To make sure, Samarah then and why they were in that area. contacted Ayman Al-Thaher, to They were prevented to complete inquire about his salary and whether their work claiming that they do there was a decision to suspend it or not have a prior authorization. The not, Al-Thaher told him that a decision security officers asked them to go to was issued to suspend his salary the Investigations Center at Jabalia and it will be sent to the Ministry of Military Police via the TV vehicle Finance. After that, Samarah went accompanied by one of the security to some friends and acquaintances, officers. Indeed, they responded, including the Government and when they arrived, the TV staff Spokesman Ibrahim Melhem, who contacted the Management and gave him oral assurances that the the latter contacted the Syndicate salary would not be suspended, and of Journalists. The security officers that the investigation committee is contacted one of the officials who an administrative procedure that told them that the TV staff has to sign the employee must be subjected to, a pledge not to work again unless but without any penalty before the under a prior authorization. After committee’s results are issued. they signed the pledge, they were (25th April) The Security Officers in released, after staying two and a half Gaza Strip prevented Palestine TV house at the police headquarters. staff to conduct interviews with the (16th April) The Israeli Occupation citizens for a TV report on Ramadan Intelligence summoned Palestine in Gaza Strip in light of the spread TV reporter in Jerusalem, journalist of Corona epidemic. They took them Christine Rinawi, and questioned her to the Investigations headquarters about working for the TV even after and detained them for several hours. its office was closed by the Israeli They were forced to sign a pledge Occupation and prevented from not to work in the field without a working in the City of Jerusalem. prior authorization, before they were According to the investigations released. of MADA researcher, Palestine According to the investigations TV reporter, journalist Christine of MADA researcher, Palestine TV Khaled Waleed Rinawi (31 years reporter in Gaza Strip, Mohammad old), from Beit Hanina, Jerusalem, Saleem Salama Abu Hatab (48 received at 10:00AM, on Thursday years old), and his coworker, the corresponding 16th April 2020, a
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 65 phone call from one of the Israeli investigation, the Israeli investigator Intelligence officers, who asked her showed Rinawi a video clip of her at first where she was at, Christine live broadcast transmitting news replied that she was at home, and about Jerusalem in light of Corona he replied that he was in front of her pandemic. She replied that it was house and that he came to arrest her filmed from her family house located because she was “wanted”. Rinawi in Ramallah, and even if it was filmed asked him to tell her what he wanted inside Jerusalem, no one can hold through the phone, as she was with her accountable. The investigator her mother who is sick in their family replied: “yes, I can hold accountable, house located in Ramallah since the it is prohibited to work for Palestine start of closing the roads due to TV within the borders of Jerusalem the spread of Corona virus, but he City, even if it was filmed from the refused to tell on phone. At 11:00, inside of your house”. Since she Christine went to Al-Mascobiya proved that she was in Ramallah not investigation Center in Jerusalem, Jerusalem, she managed to drop where she waited until 2:30PM. At the charges, after she remained in first, she was questioned about detention until 5:00PM on the same “prejudicing the Israeli sovereignty day. over Jerusalem and breaching the It is worth mentioning that this is the decision of the Minister of Internal fourth time the journalist Christine Security”. Since it was the fourth Rinawi is questioned ever since the time Rinawi is summoned for the decision of preventing Palestine same charges, she replied “you’ve TV from working in Jerusalem was summoned me for the same charges issued and its office was closed. which you can accuse Jerusalem The first time was on 20th Nov. Governor of or Jerusalem Minister 2019, when Palestine TV office was since they exercise political activities, stormed in Al-Sowanah, Jerusalem, but I am a journalist and I do media and closed. activities. Therefore, you cannot (26th April) The Preventive Security accuse me of that just because I was officers detained Jana for Media doing my job as part of Palestine Production staff, the journalists: TV staff, which is an institution of Yousef Hasanah (42 years old), and the Palestinian Authority”. They also Haitham Warasnah (29 years old) questioned her about breaching the after searching their vehicle. They decision of preventing Palestine TV were taken to the headquarters in to work in Jerusalem, and she told Yatta, southern Hebron. them that the last services she did for Palestine TV office in Jerusalem According to the investigations of were on 5th Dec. 2019. Even though MADA researcher, a person belonging the decision issued by the Israeli to Fateh Organization, at around Minister of Internal Security Jelaad 1:00PM, on Saturday, corresponding Ardan, under which Palestine TV 26th April 2020, stopped a vehicle office in Jerusalem was closed of the Islamic Society for Orphans and its activities were suspended Welfare, central Yatta, southern for six months, was signed on 13th Hebron, while it was distributing Oct. 2019, which means it expired bins of food to the orphans families. on 13th April 2020. During the The journalists, Yousef Ibrahim
66 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine Shehdah Hasasnah (42 years old) your own problem”. The journalists the Director of Jana for Media left the headquarters in Yatta. In Production, and the cameraman the following day (27th April 2020), Haitham Yousef Warasnah (29 years the journalist Yousef Hasasnah old) were inside the vehicle covering went to the Preventive Security the event. After the vehicle stopped, headquarters in Hebron to receive the member of Fateh organization their seized objects. He arrived at had a conversation with the society 10:00AM, and he was asked to wait employees on the mechanism of outside. Four hours later of waiting distributing the bins of food. In outside the headquarters, the guard the meantime, other members of asked him to leave and come back Fateh came and asked the society the following day to take the seized employees to accompany them to objects and be questioned by the Fateh headquarters in the city. The Institutions Security, he also told journalists accompanied the Society him to bring the laptop charger. staff to the headquarters, but Fateh The journalist Hasasnah left the officers asked them to leave the headquarters in Hebron, contacted headquarters and they went to the the Syndicate of Journalists, and he vehicle, but before they moved away, was told that a representative of the a vehicle of the Preventive Security Syndicate will attend the interview Service arrived, and a number of with him. At around 10:00AM, on officers stepped off the vehicle Monday 28th April 2020, Hasasnah towards the journalists’ vehicle went to the Preventive Security and asked for their personal cards. headquarters in Hebron by himself, The journalists tried to clarify what after the representative could not happened to the Preventive Security make it. Hasasnah was taken to a officers who searched their vehicle room where two investigators were and seized a laptop, bag of papers, waiting: they started with personal their cell phones, their press cards questions, and then asked him and asked them to accompany them about the nature of his work, about to the headquarters in Yatta. When Jana for Media Production, its staff, they arrived the Preventive Security the parties he works for, and the headquarters, some officers seized TV channels he works with. The the cameras and filming equipment, journalist refused to answer these in addition to the vehicle’s keys questions and asked to be told why and asked them to sit inside the was he there in the interview. In the vehicle. At around 6:30PM, after 4 meantime, the other investigator hours of detention, the officers gave was going outside the room for a them back their cell phones and little bit and coming back asking cameras and asked them to leave. about some of the files on the seized The journalist Hasasnah asked them laptop. Hasasnah then figured that about the remaining of seized objects, they accessed his personal laptop, and one of the officers informed him emails and Facebook account. The to go to the headquarters in Hebron. interview lasted for an hour and When the journalist asked for their a half. The investigator asked him personal identity cards since there about people he knew and worked were barriers of the occupation army with as his agenda book showed in on the roads, the officer replied “it connection to his press work as this
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 67 book was seized from the vehicle. action that would disrupt the work At 12:00PM, Hasasnah took his of any Palestinian journalist, the belongings which were seized and Ministry of Interior, following its full left. responsibility to maintain security and public order, emphasizes î May: that every citizen has the right to (4th May) Some Palestinian police freedom of opinion and expression, officers have assaulted the journalist and explains that what happened Nizar Habash and prevented him was not intended towards the from filming a disabled citizen who journalist, and that it resulted from arrived to the Prime Minister building a miscalculation by some security located in Ramallah to attend the officers, thus the Ministry expresses daily press brief on the updates of its respect for the journalist and the Corona Virus. institution for which he works”. According to MADA researcher, the (5th May) The Internal Security journalist Nizar Edmon Habash (34 Services in Gaza summoned the years old) who works as a reporter journalist Izz Abu Shanab and for Watan Media Network, while he questioned him about the reasons was at about 5:20PM on Saturday, why he was in Egypt even though he corresponding 4th May 2020, in went for treatment purposes. front of the Council of Ministers According to MADA researcher, Izz in Ramallah, accompanied by a Abdelaziz Ahmad Abu Shanab (36 group of journalists covering the years old), a journalist who works for daily press brief of the Government a number of Egyptian media outlets Spokesperson on the updates of (Al-Ahram Newspaper, Al Gomhuria Corona Virus, saw a disabled person Newspaper, Al-Rai Newspaper, heading towards the Prime Minister Egyptian Democratic), has received headquarters protesting. The on Tuesday corresponding 5th May journalist Habash went to him to find 2020 a summons from the Internal out what was he protesting against Security Services in Gaza Strip, to (he was 20 meters away from the come to the Passports headquarters press brief). However, three security without identifying the reason of officers in police uniform started summoning him. On the following shouting at the journalist asking him day, Wednesday 6th May 2020, the to stop filming. One of them grabber journalist arrived at 10:00AM in the his cell phone down to prevent him morning to the Internal Security from filming while the other pushed headquarters (passports), where he him to the chest and shouted at him: was questioned by one investigator “you cannot film here and you are on the reason why he stayed in not allowed to be here and you can Egypt for nine months. Abu Shanab never come back again to cover the informed the investigator that he brief”. stayed in Egypt for that long to The Palestinian Ministry of Interior receive treatmentas he was injured subsequently issued a statement during the return marches. He was on what happened, in which it also questioned on a number of said that what had happened was known persons including (Nabeel by miscalculation, it stated in the Tamous, Ayman Abu Al Hatal, Safwat statement, “In rejection of any Rahmi, ZAki Al-Sakani) who have
68 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine left Gaza Strip following the fight Jerusalemite leaderships and that ended with Hamas movement figures, raided at 5:50AM on controlling Gaza Strip in July 2006. Tuesday 5th May 2020 the house of He was also questioned about the the Programs Presenter of MAAN nature of his work for Egyptian TV and Al-Ghad TV, journalist Tamer media outlets, his connection with Mustafa Mohammad Obeidat (33 the National Party of Egypt, and his years old), located in Beit Hanina appointment by the Party as the in the occupied city of Jerusalem. Goodwill Ambassador claiming that They searched the house and “no titles are given without anything missed its contents for almost an in return”. Abu Shanab denied his entire hour. Then they arrested the connection with any party or activity journalist Obeidat and took him to and that he only been there for what is known as “Rooms No. 4” at treatment. At 2:00PM on the same Moscobiya Investigation Center in day he was released. A week later, Jerusalem. He arrived at 7:00AM, on Tuesday 12th May, the journalist and two hours later (at 9:00) Abu Shanab was surprised that he the journalist was subject to an was summoned again by the Internal investigation about his relationship Security Services. In response, with some people who have been on the following day, Wednesday arrested on the same morning, 13th May 2020 he went to the providing aids and food supplies to Internal Security headquarters, and the needy during Ramadan given arrived at 9:00AM. Immediately he the spread of Corona pandemic and was taken to the investigation room the party financing such aids. At where five persons were there, and exactly 12:00PM in the afternoon, the officer who questioned him journalist Tamer Obeidat was last time was not among them. The released on conditions including: investigators re-asked him the same Not to communicate with a number questions that were asked in the of Palestinian figures in the city first investigation session, and the of Jerusalem for a month, and to journalist Abu Shanab denied his respond to the Israeli intelligence relationship with any of the people request to him at any time for a whom he was asked about. He decision and attend at it if he was reiterated that he was in Egypt for asked to attend for investigation or treatment only, and at about 2:00PM trial, and that he would pay a fine of that same day he was released. 10,000 NIS (about 3000 USD) if he (5th May) The Israeli occupation breaches these conditions. forces arrested the journalist Mustafa (6th May) Some Palestinian police Obeidat from his house, detained officers prevented Mohammad him for hours in the afternoon and Ayyad from covering the events that questioned him for the charge of have taken place in Abu Deis and providing in-kind aids during the deleted the material he had filmed. time of Corona pandemic and According to MADA researcher, released him on several conditions. Mohammad Jamal Mohammad Al- According to MADA researcher, a Halabiya-Ayyad (30 years old), force of the occupation intelligence from Abu Deis, in Jerusalem, works and the Israeli Police, as part of as a freelance journalist, at around the arrests campaign of several 12:15 after midnight on Tuesday/
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 69 Wednesday 5th June 2020, occupied city of Jerusalem for arrived the crossroads of Abu Deis another six months in addition to University, after hearing heavy fire questioning her on the work of some shooting. He saw a gathering of 50 of her colleagues. young man and 10 police officers. According to MADA reserahcer, He started filming to make a report Christine Khaled Waleed Rinawi to “Al-Qastal” Network. One minute (31 years old), from Jerusalem, a later, an additional force of the reporter of Palestine TV, has received police arrived (more than five police on 10th May 2020 a phone call from and civil vehicles), while Ayyad “Captain Baseel” at Moscobiya Israeli continued filming and the police Police Center to come to what is started demanding the citizens to known as “Rooms No. 4” at 4:00PM clear the streets. Ayyad was the only on the same day. The journalist journalist in the location, and while Christine Rinawi asked to postpone he was standing on a relatively high the date because it was late for her, spot, 5 meters away from the citizens and the Israeli officer asked her to and police filming the events, a police come at 10:00AM on the following officer in civilian clothing and small morning (11th May 2020). After the military hat on his head approached phone call, Christine Al-Rinawi (on him and took his cell phone. When the same day, Sunday 10th May Ayyad told him he was a journalist, 2020) contacted the lawyer of the officer asked him to show his the Prisoners Club, Mufeed Al-Haj, press card but he did not have it then. who tried to find out why she was The officer stepped away towards summoned by the Israeli police and the gathering of the police officers intelligence. The captain refused to while the journalist Ayyad followed tell him on the phone and asked him him to take his cell phone back. In the to tell Christine to come at 10:00AM meantime, one of the volunteers of on the following morning as she was the emergency committee members informed. At 10:00AM, on Monday, intervened knowing both parties 11th May 2020, Christine Rinawi (journalist Ayyad and some of the arrived to “Rooms No. 4” where an police officers). He confirmed to the investigator took a picture of her and officer that Ayyad was a journalist collected her fingerprints then gave indeed and the officer addressed her a decision issued by the Israeli him “you just want to film things the Minister of Interior Gilad Erdan on way you want” and soon later he renewing the closure of Palestine TV asked him to see the video clips he Office and banning all of its activities filmed. After seizing his cell phone across the city of Jerusalem for for five minutes, he gave it back after another 6 months. After she he watched what he had filmed and was given the decision, another deleted it. Israeli investigator questioned her (10th May) The Israeli occupation about the Jerusalemite journalist police and intelligence summoned Lana Kamel and the nature of her the journalist Christine Rinawi and relationship with Palestine TV since gave her a decision issued by the she was broadcasting programs on Israeli Minister of Interior on renewing Palestine TV screen. Rinawi replied the closure period and preventing that the journalist Lana works for a Palestine TV from working in the production company and that this
70 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine company sells some programs to the events, he got shot in the left Palestine TV. Then the investigator knee and as a result headed to asked for Lana’s phone number from Palestine Medical Complex where Christine and registered it. Having he stayed for half an hour to receive finished all questioned about Lana the necessary treatment and do completely, at 11:45, the journalist some checks to make sure his health Christine Rinawi was allowed to condition was stable and leave the leave. hospital. It should be noted that this summons (11th May) The Islamic Jihad is the fifth that Christine Rinawi Movement arrested the journalist had received since December 2019, Yousef Khalil Hassan twice and as Palestine TV office was closed questioned him in connection with a and prevented from working and press report he had prepared on the operating in the city of Jerusalem. corruption of distributing aids to the (11th May) The photojournalist poor families in Gaza. Kareem Khamaisa was injured by According to MADA researcher, a rubber bullet fired at him by the the freelance journalist Yousef occupation soldiers while he was Khalil Naem Hassan (25 years old), covering the withdrawal of the from Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, occupation forces from Kobar, received on Monday 11th May 2020 a Ramallah after raiding some of the summons from the Internal Security houses there. Services in Gaza, on the background According to MADA researcher, of publishing a filmed investigation Kareem Khamaisa (21 years old), a (video) on Sunday 10th May 2020 on freelance photojournalist, headed his Facebook page, on suspicions of at an early hour on the morning corruption in the aids coming to the of 11th May 2020 to Kobar in poor families in Gaza Strip (especially Ramallah to cover the raiding of the about some of the persons belonging occupation forces and demolition of to the Islamic Jihad Movement the family house of Birzeit University that handles the distribution of lecturer Widad Al-Barghouthi (the humanitarian aids in Rafah). Khalil mother of prisoner Qassam Al- Hassan, the father of journalist Barghouthi). Khamaisa headed up Yousef, confirmed that his son was a hill overlooking the main street of arrested in an anonymous place by Kobar to cover the withdrawal of the Al-Quds Brigades, the Military Wing occupation forces from the town of the Islamic Jihad Movement in that witnessed clashes between Rafah on the background of the the citizens and the occupation same investigation, on Monday soldiers especially when they were 11th May 2020, before he went to withdrawing. The young men threw the Internal Security headquarters stones at the occupation forces (on the same case that day). On the as well as Molotov cocktails while following day, the father received some of the soldiers stepped out a phone call from the Internal their vehicles and fired gas bombs, Security asking him to come to the rubber bullets and sound bombs headquarters and bring along his heavily towards the young men to son’s cell phone. At 4:00PM, he went disperse them. While he was filming to the headquarters and brought the cell phone. He sat outside the
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 71 investigation rooms and shortly after a 6-minutes video clip showing the went back home without seeing or details of his arrest. knowing anything about his son. It (12th May) One of the Occupation was found later that he was handed soldiers assaulted the photojournalist over from the “Brigades security” to Nasser Ishtayya, not to mention the “Internal Security Services”. He preventing him and the cameraman was detained again by the Brigades Majdi Ishtayya from covering events Security in an anonymous place. On in Yabod. the same day at night, as he learned According to MADA researcher, later from Yousef, he was forced to Majdi Mohammad Ishtayya (33 years record a clip of video in which he old), a cameraman who works for apologizes for the content of the the American Press Agency, and press investigation he prepared and the cameraman, freelance journalist published. The Brigades Security Nasser Sulaiman Ishtayya (50 years accused Yousef that he mentioned old), have arrived at around 10:00AM one of the Brigades leaders in the on Tuesday morning, corresponding press investigation and accused him 12th May 2020, to Yabod in Jenin, of corruption, although he did not northern the West Bank, to cover refer to any specific person directly the raiding and demolitions of or explicitly. Yousef remained some houses in the town carried arrested by the Brigades Security out by the Israeli occupation for four days, and he was released forces, in search of a Palestinian without any intervention from any that believed to have thrown stone security or governmental party on from the roof of a building at one the grounds that he is a member of of the soldiers leading to his death. Al-Jihad Movement (which arrested The moment the cameramen Majdi him) and the Movement will protect and Nasser arrived the town, they him. On Tuesday night, 26th May stopped at 100 meters away from 2020, Yousef received a phone call the occupation soldiers and their from an officer who works for Al- vehicles, stepped out off their Quds Brigades Security, asking him vehicle, put on their uniform marked to turn himself in. At 9:00AM on with Press that is internationally the following morning, (Wednesday recognized, they started taking 27th May 2020), he was detained pictures of the military vehicles from and did not go back home until his that distance. The soldiers saw them wife tweeted on Facebook on the and shouted at them to leave the evening of that day saying that he was location. The cameramen Nasser abducted and asking for intervention and Majdi stepped back a little bit, to know his place of arrest. Yousef and began taking pictures again. remained in detention until the A group of soldiers approached evening of Thursday 28th May 2020. them and one of the soldiers fired On the afternoon of that day, a a sound bomb at them. In the group of Al-Jihad Movement arrived meantime, Majdi has arrived near Yousef’s family house to close his one of the houses entrances, while a case. The Brigades Security referred soldier approached the cameraman Yousef to the Attorney General in Nasser and assaulted him, started Gaza. On Monday 1st June 2020, kicking him which made him fall to Yousef posted on his Facebook page the ground and get bruises in the
72 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine chest and shoulder. In the meantime, towards the house roof directly. Majdi tries to film and document the The journalists shouted in Arabic, assault against his colleague, but the English and Hebrew that they were soldier stopped the assault when journalists and the soldiers fired he saw him and started shouting at several gas and tear gas bombs at them to leave the location and stop them. The journalist Tareq Al-Horani filming. tries to throw away the gas bombs (12th May) The occupation soldiers from the house roof, but there was fired sound and gas bombs a lot of heavy gas he could not do it deliberately and directly at four which led to their severe suffocation. of the journalists while they were The journalist Tareq fainted and fell to covering the raiding of Yabod on the the ground (on the roof), his camera evening of 14th May 2020 which led also fell and its exterior screen broke to their suffocation. as well as the camera holder (he was transmitting the events live). Tareq According to MADA researcher, the was treated in the field by the house journalists Tareq Husni Sulaiman owners who were on the roof and Abu Zaid Al-Horani (38 years old), they left the location half an hour the cameraman of Palestine TV in later after the occupation forces Jenin, Mahmoud Younes Ibrahim withdrawal. Samoudi (41years old) the reporter of Palestine TV in Jenin, Mujahed (13th May) A force of the Israeli Mohammad Saed Al-Saadi (31 years occupation army detained the old) a freelance cameraman, and cameraman Musab Shawer and Mohammad Ali Abdelqader Ateeq deleted the pictures he had taken for (28 years old) a freelance journalist a march that took place in Hebron. as well, have arrived at 10:00PM on According to MADA researcher, the Tuesday to Yabod in Jenin to cover photojournalist Musab Shawer who the raiding carried out by the army. works for Al-Hadath Newspaper, They headed to one of the houses’ went on the evening of 13th May roof in Al-Salamah Neighborhood in 2020 to the old town in Hebron, to the town noting that the occupation film a peaceful protest organized forces were 20 meters away from by the Palestinian citizens against them. The journalists informed the the seizure of the occupation lands soldiers more than once than once around the Sanctuary of Abraham about themselves while they were by the occupation authorities, as at the roof not to mention they were a prelude to the establishment of in the press uniform. After about routes for settlers to have access ten minutes, the soldiers pointed to the Sanctuary of Abraham. The their guns at the journalists as their march was launched in front of Al- laser lights were pointed towards Takya at around 9:00 and headed their chests. They started shouting towards the Mosque, then to the and asked them to leave the area. old municipality building in Hebron. Few minutes later, the soldiers again In the meantime, the occupation pointed their laser lights at the soldiers started warning the citizens journalists from several directions. and asking them to move away and The four journalists lay down on disperse. Soon after, a group of the ground, and immediately the soldiers attacked one of the citizens soldiers fired several sound bombs and assaulted him, then took him to a
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 73 military point of the army in the city. manager of journalist Alaa, and While the journalist Musab Shawer asked him why would she raise the was filming the march and the subject of Anas Howari and defend events, a group of soldiers headed him, the Chairman replied that this towards him and ordered him to stop is her work and profession and that filming. They took him to a military he will never tell her what to write or checkpoint established by the army how to express her opinion. At the in that area, where one of them, in same time, the police contacted one a military uniform, informed him of Alaa’s colleagues in the radio to that he was an intelligence officer send her a message that arresting and introduced himself as “Captain the journalist Anas has nothing to Mousa” and told him that “the law do with him being a journalist, and prohibits filming”. He asked Musab that the matter is partisan and he to delete the filmed material, but the explained to her that the police latter refused and the soldiers pulled asked about her political belonging him camera and deleted the material, and intentions and advised her and then asked him to leave. (because he cared about her and did (19th May) The journalist Alaa Al- not want her to get in troubles) to Zaro was directly threatened by the stop asking about such cases. This Palestinian Police to stop raising the caused pressure even to her family arrest of journalist Anas Howari, who as they did not want their daughter was arrested by the police, through to get in troubles. the social media. (1-30 May) Facebook Company According to MADA researcher, the blocked and closed several pages journalist Alaa Al-Zaro, from Hebron, and accounts of media websites, works for Al-Hurriya Radio and as well as some pages belonging Watan Agency, a member within a to Palestinian journalists claiming whatsapp group of journalists called “they violate the Facebook privacy “The Journalists Club”. Among the criteria”. members of this group is the police This series of closures has affected media spokesperson, Coloner Loay the journalists listed below: Irzeqat. As a result of arresting 1. Samer Ameen Saed Khwaira the journalist Anas Howari by the (38 years old), from Nablus, police, there a discussion in the works as an anchor for “Hayat” group between the journalists and Radio, based in Nablus, he was the police media spokesperson that prevented from posting on ended with a serious demand to three Facebook pages he is give a reasonable reason why the an admin in: Journalist Samer journalist Howari was arrested. Days Khwaira, Hayat Radio, and Holy after that discussion, the journalist Quran, without a prior and clear Alaa asked the same question about warning. He was also prevented Anas Howari and the reason behind from live broadcasting on his his continuous arrest. The discussion official account, as well as from started again between the journalists sending messages through the and the police spokesperson. Three Messenger between 5th May – days later, the Palestinian police 21st May, 2020, claiming he posts spokesperson called Al-Hurriya prohibited news and terminology Radio Board Chairman, the line
74 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine according to the Facebook policy, 4. Emad Jabreen (38 years old), such as news including the terms from Bethlehem, a freelance (prisoner or wounded). Later, he journalist. Facebook Company was allowed to live broadcast but closed his personal account is still prevented from posting on which has 5200 followers the above mentioned pages and permanently on 5th May 2020 also from sending any messages without prior notification. through the messenger, noting 5. Zaher Abu Hussein (65 years that his personal account has old), from Nablus, the director 900 followers. of the Media Department at the 2. Ameed Sami Dwaikat (38 years Colonization & Wall Resistance old), from Nablus, works as an Commission. Facebook anchor for Tareq Al-Mahabba Company has closed his personal Radio based in Nablus. The account on 6th May 2020, as Facebook Administration he received a message from prevented him from posting and Facebook Administration asking commenting or even sending him to confirm his identity. It messages through messenger, should be noted that the closed between 5 and 16 of May, 2020, account had about 5000 friends without any prior notification. It and 25000 followers. This is the should be noted that this is not sixth time this account is closed. the first time he is prevented 6. Mahmoud Barham, from Nablus, from live broadcasting, due to the Director of MAAN TV, old posts he published more than northern West Bank. Facebook five years ago. The block also Company has closed his account included his personal account for a month starting from which has 5000 followers and 6th May 2020. This included not the official page which has receiving and sending messages 22500 followers. through the Messenger noting 3. Sami Saed Abdelsae *36 years that the closed account had old), from Tulkarem, a reporter about 1000 followers. This is the of An-Najah TV based in Nablus, third time this account is closed. and a field researcher for MADA. 7. Ali Sadeq Saleem Samoudi (53 The Facebook Company has years old), from Jenin, a reporter closed more than one account of Al-Jazeera TV and Al-Quds belonging to him. The first which Newspaper, and a cameraman of had 5000 friends and 17000 Reuters. His account which had followers was permanently 108,000 followers was closed closed on 5th May 2020. Four on 5th May 2020, for three days, days later, (on 9th May 2020), claiming he violates the policy of two other accounts for him were Facebook. This is the fourth time also closed permanently. This his personal account is closed. made him create a new account 8. Firas Ahmad Taninah (45 years named (Abu Ibrahim Alsae) and old), from Ramallah, the Director avoided posting any news or of An-Najah TV. His verified political material so that it would account was closed by Facebook not be closed. on 6th May 2020 claiming he
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 75 breaches “Facebook” standards Refugees Gate. His account was and policy. Later, the Company disabled on 27th May 2020, as claimed that the account he received a message from was closed due to “default Facebook Administration asking in algorithms” but it was not him to verify his (the user’s) activated noting that it has 4998 identity. Then his account was friends and 1200 followers. disabled permanently noting 9. Mujahed Salem Al-Saadi (38 that his account had 5000 years old), from Jenin Camp, friends and 2700 followers. a reporter of Palestine Today (1-30/May) Facebook Company has TV, his account was closed closed not less than 31 accounts and on 6th May 2020 claiming he pages belonging to journalists and violates Facebook policy and local media institutions. This has also criteria. His account is still closed taken place in Gaza Strip, claiming until the moment (end of May). they “violate the privacy criteria of 10. Muhannad Mohammad Hafeth Facebook”. Al-Sharif (31 years old), from According to MADA researcher in Hebron, works as an anchor for Gaza Strip, Facebook Company Manbar Al-Hurriya Radio based closed the accounts of these in Hebron. He received a message journalists without any prior from Facebook Administration notification. Some have received on 6th May 2020 that his account messages through the email and will be permanently disabled through Facebook stating that (for the first time) claiming that closure or restriction on posting, he violates Facebook criteria. as a result of “violating the privacy His closed account had 4000 criteria of Facebook”. followers. The closures implemented by 11. Mohammad Ali Abdelqader Facebook Administration, during Ateeq (28 years old), from May, included a number of media Burqen, Jenin, a reporter and outlets pages followed by thousands, freelance journalist who works namely: Palestine Media Facebook for several parties. His account Page followed by (22,000), Palestine was closed on 4th May 2020. Online Facebook Page, followed by He received a message from (10,000), and Pictures of Palestine Facebook Administration asking Instagram Page followed by him to verify the user identity. 10,000, without receiving any prior A week later, he was officially notification of closure. notified that his account is The campaign of closures affected permanently closed claiming he a great group of journalists in Gaza “violates Facebook criteria”. After Strip: Alaa Abdelfattah Al-Namla a while, Mohammad Ateeq tried (freelance journalist), Mohammad to create more than one account Majed Abu Duqqah (cameraman of but they were all disabled few Sharq Media Network), Saeed Al- days after. His account had 5000 Taweel Radwan (freelance journalist), friends and 10,000 followers. Abdelhakeem Abu Rayyash 12. Sari Jaradat (34 years old), from (freelance cameraman), Ahmad Saeer, Hebrom, a reporter for Al-Naqah (freelance journalist),
76 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine Mohammad Abu Redah (freelance name of “Salaries and Promotions journalist), Wael Abu Omar (freelance in the State of Palestine-Main Page” journalist), Mohammad Farawnah on the background of his opinions (freelance journalist), Mohammad and criticism of the Palestinian Jarbou (editor of Sabaq 24 Agency), Government performance with Mohammad Al-Jamal (reporter of Al- connection to the outbreak of Ayyam Newspaper in Rafah), Rabee Corona Virus. Abu Naqerah (reporter of Palestine According to MADA researcher, Newspaper in Rafah), Mahmoud Al- the page “Salaries and Promotions Khawaja (coordinator of Palestine of the State of Palestine – Main Today TV programs), Mohammad Page”, on 25th May 2020, posted Washah (reporter of Al-Jazeera “To Ihab Al-Jariri: a misguided Live TV), Mohammad Abdelaziz Al- person is nothing but desecrate and Najjar (freelance journalist), Ismail miserable” attached with a photo Al-Ghoul (freelance journalist), of journalist Ihab Al-Jariri. The post Ismail Abu Omar (reporter of Al- included incitement insulting and Aqsa Radio), Abdelqader Al-Sharef offensive statements such as “the (freelance journalist), Osama Al- paid broadcaster: and “the one with Kahlout (reporter of An-Najah TV), the known agendas who works only Mahmoud Hanniya (editor of Al- for the Shekel”. Furthermore, the Risala Newspaper), Jihad Baroud page also attacked FM24 Radio and (director of Eid Media Network), described it as “part of the team Rami Abu Taima (reporter of instructed by the Coordinator (the Al-Quds Today TV), Bilal Awad Israeli Occupation Army Coordinator (freelance cameraman), Muath in the West Bank) to start internal Miqdad (editor of Al-Aqsa Media battles between the people and Netowkr), Mohammad Abu Hayyah the Government so that Netanyahu (editor of Al-Aqsa Network), can annex the lands and implement Hussein Zaqout (Monitor for Al- the deal of the century”. The said Aqsa Network), Mahmoud Bassam page continue to attack Al-Jariri in Al-Jamal (freelance cameraman), the same post and accused him of his posting was restricted for three receiving information from the Israeli days, Atiya Darwish (cameraman Coordinator, as well as receiving the of Al-Rai Government Agency in financing of “the internal unrest”. Gaza), Amer Al-Amour (reporter of It also described Al-Jariri as the Al-Shaab Radio in Khan Younes), “drunk” and the radio he works for as his posting was restricted for 60 “the radio of strife and corruption”. days, Mohammad Najeeb Al-Jbour On the same day (25th May) the (editor of Kanan News Network), page attacked Al-Jariri with another Iyad Hassan Abu Reedah (editor for post titled (questions for Al-Jariri … Al-Aqsa Radio), Abdelraouf Sameer Will he answer?!) saying that what Shaath (freelance cameraman). “Mr. Al-Jariri is doing is following (25th May) The journalist Ihab Al- the instructions of specific parties Jariri, the Director of FM24, based aligned with the occupation, and in Ramallah, was subjected to the horn of the coordinator in incitement and defamation through attacking the Government, which a Facebook page close to the we may disagree with but never Palestinian political system in the on”. The page accused Al-Jariri of
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 77 receiving funding of 800,000 Euros but they’re definitely groups close to from the Europeans and Americans the Palestinian Political System”. Al- to open 24FM Radio in Jerusalem, Jariri went to the Public Prosecution considering it a city of peace. It also in Ramallah on 27th May to file a accused him of signing a document complaint and follow up with the describing the Palestinian factions of case legally, even though he is not being terrorists. The page continued so sure this will lead to a result since attacking the journalist Al-Jariri as it the officials are outside the West posted on the following day (26 May) Bank, according to the knowledge a new inciting post accusing him of of the Public Prosecution, where mocking the Late President Yasser the prosecution promised to do its Arafat and President Mahmoud best in this matter, knowing that the Abbas as well as the security services matter is not under its control. and Palestinian Government. On (24th May) Some settlers have 27th May, it posted a video of Al- attacked the staff of “Russia Today” Jariri thanking the personnel and TV while covering the appearance of security officers, which was basically the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin a positive post for Al-Jariri, but it Netanyahu, who is accused of attached it with a comment “after corruption cases, before the Israeli those words …. Thank you … and if Central Court at Salahuddin Street you any rights … you will always find in the occupied city of Jerusalem, our address with the Judiciary!” where he made a statement before The attack against Al-Jariri came as a his supporters and the media before result of a post Al-Jariri published on entering the courtroom. May 23 under the title “A Government According to MADA researcher, great that is always against the norm” in numbers of the Israeli police and which he criticized the performance security forces have closed today of the Palestinian government in light 24th May 2020 the surrounding of of Corona crisis, whether in relation the Israeli Central Court, eastern to the file of Palestinian workers in Jerusalem, before the Israeli Prime Israel, or Wakfet Izz Fund, which Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was established to compensate appears before the Court. They built the affected, or in connection with iron roadblocks behind of which the checks of the workers, and the great numbers of settlers, the far- performance and management of right politics and the journalists have the health minister of the case. gathered to cover the event. The staff The incitement and attack against of Russia Today TV, composed of Al-JAriri across many closed groups the TV reporter Dalia Esam Al-Nimri has outpaced the WhatsApp (36 years old), and the cameraman application, as previously mentioned. Ashraf Ayed Dawoud Al-Shwaiki It was not known who was behind (33 years old), was also present. the incitement and the attack on Al- The TV staff asked the occupation Jariri, or who is running the page, police to pass the barriers placed by especially since the admins of the the Israeli police, but it refused and page that launched the incitement asked them to remain behind the campaign are in 3 different regions, berries amid the crowds of settlers Gaza Strip, Palestinian territories and extremists. They stayed from 1948 and abroad specifically France, 1:00PM until 3:00PM, when the trial
78 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine ended and Netanyahu left the court. has dismissed its cameraman in the When the journalist Al-Nimri tried occupied Palestinian Territories, Iyad to document the closure of her Hamad, “due to a complaint filed report, some of the settlers started by the Palestinian police against disrupted and provoking her by him at the Agency, alleging that he covering the camera lens with the incited against the security services Israeli flag and hold it above her and attempted to cause chaos”, as head, not to mention cursing her Hamad said, which appears to be and her coworker the cameraman linked to his participation in a protest Ashraf Al-Shwaiki. Moreover, some organized in Bethlehem against the of them attacked her, pushed her arrest of the journalist, Anas Howari. and asked her to leave the location. According to MADA researcher, the Dalia Al-Nimri tried to move them cameraman of Associated Press in the with her hand, and some of them Occupied Palestinian Territories, Iyad assaulted her coworker Al-Shwaiki Nimr Abdelqader Hamad (63 years with their hands and legs forcing old), from Bethlehem, along with a him to use the tripod to move them group of journalists have organized away. Although this assault before a sit-in on Tuesday 19th May 2020 in some Israeli police officers, they did front of the President Headquarters not intervene until they were called in Bethlehem, after receiving by Russia Today TV reporter Dalia information from the Agency he Al-Nimri asking them to open the works for that “the Palestinian iron barriers so they can be able Police has filed a complaint to exit amongst the settlers. One against him”. Shortly before this, of the police officers approached an intense argument took place in and asked her how was she and her the whatsapp journalists’ group, colleague assaulted, and asked them journalist Iyad Hamad was member to go to the Israeli police center in in the group, with the Palestinian Neve Yaakov to file a complaint. He police spokesperson Loay Irzeiqat told them that once they arrive (the who is also a member in the group, officer) will explain to everyone in the on arresting the journalist Anas AL- center the circumstances of assault. Howari in Tulkarem. Days after this At 3:30PM, on that day, Ashraf Al- incident, specifically at 3:30PM on Shwaiki and Dalia Al-Nimri went to Wednesday 27th May 2020, the the Israeli Police Center located in journalist Iyad Hamad received Beit Hanina, northern Jerusalem, to a phone call from the Agency file a complaint against the settlers Management through which he was who assaulted them. However, the informed that he is suspended for police claimed that it did not know of good from the Agency based on a the incident and that it will open the “Complaint filed against him by the cameras in the area to find out what Palestinian Police”. According to happened in details. The reporter their claim, the complaint included and cameraman of Russia Today “acts breaching public order”. On will follow up the matter legally and the same day (Wednesday 27th May will file an official complaint at the 2020), the journalist Hamad received Israeli court against the settlers who an email from the Agency accusing assaulted them. him (according to the police claims) (27th May) Associated Press Agency of several violations, including
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 79 attempting to cause chaos and usually begins. There were around incitement and threatening to set in ten soldiers firing rubber coated fire rubber tires in front of the court metal bullets and tear gas bombs. in Bethlehem in objection of the The soldiers started chasing some trial Anas Howari who as arrested of the young men of the town who by the Palestinian police after he threw stones at them. When they was assaulted at the entrance of approached the Zakat Committee Anabta in Tulkarem. It also included headquarters in the village, the accusing him of calling for a protest young men started throwing stones in front of the security services again at the soldiers who fired back in Bethlehem, as well as inciting randomly. This resulted in the injury against the security services and of journalist Nidal Ishtayya with a their work. The Colonel Loay Irzeqat, rubber bullet in his left thigh. Note the police spokesperson, denied this that at that moment he was at a claim categorically in a word he had distance of about 100 meters away with MADA. It is noteworthy that from the soldiers and about 50 the journalist Iyad Hamad worked meters away from the demonstrators. with the aforementioned agency Immediately, three young men took for nearly 20 years, during which him to one of the houses waiting he covered events in the West Bank for an ambulance because there and Gaza Strip and in the Libyan, was no vehicle or ambulance in the Tunisian and Egyptian Republics, place. He was given the first aid, and during his career path he was but the cameraman Shtayyeh was subjected to numerous assaults by still in great pain, which prompted the occupation army. him to leave the place and go to (29th May) The photojournalist Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, where Nidal IShtayya was injured by rubber he was provided with the necessary bullet fired at him by one of the treatments. The doctor dressed the occupation soldiers while he was place of the injury and advised him covering events in Kafr Qaddum, to rest at home for three days. Qalqilya. (31st May) The Israeli occupation According to MADA researcher, forces gave journalist Rose Al-Zaro Nidal Shafiq Taher Ishtayya (50 a summons for investigation while years old), from Salem Village, she was covering a sit-in in the city Nablus, a cameraman at Xinhua of Jerusalem on the occasion of News Agency, has arrived at around memorial of Faisal Al-Husseini. 12:10PM, on Friday afternoon to Kuft According to MADA researcher, the Qaddum in Qalqilya to cover the occupation police and intelligence weekly march on protesting against raided on 31st May 2020 a sit-in the settlement and the continued organized in front of the Orient closure of the entrance of the town House, Sheikh Jarrah Neighborhood, by the occupation army for years. on the 19th memorial of Faisal Al- When he arrived Kufr Qaddum, the Husseini. The occupation police, occupation soldier have already when raided the sit-in, arrested raided the village half an hour before Jerusalem Governor Adnan Gaith, the usual march started. They sieged the Prison Club Director Nasser the Mosque located in the middle Qaws, and member of Jerusalem of the village where the march Fateh Movement Awad Al-Salaimah,
80 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine as well as one of those taking part journalist Sondons Abdelrahman in the event, the former employee of Owais (23 years old), who was there, the Orient House Isaq Al-Qawasmah. asked an officer of the occupation The police also gave the others police to let her film the events at summons for investigation by the Al-Qibli Mosque after she informed intelligence claiming they breach the him that who she was and showed Israeli sovereignty and attempt to him her press card but the Israeli impose thePalestinian sovereignty. officer refused to let her film. He The summons was given to asked her to leave the area and go journalist Rose Al-Zaro, the preparer to the squares of the Dome of the of programs at Voice of Palestine Rock, and told her that he does not Radio in Jerusalem, to go to the recognize her international card and Israeli intelligence for investigation only recognizes the Israeli press purposes on Tuesday 2nd May 2020. card. Sondos tried to talk to him to (31st May) The occupation police allow her to film but he refused and prevented journalist Sondos Owais addressed her “you are under arrest from covering the events of opening now”. Sondos Owais tries to clarify Al-Aqsa Mosque after it was closed things for fear of being arrested, for 69 days due to Corona Pandemic. however the occupation officer They told her she was arrested and asked her to go to Beit Al-Yaho Police summoned her to the police center Center located in the Gate of Chain in Jerusalem and prevented her to at 8:30AM on the morning of that access Al-Aqsa Mosque for a week. day. Indeed, she immediately went to the police center where she waited According to MADA researcher, for fifteen minutes. She then met the Islamic Waqf Department, at an occupation intelligence officer 3:00AM, on 31st May 2020, re- called Yuram who informed her opened the doors of Al-Aqsa Mosque that she was accused of incitement in the occupied city of Jerusalem and causing riot inside Al-Aqsa after it was closed for 69 days due Mosque, and this is why she was to corona pandemic. Three gates asked to come to the police center. of Al-Aqsa Mosque were opened: The Journalist Sondos explained to the Gates of Chain, Hattah, and Al- the officer the facts and details of Majles. At 7:30AM, the Occupation what had happened and that she Police opened Al-Magharbah Gate had only requested to film, but the for the Israeli settlers who usually Israeli officer ended the investigation raid Al-Aqsa Mosque starting from with her within fifteen minutes and there. When Al-Magharbah Gate ordered her to sign her statement was opened, the prayers started and released her on condition that exclaiming Takbirs to the lens of she return again to the police station journalists who were documenting on Saturday (6th June 2020), for the moment. On the other hand, the investigation. He also informed her occupation soldiers were trying to she is prevented from accessing Al- keep the Palestinian citizens away Aqsa Mosque, its halls, and gates from Al-Magharbah Gate and the for a week, and threatened her with Mosque squares to allow settlers to further period of being prevented perform their Talmud rituals. They from accessing the Al-Aqsa Mosque, also tries to prevent the journalists which may last for six months. to film the events. The freelance
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 81 î June: about his present workplace and where does he see himself in ten (3rd June) The Israeli occupation years? Then moved on to ask him forces summoned four journalists about the journalists he knows while they were covering a sit-in and how do they pass information protesting against the removal of about the events and their locations, Sheikh Akrama Sabri from Al-Aqsa and why wasn’t he present a Mosque, questioned them on their few days earlier in another sit-in press work, and the coverage of the organized in front of the “Orient events and activities in Jerusalem. House” in commemoration of the According to MADA researcher, a sit- 19th anniversary of the death of in was taking place in Al-Sowanah Faisal Al-Husseini, on Sunday, May Neighborhood in Jerusalem on 31, 2020. He was also questioned 3rd June 2020, to protest against about the “PA” party he works for the removal of Al-Aqsa Mosque which was denied by journalist Isaid, orator, Sheikh Akrama Sabri, by the and then he was allowed to leave. occupation authorities. Many media Upon summoning him, the journalist outlets went to cover the sit-in, and in Jaradat, arrived at 4:00PM, on the meantime the police and security Thursday, corresponding 4th June officers raided the area, and handed 2020 to the Investigation Center. over four of the demonstrators and His questioning lasted only for ten journalists summoning orders for minutes where he was questioned questioning, with different dates, about his whereabouts (while he was namely: the cameraman Ahmad covering the aforementioned sit-in) Othman Ahmad Jalajil (40 years old), and how he received information a freelance journalist from Jerusalem about this protest and its date. He and works for several institutions, answered that he knew about the Al-Jazeera TV cameraman Murad incident by chance when he was Mohammad Farouq Isaid (47 years coming back to his office at Al- old), from Beit Hanina in Jerusalem, Tour from a fieldwork, noticed the the reporter of Al-Arabi TV Ahmad gathering, and stopped to film it. Nayef Hammad Jaradat (29 years old), from Al-Tour, Jerusalem, Russia As for the journalist Al-Shwaiki Today TV cameraman, Ashraf Ayed (based on the summons), he arrived Dawoud Al-Shwaiki, from Silwan, in at 4:00PM on Sunday corresponding Jerusalem. 7th June 2020, to Room $ for investigation, where he waited for At 10:00AM, the following morning 15 minutes until the investigation (Thursday corresponding 4 June started and lasted for half an hour. 2020), Isaid went to “Room 4” The investigator asked him about the for questioning purposes at Al- journalists he knows and about the Mascobbiya Center, where he waited way of circulating news in the field, for two hours until was summoned as well as about the type of reports to an investigation session that they make when covering the events. lasted 20 minutes only (between He mainly focused on asking him 11:50 until 12:10PM). The investigator about the journalists he knows, how started the session by addressing he knows them, how he knows about him “Why don’t I see you or know the events and activities taking place you?” he continued by inquiring in Jerusalem.
82 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine Based on the summons, Jalajil went (30 years old) were heading to Deir to Al-Masccobiya Investigation Hejla, eastern Jericho (Al-Dawahik Center in Jerusalem, at 12:00PM, Cluster) to make a TV report on on 10th June 2020. Half an hour the demolition of the village tents later, he was questioned about his by the occupation forces and their presswork of covering different attempts to evacuate the population. events taking place in Jerusalem. After they were done filming, they He was also questioned about his left the cluster and moved away by role in broadcasting news about 200 meters. An Israeli occupation the activities of Jerusalemite army patrol stopped them, and the institutions, especially those funded soldiers asked them about their by the Palestinian National Authority, connection with the Bedouin cluster. which is prohibited and not allowed Jeries and Mutasem replied that by Israel in Jerusalem. However, they are journalists and they went journalist Jalajil replied that he has there to make a report. The soldiers been covering the political, artistic, seized their cards and asked them to and cultural news of Jerusalem and follow them and drove towards the the different institutions there for Bedouin Cluster. When they arrived, more than 20 years, and that this the soldiers detained them claiming is his job. The Israeli investigator they have filmed in a banned area threatened him that he will make and told them that they will released every possible effort to take his only if they delete the material. The Israeli press card, noting that Israel journalists replied that they were does not recognize any other cards. only doing their job and they have He addressed Jalajil and told him the right to film in their capacity as that he is able to suspend him from journalists. One hour and a half later, work permanently and prosecute their IDs were given back to them him. The investigator told him that and the material that was filmed on he is not allowed to cover the news Mutasem’s cell phone was deleted of Palestinian institutions which but the material on the camera was Israel considers supported by the not. They were released two hours Palestinian Authority. At around later of being detained. 4:00PM, Jalajil was released even (5th June) The Israeli occupation though he refused to sign the soldiers have arrested the statement of the investigation he cameraman of Palestine TV Ahmad was subject to. Hababa after assaulting him on his (3rd June) The Israeli occupation way back to Beit Iksa, northwest soldiers detained the Syrian News TV Jerusalem, where he lives. staff after they prepared a report on According to MADA researcher, at the demolition of tents in a Bedouin around 4:30PM, on Friday, 5th June cluster in Jericho by the occupation 2020, the journalist Ahmad Kamal forces, and they deleted some of the Hassan Hababa (28 years old), from material that was filmed. Beit Iksa, northwest Jerusalem, According to MADA researcher, the works at the photography section Syrian New TV staff, including the in Palestine TV, on his way back to reporter Jeries Khaleel Dawoud Azer his house located in Beit Iksa via his (30 years old), and the cameraman vehicle, through the military barrier Mutasem Sameer Hamdi Saqf Al-Hait established by the Israeli army at its
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 83 entrance connected with Bido (Ras was arrested. Bido[2]), the soldiers stopped him, (6th June) The Israeli occupation started stalling him and even allowed authorities removed the journalist for the other vehicles behind him to Sondos Abdelrahman Owais (23 pass. It should be noted that this isn’t years old) from Al-Aqsa Mosque for the first time he is being provoked three months claiming “she causes by the soldiers who deliberately stall riot” in the Mosque. him and harass him by making things According to MADA researcher, the up. Hababa pulled out his cell phone occupation police, on 31st May 2020, to film the soldiers’ harassments, stopped Sondos Abdelrahman a female soldier approached him Owais (23 years old), a freelance and asked another soldier to stand journalist from Jerusalem, while behind him to take his cell phone. she was covering the re-opening of They seized his cell phone and Al-Aqsa Mosque for prayers after smashed it, then handcuffed him, the closure that lasted for 69 days, and took him to a private room. as part of the preventive measures They took him in the police vehicle taken to restrict the outbreak of to Ofer Prison, near Ramallah, where Corona Virus. They took her to Al- he stayed handcuffed for four Yaho Police Center at Alsilsila Gate, hours and was subject to repeated Jerusalem, where she was given a assaults and beatings. Then he removal order from Al-Aqsa Mosque was taken to the investigation and for a week, provided she shall go to promised him that he can ask a the Police Center again on Saturday lawyer to come. His indictment was (corresponding 6th June 2020). given to him in Hebrew, which he Indeed, she arrived at 9:15AM on cannot understand and could not Saturday 6th June 2020 to Al-Yaho comprehend but one charge that Police Center, at Alsilsila Gate, where said “assaulting the soldiers”. He she was not allowed to enter. An remained in detention until 12:00 officer gave her an order of removal midnight. An application on his trail from Al-Aqsa Mosque, and when at Ofer prison was submitted on the Sondos asked about the type of morning of Thursday corresponding paper he gave her, he answered: 17th Dec. 2020. He asked them to it is a removal order from Al-Aqsa take him back to the place he was Mosque for three months, and that arrested from at the barrier because this decision was ready the moment his wallet and money remained in she was arrested a week ago and the vehicle and he does not have that she must not access Al-Aqsa any money to call a taxi to come and Moaque squares, its gates, arcades, pick him up. They refused and took and the roads leading to the Mosque. him to Qalandia barrier, 9 kilometers away from the place he was arrested (6th June) The Israeli occupation in and his place of residence in Beit forces have fired live bullets at a Iksa. He could not but wait in the number of Palestinian journalists road until he found someone to help while they were preparing a press him to go back home in Beit Iksa. report on the Wheat Harvest season, Some photos shared on Facebook eastern Khan Younes, Gaza Strip. show the bruises on his body when According to MADA researcher, the he was assaulted the moment he journalists: the freelance cameraman
84 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine Hasan Abdelfattah Islaih (33 years arrest and was shocked with posts old), Ashraf Abu Amra (APA) she saw on the social media about Agency cameraman, Mohammad arresting someone who is managing Al-Mashharawi (Sky News Arabia a Facebook page called “Bint Reporter), and his coworker the Tulkarem” that aroused indignation cameraman Ayman Al-Rozi, have among citizens because of the arrived eastern Khuza’a, at around scandalous defamatory material it 10:20AM, on Saturday 6th June posts. Two days following his arrest 2020, via a jeep that was marked (Thursday morning 11th June 2020), in both Arabic and English “Press” Sami was transferred to Tulkarem to prepare a report on the wheat Magistrate Court, and the Preventive harvest season. They specifically Security Services informed the arrived at a wheat field in an area Public Prosecution officially that the known as “Jakar street”, 300 meters investigation was over with Sami away from the (border) separation Al-Sae. However, the Prosecution fence, eastern Khuza’a, carrying decided to extend his arrest for 15 cameras and filming equipment. Ten days claiming they need to complete minutes after they started filming the investigation for the charge of seven workers in the wheat field, publishing news and information at around 10:30AM, they saw some in violation of the Cybercrime Law Israeli soldiers on a sandhill on the through “Bint Tulkarem” Page. On a other side of the separation fence. phone call, Sami informed his family The soldiers started firing gunshots on the same day (11th June 2020) that at them, without prior alarm, which the police has officially informed him forced the journalists to lie on the that General Investigations wants to ground. Fifteen minutes later (at question him and that he is accused around 10:45AM), they were able to of running a Facebook page called get out and leave the area to their “Bint Tulkarem”. He denied these Jeep. They had to move away and charges, and he was transferred film from another location in town to the prison at Tulkarem Police that was 700 meters away from the directorate. On Friday corresponding separation fence. 12th June 2020, Sami’s wife and his (9th June) Some officers of the mother were allowed to visit him. Preventive Security have arrested He expressed to them his fears of Sami Saed Al-Sae, from Tulkarem, being subject to physical assault and detained him for three weeks. and psychological pressure to get a confession from him. He told them According to MADA researcher, a that he has not been questioned force of the Preventive Security as of the moment he had been has arrested, at around 7:00PM, on at the Police Directorate and that Tuesday (9th June 2020) Sami Saed he was only questioned about Abdelsae, an independent journalist what happened at the Preventive and a field researcher for MADA, Security headquarters and it was while he was at his mother’s juice done by a committee composed shop, at Jamal Abdelnasser Square, of the Preventive Security and the central Tulkarem City. The moment General Investigations. On Tuesday, he was arrested, the security officer 15th June 2020, Sami was visited seized his cell phone, and at midnight by his wife, his health condition that day, his wife learned of his
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 85 was good, but his psychological cameraman Jafar Zahed Hussein condition was bad. He informed her Shtayyah (51 years old), WAFA that he was going on a food strike. Agency cameraman Ayman Ameen On Thursday 17th June 2020, MADA Ibrahim Nobani (34 years old), Lawyer visited Sami and learned he and Palestine TV cameraman Fadi was on a food strike and taken to Methqal Fayez Al-Jayousi (40 years a solitary cell. On the same day, his old) who was injured by a metal wife visited him, in coordination with bullet in his right-hand fingertips, the lawyer, and asked him to stop his have all arrived in the afternoon, strike, and he responded. On Sunday on Friday 12th May 2020, to Kufr 21st June 2020, the Preventive Qadoum, eastern Qalqilya, to cover Security officers arrived to Sami’s the weekly march, organized after house with a search warrant. They Friday prayers regularly since 9 years, searched the house, seized the cell to protest against the settlement phones of some family members, an and demand to open the main old computer, a laptop that belongs entrance closed by the occupation to Sami, and two tablets, one for the army for the interest of the settlers. wife and another for his children, The three journalists, along with an old Nokia, and a new mi6. On another number of journalists who Monday 22nd June 2020, Tulkarem have arrived to the town wearing the Magistrate Court denied MADA’s Press uniform (the blue helmet and lawyer request to release him, noting vest marked PRESS), were getting that it was the 8th request the lawyer ready to start filming the march that has filed and was denied since the started as usual after the prayers. decision of extending his detention When the demonstrators started for 15 days was issued. On Thursday getting closer to the closed street, at 25th June 2020, Tulkarem Magistrate a distance of 200 meters away from Court again extended his detention it, the soldiers started suppressing for another seven days, noting that the march by firing rubber-coated the Prosecution has requested to metal bullets at the demonstrators. extend his detention for 15 days. After In the meantime, the cameraman that, MADA’s lawyer filed for three Ayman Al-Nobani was standing at an requested for his release on Sunday, equal distance approximately away Monday, and Tuesday corresponding from the soldiers and demonstrators. 28th, 29th, and 30th June 2020. The There were three other journalists first two requests were denied and near him while the soldiers were the third will receive a response on firing bullets resulting in the injury Wednesday 1st July 2020, which is of Ayman with rubber-coated the last day of his detention after metal bullet in the right thigh, even being extended for the second time. though he was 100 meters away (12th June) Three journalists were from the soldiers at that moment. injured with three bullets by the The moment he was injured, some Israeli occupation army while they demonstrators rushed and took him were covering the weekly march to the ambulance that was parked protesting against the settlement in 200 meters away. He received Kufr Qadoum, Qalqilya. the necessary aid but had to stop working due to the severe pain he According to MADA researcher, was feeling. While the cameraman the journalists: the French Agency
86 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine Ayman Al-Nobani was receiving the the TV. Several press staffs coming aid, the French Agency cameraman from Jericho have arrived to the Jafar Shtayya was injured by a same Village whose population were metal bullet in the left thigh, by the about to organize a march after soldiers who were barricading inside Friday prayers. Before Naifa and his water well on the closed road 500 colleague arrived at the Village, a meters away from the central village. military barrier established by the The soldiers asked him to move occupation soldiers at Al-Hamra back while he was moving forward conjunction in the Valleys stopped to cover the events. Even when he them, their IDs were checked and responded and immediately moved they were asked where they were back, one of the soldiers fired metal going and whether they were going bullet at his left thigh. As a result, to Al-Zubaidat Village, but they told the clashes erupted between the the soldiers they were heading to demonstrators and the occupation Jericho. Fifteen minutes later, they soldiers who stormed the town firing allowed them to keep going their metal bullets and gas bombs, which own way. After Friday prayers, Al- forced the demonstrators to move Zubaidat village population launched back towards the central town. While the peaceful march towards the Palestine TV Fadi Al-Jayousi was main street where the occupation filming the events standing in one of soldiers established barriers near the towns’ alleys 300 meters away the village entrances. Soon after the from the occupation soldiers, close march was launched, the occupation to the demonstrators, he pointed forces started suppressing the his camera at the soldier to film him, demonstrators by firing sound but the later soon fired metal bullet bombs at them, while three male at him injuring his right hand fingers. soldiers and four female soldiers He received the field medical aid, but stopped all the press staffs which his fingers swollen as a result of the were covering the march, asked injury. them for their press cards and seized (12th June) The Israeli occupation them. This included the journalists: forces detained 5 journalists after Sulaiman Mahmoud Sulaiman Abu seizing their cards and the camera Srour (48 years old) works for memory of one of them. They WAFA News Agency, the journalist interrupted their work while they Mohammad Jawad Issa Zaghab who were preparing a documentary and works for Dunia Al-Watan Agency, covering a peaceful march in Al- journalist Omar Ahmad Hassan Abu Zubaidat Village, Central Valleys. Awad who works for Palestine TV, journalist Adel Ibrahim Abu Nima According to MADA researcher, the who works for Reuters Agency, freelance journalist Ameen Ibrahim and the freelance journalist Ibrahim Mohammad Naifa (32 years old), from Mohammad Naifa. After seizing Tulkarem, has arrived at 12:20PM, on their press cards, at around 1:45PM, Friday 12th June 2020, along with one of the soldiers asked all of the the Producer Ahmad Al-Biz, to Al- journalists to leave and move away. Zubaidat Village, central valleys, Journalist Sulaiman Abu Srour asked to complete a documentary he is for his press card that was seized, preparing on the Valleys for “Russia but the soldier refused to respond to Today” TV, under a commission from
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 87 him and started pushing him to the 7th time in a row, since the beginning back and even threatened him with of May 2020. The closure of accounts arrest. A group of demonstrators belonging to Jaradat started after the pulled Sulaiman to the back, Abu suspension of journalist Iyad Hamad, Srour was not wearing the Press the cameraman of Associated Press uniform. At around 2:00PM, one of World Agency (which, according to the Israeli police officers returned Hamad and the Agency, occurred the cards to the journalists and based on a complaint filed against asked them to leave, and they him at the Palestinian Police). immediately left the Village, except The journalist Jaradat contacted for the journalist Ameen Ibrahim Facebook Company several times Mohammad Naifa who was waiting and received a message stating that for his colleague Ahmad Al-Biz, there is a room for governments in in a location relatively far from the all countries to suspend accounts for demonstrators’ gathering to bring people that are considered to violate their vehicle. When one of the the standards and policies. Jaradat soldiers approached the journalist also contacted the Ministry of Naifa, and asked him for his personal Telecommunication and Information identity card and press card, Naifa Technology in Palestine, and he was showed him a letter issued by informed to file an application at the “Russia Today” TV clarifying that he Palestinian Syndicate of Journalists is a journalist working on producing and to the Ministry to follow up documentaries. However, the soldier with his matter. However, he did not did not actually care and told him receive any positive response on this that he was “arrested” and even regard. During that period, Jaradat seized his camera. He also started tried to create a new account on pushing him towards the military jeep Facebook through different internet and addressed him “tonight you’re service providers but soon the coming with me and you’re sleeping account was deleted without any in a very nice place” referring to thr alarming messages. prison of course, and detained him (18th June) The Internal Security of next to the military jeep. 45 minutes Hamas in Gaza arrested the journalist later of being detained there, the Tawfiq Abu Jarad on the background soldiers gave him back his card and of covering some activities and camera after they seized the memory events of Fateh in Gaza Strip. card where the filmed material is According to MADA researcher, on saved. He was released without his Thursday, corresponding 18th June camera memory card. 2020, the journalist Tawfiq Abdelaziz (June) Facebook Company Mohammad Abu Jarad (38 years Administration has closed the old), was summoned and called account of journalist Sari Jaradat to come to the Internal Security (33 years old), 7 times since the headquarters on Sunday morning beginning of May in 2020. (21st June 2020). Two hours later According to MADA researcher, after his summons, a police vehicle Facebook Administration has closed came to his house to inform him that the page of Al-Mayaden TV reporter, he has to immediately come to the journalist Sari Sharif Abdelghaffar Internal Security headquarters but Jaradat (33 years old), for the he was not home then. Two hours
88 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine later, the security officers came back around 12:00PM, on Friday 19th June to his house but he was not home 2020, the journalists: Al-Ghad Al- either. He came back home later Arabi TV reporter, Raed Mohammad on that day and learned that the Sameer Al-Shareef (30 years old), security officers asked about him. the cameraman Jameel Hashem He went by himself to the Internal Salhab (28 years old), and WAFA Security headquarters northern Agency cameraman Mashhour Gaza Strip, where his cell phone was Hassan Mahmoud Al-Wahwah (36 seized as well as his personal card. years old), have arrived at Susia He was transferred to a cell without Village, southern Yatta, Hebron, any questioning until Saturday to cover Friday prayers that was evening on 20th June 2020 when he taking place outdoors to express was released provided he shall come diatribes against the decision of the the following day (Sunday 21st June) occupation authorities on annexing at 8:00AM. Accordingly, on Sunday parts of the lands of the West Bank morning he went to the headquarters in the beginning of July this year. The and was questioned at 11:00AM for moment the three journalists arrived an hour. The questions were about at the location, there were forces of his coverage of marches and events the occupation army that has arrived related to Fateh, and his Facebook at the village, and approached the posts about the political situation gathering of citizens. Two soldiers in general. After his questioning approached the three journalists ended, he was taken to the cell and asked for their personal where he remained in detention until identity cards for security check 5:00PM, when he was released and as the officer claimed, and they was informed again to come to the were prevented from filming for 10 Internal Security Center on Tuesday minutes until their IDs were checked. 23rd June 2020. At 9:00AM. On After the prayers ended, the soldiers Tuesday morning, Abu Jarad arrived prevented the three soldiers to at the headquarters northern Gaza film the peaceful demonstration Strip, and he was taken immediately and tried to remove them from the to the Investigation Room. At around location. They even disrupted their 10:30AM, he was questioned about movement continuously to prevent the content on his cell phone seized them from covering the events while by the Internal Security, which one of the officers was demanding includes images of events and an them to leave the location. Before interview he conducted with a leader the demonstration ended, the of Fateh Movement Fayez Abi Aita. journalists left the location for fear At around 3:00PM on the same day, of being assaulted again especially the Internal Security officers gave that a group of settlers have arrived him his cell phone and personal card, at the location. and then he was released. (19th June) The Israeli occupation (19th June) The Israeli occupation forces prevented several journalists forces detained three journalists and and media outlets to access Arab interrupted their work while they Al-Malihat, northern Jericho to cover were covering a peaceful march in a peaceful sit-in that was taking Susia, southern Yatta. place there to protest again Israel According to MADA researcher, at endeavors to annex parts of the
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 89 West Bank. given the location (threatened to According to MADA researcher, be annexed along with other broad the journalists: Reuters cameraman areas) is far away from any contact Adel Ibrahim Abu Nima (52 years with the Israeli army. old), the photojournalist Mohammad (19th June) A police force in Gaza Jawad Zaghab, and WAFA Agency arrested the journalist Mahmoud cameraman Sulaiman Mahmoud Allouh from his house claiming he Sulaiman Abu Srour, via Abu Nima’s filmed an old lady being assaulted in vehicle, at around 10:50AM, on Bureij allegedly by the Police. 19th June 2020, were heading to According to MADA researcher, cover a peaceful protest Fateh three persons have arrived between has called for as well as Jericho 4:30PM – 5:00PM, on Friday and the Valleys Governorate in afternoon, corresponding 19th June Arab Al-Malihat area to protest 2020, to the house of Mahmoud against the annexation plan of Omar Allouh (30 years old), the Israel with American support. When presenter of programs and the the journalists arrived at Al-Auja reporter of Sawt Al-Shaab Radio, entrance, adjacent to Jericho, the located in Al-Da’wa area, Al-Nusairat, occupation soldiers stopped them at without even searching the house, the military barrier they established and without introducing themselves there, noting their vehicle was not except being police officers. They marked PRESS. One of the soldiers arrested the journalist Allouh after asked them where they were going, seizing his cell phone, and took him and they informed him that they to Al-Nusairat Police Center. The were heading to Al-Auja spring. The moment he arrived at the center, all soldier searched the vehicle, and of his belongings were seized and he when he saw the filming equipment was taken to a cell and reported to be and the cameras, he learned they arrested for investigation purposes were journalists, and asked for their (higher authorities’ decisions). He IDs. He asked the journalist Abu Nima remained detained in the cell for to turn off the vehicle’s engine and an hour and a half, and then he was indeed he responded. Half an hour transferred by bus to “Al-Breish” later, the soldier gave them back their Police Center, where he was taken to cards and ordered them to go back a small cell. After that, he was taken to Jericho claiming “this is a military to the Investigations and questioned closed area and they have to go back about filming the incident in Bureij to Jericho”. The three journalists about the citizen Om Jabr Washah returned to Jericho and the same who was assaulted. He was accused happened with the Palestinian of filming her and taking her to the Broadcasting Corporation that was hospital which he denied and said in the Corporation’s vehicle behind “even if this happened, then I have them. After they came back to only documented the incident as a Jericho, the journalists had to take journalist, but I never was there, so a bumpy road with the help of a I did not document anything”. At young man that has an SUV to reach 11:30PM on the same day he was the location of peaceful protest in arrested, after the contributions of Arab Al-Malihat. The protest was several authorities (Independent covered quietly without any clashes Commission for Human Rights, the
90 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine Popular Front, Sawt Al-Shaab Radio of them and used them as “shield” for which he works) he was released to cover themselves from the stones. provided he shall come back One of the soldiers intentionally the following morning, Saturday fired a gas bomb at journalist Abu 20th June 2020. Indeed, he went Srour but did not injure him, not to Al-Nusairat Center at around to mention threatening him with 10:00AM, and he was questioned arrest by the soldiers if he does again about Bureij incident and not leave the location immediately. filming Om Jabr Washah. One hour Furthermore, the journalist later, at around 11:00PM, he was Mohammad Zaghab was threatened allowed to leave the center. and pushed by the soldiers and so (22nd June) The Israeli occupation Saqf Al-Hait and the Palestinian forces prevented a number of Broadcasting Corporation vehicle journalists and media outlets to driver was forced to leave before cover a demonstration and events being detained after the TV staff that have taken place at the was prevented to cover the events southern entrance of Jericho as that have taken place after the part of Palestinian protests against popular festival in which Palestinian the Israeli endeavors to annex the officials and diplomats have taken Valleys. part against the annexation of the valleys that have taken place earlier According to MADA researcher, a that day. group of journalists have arrived between 7:00PM – 7:30PM on (24th June) The Israeli occupation 22nd June 2020 to the Israeli forces have prevented a number of military barrier located at Jericho journalists to access Fasayel Village, southern entrance after they learned in the central valleys, to cover a about the demonstration of dozens festival that was taking place there, of young men who were throwing in support for the Valleys population stones at the occupation soldiers. and in denial of the Israeli plan of These journalists were: the freelance annexation. journalists Mahran Sulaiman Barham According to MADA researcher, Barahma (32 years old), WAFA Zeidan Zakaria Mohammad Al- Agency cameraman Sulaiman Razem (41 years old), a freelance Mahmoud Abu Srour (38 years journalist, the reporter for old), Pal News Agency cameraman WAFA News Agency in Jericho Mohammad Jawad Zaghab (38 Abdelrahman Mahmoud Saleh Al- years old), the cameraman Mutasem Qasem, the journalist Doaa Mazen Sameer Saqf Al-Hait (37 years Jaber Al-Damnahouri (29 years old), old), and Palestine TV staff: the works at the Media Department cameraman Omar Ahmad Abu Awad, in Jericho, the freelance journalist the journalist Fathi Khalil Barahma, Nidal Abdelmajeed Ahmad Fatafah, and the vehicle’s driver Samer Asad and the freelance journalist Salamah Abu Salman. Soon, the journalists Mohammad Salamah Sataria (31 started covering the clashes until the years old), were heading, at around soldiers ordered them to leave the 3:00PM, on 24th June 2020, via the area claiming it is a closed military vehicle of journalist Zeidan Al-Razem, zone. When the journalists started to Fasayel Village, next to Jericho, leaving, the soldiers took advantage to cover a meeting of the Council
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 91 of Ministers and the PLO Executive thus drowned it with sewage water Committee, that was announced (while Zeidan and Fatafta were to take place there, to be followed approaching the vehicle). They had by a festival to protest against the to go back to Jericho to go through Israeli plan of annexing the valleys a quick cleaning operation causing area. When the journalists arrived suffocation to journalist Fatafta. to Jericho northern entrance, the She was treated in the field by her Israeli Occupation forces established colleagues and was not taken to a military barrier at the city entrance, medical center. and saw dozens of vehicles in front At 4:20PM on the same day, the of them at the barrier as the soldiers Israeli occupation forces also were stopping all of the vehicles, prevented the journalist Mohammad to check the identity cards of all Jawad Issa Zaghab (32 years old) passengers. When their turn came, the cameraman of PalNews Agency, one of the soldiers asked them for to access Fasayel to cover the event, their personal identity cards, and and ordered him to go back when he saw the cameras with them, he arrived at the barrier at the northern said to them “Palestine TV going to entrance of Jericho. Mohammad Fasayel, turn around and go back”. could not reach the event location Zeidan tried to convince them that he was heading to cover. they were not Palestine TV, however (24th June) A force of the Israeli the soldier insisted they go back to occupation army, at 3:00AM, on Jericho. As a result, the journalists 24th June 2020, has stormed went to the other entrance of Jericho, the house of journalist Mujahed connecting to Al-Auja, but found Mohammad Saed Saadi (32 years old), out that the Israeli Occupation army located in Al-Saadah Neighborhood, has established a barrier there as Jenin, a freelance journalist who well. The soldiers prevented them to was arrested without searching his pass and forced them to go back to house. They only entered the living Jericho. Therefore, they went to King room. Mujahed asked them to let Hussein Bridge area known as (The him wear his clothes, and they asked Yellow Gate) to be able to access the him to bring along his identity card event location (they arrived there at and his cellphone. They took him 4:25PM). At 6:10PM, Zeidan and Nidal to an unknown place. On 28th June decided to leave and go back to 2020, the Red Crescent informed his Jericho City. When they approached family (as his wife, Raya Imad Husni their vehicle parked near the Local Zakarnah, stated) that the army Council, they saw a group of young moved Al-Saadi to Howarah Military men throwing stones at a force of the Camp, southern Nablus, and that occupation army that arrived at the he will be brought before trial on village, while the soldiers were using Tuesday (corresponding 30th June a vehicle dedicated for spraying 2020), and on that day he was the Palestinian demonstrators transferred to administrative arrest with sewage. The soldiers were for six months and his family did not deliberately spraying the sewage know why was he arrested or what water at the vehicle of Zeidan holding is he accused of or what is condition plate No. (9.4076.94) and smashed in detention. the back glass of the vehicle and
92 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine (24th June) The Israeli occupation on the Facebook. forces targeted four journalists by According to MADA researcher, firing rubber bullets, sound and Ihab Omar Yousef Fasfous (46 years tear gas bombs at them while they old), from Khan Younes, a freelance were covering the demolition of a journalist, at around 11:00PM, on house under construction in Betunia, Thursday corresponding 25th June western Ramallah. 2020, received a summons from the According to MADA researcher, a Internal Security Services in Khan huge force of the occupation army, Younes, through a security officer accompanied with three bulldozers, in civilian clothing that showed up raided, at around 6:00AM, on to his house. The summons was 24th June 2020, the southern area headed “Summons to Testify” asking of Betunia, surrounded the area and him to come to the Internal Security started the demolition of a house headquarters in Khan Younes, at that was still under construction. 9:00AM, on Sunday, corresponding The house belongs to the citizen 28th June 2020. Indeed, Fasfous Abdelaziz Froukh, and they claimed responded to the summons and went it was not licensed. A number to the Internal Security on the said of journalists went to cover the day. The moment he arrived, before demolition, and while they were going to the investigation session, filming the event that lasted three one of the security officers asked him hours, the occupation soldiers to hand over his cell phone and open prevented them to approach the his Facebook account. Indeed, he house and cover the demolition. gave them his cell phone and shared They threatened them with arrest if his Facebook data. In the meantime, they would not move away and leave the security officer addressed him the area. They even fired tear gas “every time you show up here, you bombs, sound bombs and rubber cause troubles …”. Fasfous replied bullets at them more than once, “what are the troubles I caused especially in the moment when the so we can discuss them” but the army was withdrawing from the security officer did not answer him. area after completing the demolition When he entered the investigation at around 9:00AM. This assault room, one person only met him, and and prevention from coverage was started questioning him by asking against the journalists: Mohammad him whether he knows why he was Jreir Hamdan (30 years old), from summoned. Fasfous replied “I came the Public Relations Department at to testify as the summons dais”, the the Colonization & Wall Resistance investigator replied “no, you are here Commission, Reuters Cameraman because you’re active, you liked the Mohammad Ali Turkman (50 years Israeli Coordinator Facebook Page, old), G-Media Agency cameraman and commented on one of his posts Mohammad Hamoud Turkman (22 saying (take the dollars but give us years old), and the cameraman Issam peace)”. However, Fasfous denied Huda Al-Rimawi (36 years old). this, and the investigator replied that (28th June) The Internal Security he is a journalist and can follow any Services in Gaza summoned the page he wants but not an Israeli. He cameraman Omar Fasfous and asked the investigator to prove what questioned him about his comments he claimed earlier but the investigator
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 93 replied “I have a report in my hands Hajar Harb with”. Journalist Harb that proves you have shown activity considered this incitement to kill her. on the Coordinator’s page”. Again, She found later that the account that Fasfous denied and demanded to was inciting against her was holding see the proof, the investigator replied a fake name and she could not file “you might have done it by mistake”. an official complaint at the security The investigation with Fasfous lasted authorities. for 45 minutes. He was then asked The Israeli officer went to the patrol to leave the investigation room, but then came back with a ticket he stayed in detention until 2:00PM issued for Shadi by (200NIS) even when a security officer handed him though some of the soldiers and his cell phone and allowed him to journalists who were near the police leave. were not wearing masks at the (26th June) The journalist, Hajar moment. The same happened with Mohammad Harb, was subject to the cameraman Nasser Ishtayya, incitement through the social media as the moment he stepped out his “Facebook” on the background of vehicle at around 11:45PM, one of the commenting on the statement of Israeli police officers approached Hamas Military Wing spokesperson. him and asked him about his mask, According to MADA researcher, the Ishatayya pointed to the press mask journalist Hajar Mohammad Ibrahim (the gas mask) around his neck, Harb (26 years old), from Rafah, and pulled the other medical mask southern Gaza Strip, currently in the from his pocket to put it on his face. Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for The police officer asked for his ID treatment purposes, was surprised card, took it and went to the police that she was subject to incitement vehicle. Ishatayya followed him and on the Facebook, even inciting to kill found out that he was issuing him her, on the background of a post on a 200NIS ticket for not wearing the Facebook, she shared commenting mask. Ishtayya told him that he was on the statement of Abu Obaida, about to replace the press mask he Al-Qassam Brigades Spokesperson, had on his neck with the medical Hamas Military Wing. Her post one he pulled from his pocket and read “let us all agree that we are that he had not moved that far away emotional, we have great capability from his vehicle. He also told him that to be influenced in the moment, some of the soldiers in the area were but we a fish-memory. Announcing not wearing the masks as well. The war will not change the Annexation police officer replied “this is none decision at all, we are the first and of your business” even though he last loser in this, this is what the logic was not wearing the mask on mouth says. Therefore, we should avoid such and nose, he had it around his neck. war instead of seeking to cause one As to the cameraman Mohammad or even suggest that it might be the Ishtayya, he arrived at Hares Village best choice”. As a result, someone with the cameraman Jamal Raed named “Mohammad Shuqair” shared Jamal Hasssan (24 years old). They on a Facebook group called “Gaza were prevented in the beginning Commercial Market” on Friday from entering the village, which is 26th June 2020 “does anybody has why they attempted to enter from an RBG we can shoot the one called the olive fields, after parking the
94 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine vehicle at the village’s entrance. from the side of the building until When they done with covering the the moment he fled to the mountain events, they were prevented to leave opposite the building, after crossing from the main entrance, they had to the main street only 4 minutes. leave from among the houses, until The attacker was carrying a bag they reached the main street where containing various tools, as he quickly they were surprised with the Israeli broke the vehicle’s rear window (the police, and one of the police officers seat glass behind the driver) and asked them to show the vehicle’s threw two Molotov cocktails inside papers, and the driver’s license it, which resulted in the burning of of Jamal Hassan whose driving the car. The attacker appeared to Palestine TV vehicle. A ticket of 250 be a young man in his thirties, and NIS was issued for him claiming the Harhash seemed certain that the vehicle was parked next to the road reason for the attack was the articles above the yellow line even though she writes on public affairs, and on it was far from the said line and “it the performance of the Palestinian is clearly a vexatious ticket” as they Authority and the inconvenience expressed “to prevent the media it caused (the articles) to many staffs from covering the protest”. parties, as this attack was preceded (30th June) Unidentified people by indirect warnings for her from burn the car of the journalist, Nadia official authorities, through some of Harhash, while she was parked in her acquaintances, as she reported, front of her house in the town of because of her articles. Beit Hanina in occupied Jerusalem, These warnings and threats have in connection with what she writes begun to increase and become about criticisms of the Palestinian serious since she published an article public performance. under the title “Press Briefing ... According to the Mada researcher’s Poetry, Preaching or Responsibility?” follow-up, at 2:45 a.m. on On March 28, 2020, at “Watan” news 06/30/2020, a masked person agency in which she criticized the burned the vehicle of journalist spokesperson for the Palestinian Nadia Harhash, a Nissan type, after government. The content of these he broke its glass and threw two warnings was for Harhash to avoid Molotov cocktails inside it, which led coming to Ramallah or any area of to set it ablaze immediately before the Palestinian Authority or being in Harhash can contact the Israeli it (She lives in Jerusalem), and she police and fire brigade to extinguish received an official and direct threat the fire, as the surveillance cameras from a Palestinian security authority. in Harhash’s house showed. Harhash was awake at the time of the attack, as she was able to see the aggressor the moment he attacked the vehicle, which enabled her to call the police î July: and firefighters quickly before the (7th Feb.) The Preventive Security fire spread, expanded and caused Services arrested the journalist the vehicle to explode or reach the Tareq Abu Zaid while he was filming. house. The attack took from the The Police attempted to disperse a beginning of the attacker’s arrival gathering of welcoming the released
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 95 prisoner in Jenin. to take it. After he left, Abu Zaid According to MADA researcher, the contacted the Director of Journalists journalist Tareq Abdelrazeq Abu Syndicate in Jenin, MR. Atef Abu Al- Zaid, a freelance journalist, at around Rub, to help him get his cell phone 5:00PM, on Thursday 2nd July 2020, back, but he couldn’t. one week later, was near the house of released the Preventive Security contacted prisoner Wasfi Qabaha, in Al-Iskan Tareq and told him to come get his area, Jenin, to cover the event of cell phone, and he found that they welcoming him. In the meantime, deleted what he filmed the time he a private police unit arrived and was arrested. attempted to disperse the gathering, (4th July) General Investigation removed Hamas flags which were officers in Gaza have detained a TV on the building and the sidewalk, staff that was preparing a report on which made the journalists move suicide and seized the material they away. When the police officer tried filmed. to arrest some of the people there, According to MADA researcher, some Tareq Abu Zaid started filming this officers of the General Investigation using his cell phone, and one of the Office in Gaza, at around 1:00PM, security officers approached and on Sunday corresponding 4th July asked him why was he filming, Tareq 2020, have detained a press staff replied that he was doing his job as a of the Palestinian Media Group journalist. The police officer ordered Company (PMG), including the him to get on the police vehicle next cameraman journalist Hilmi Iyad to other arrested persons, Ashour Al-Ghoul (27 years old), and Abu Zaid and four other people the cameraman assistant (Producer) were transferred in the same Ahmad Al-Ras (29 years old), while vehicle to the Preventive Security they were filming a press report headquarters in Jenin. The security for Roya TV on “The Economic officers seized Tareq’s personal cell Situation and its impact on youth phone and his identity card, and in Gaza Strip” in front of the house they handcuffed him, which what of Sulaiman Al-Ajouri in Beit Lahia, they did with the other four arrested who attempted to commit suicide persons. When they arrived to the by shooting himself, claiming that headquarters, Abu Zaid and the four the press staff “does not have an arrested people with him were taken authorization from the Ministry of to a cell that had a mattress on the Interior to film”. The Investigation floor and a desk only. Two hours officers seized the camera memory, later, they were summoned by one and took them to the Police Center of the security officers and the latter in Beit Lahia, detained them for informed them to sign on pledges to two house and asked them not to commit to the state of emergency talk or address the suicide, until announced across the Palestinian the investigations by the security territories and never breach the services are done. The material they same. Then they were released and filmed was deleted from the camera asked to leave the headquarters. memory, they seized the IDs of Al- However, Abu Zaid requested his cell Ghoul and Al-Ras. On the following phone back before leaving and they day (Monday, 5th July 2020), they informed him to come back later were summoned by the Investigation
96 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine Services through a phone call to Al-Ghoul was not there at the time. come to the Police Center in Beit On the following morning (Thursday Lahia. Al-Ghoul and Al-Ras went 9th July 2020) he went to the immediately to the Center (at around Internal Security headquarters 12:00), and their IDs were given (the passports headquarters) in back to them, as well as the empty Gaza City, and the moment he camera memory. They informed arrived, at around 09:00AM, one them that the case has not ended of the security offices searched and the file has been transferred to him thoroughly, kept his personal the Government Media Office, to belonging (ID, cell phone, and figure out the Company’s political wallet) and took him to a room with intentions and for whom it works. an area of 1.5mx3m approximately. they left the Center after almost one There were five persons in the hour. room, which was extremely hot Roya TV reporter, journalist Muna without any ventilation. One hour Talal Okal, stated that the security later, a police officer called him services in Gaza are claiming that and took his personal information there is a decision prohibiting (name, place of residence, work, the addressing suicide, to justify party he works for) and then took detaining the press staff and prevent him back to the room. At around it from coverage, even though there 11:00AM, he was taken to another are no official decisions issued in this room for investigation purposes. regard. Half an hour later, the police officer blindfolded him and took him to It should be noted that recently the investigation room, where two Gaza Strip has witnessed four officers were waiting. They asked suicide attempts that have raised him to take a seat and assured him: the public opinion and pushed the “this is a friendly session, there’s media outlets to address the same nothing against you”. They started looking for the reasons and motives questioning him on the nature of his that may lead the youth to suicide. work at the Journalists Syndicate and (8th July) The Internal Security in the Journalists Movement Office, as Gaza has detained the journalist well as about a political symposium Loay Al-Ghoul, the Director of the organized by Fateh Movement Journalists Syndicate Office in Gaza, Central Committee Member Ahmad twice, and questioned him about the Hals. Al-Ghoul explained that the Syndicate’s activities, the journalists symposium addressed the risks of the movement office, and other issues. Israeli annexation plan, affirmed the According to MADA researcher, national unity to face such risks that some Internal Security officers went may harm the Palestinian cause. He to the house of journalist Loay Al- was also asked about his conviction Ghoul, the Director of Journalists of Fateh Movement to which he Syndicate Office in Gaza Strip, and belongs, and about the Journalists the Secretary of the Journalists Syndicate Chairman Deputy Dr. Movement Office of Fateh, located in Tahseen Al-Astal, his Facebook Al-Shate’ Camp, and they in civilian posts described as “extreme”. At clothing in an Internal Security jeep, around 12:15PM, the officer told him to give him a summons. However, that he will be released now, as his
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 97 cousin has passed away and there man’s attempted suicide, and is a funeral home for him. He gave detained him for three days for the him the option either to send him a charge of not preventing a suicide. summons again or to call through According to MADA researcher, the phone and come again. Al- “a police jeep arrived at around Ghoul replied that they may choose 10:00PM on Friday evening the way they want. They gave corresponding 10th July 2020 the him his belongings and he left the house of Osama Sharef Mohammad headquarters at around 12:30PM. Al-Kahlout(36 years old), from At around 12:00PM, on Thursday Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, corresponding 16th July 2020, the a freelance journalist, and took journalist Loay Nahed Mohammad him to Deir Al-Balah Police Center, Al-Ghoul received a phone call where his cell phone was seized from the Internal Security Officer, and accessed. He was asked about asking him to come immediately, to his relationship with the young man the headquarters located near the who threatened to commit suicide, Qatari Embassy, in front of Gaza sea and took his statement, even though beach. He was questioned this time Al-Kahlout met him few days earlier in the square of the Internal Security and posted on his Facebook that this headquarters, adjacent to the young man has some serious family Qatari Embassy. The investigator’s issued and may commit suicide if his questions were mainly about the problem is not solved. Few days later journalists syndicate activity, the following what Al-Kahlout posted, way the money is transferred, the particularly on Friday corresponding movement office of journalists and 10th July 2020, the young man its members, in addition to asking threatened in a live broadcast him about other journalists, such that he will commit suicide and as journalist Tawfeq Abu Jarad, threatened to post the name of journalist Tahseen Al-Astal. During people involved in his problem. The the investigation, the officer told him security services arrested him and that “this session is friendly”, there did not allow it to happen, noting is no need to announce anything that the Ministry of Interior in Gaza through the social media. Al-Ghoul issued a statement on the following replied: “I, as a representative of the day corresponding 11th July 2020, Journalists Syndicate, hereby call through the spokesperson Col. all journalists to immediately report Ayman Al-Batneji reading “the about any summons they receive police arrested a cameraman who from the Security, so how about encouraged a citizen to hurt himself, when I am personally summoned?”. and agreed with him to film him He told him that his work requires while he burns himself in Deir Al- telling the Syndicate about any Balah Camp central Gaza Strip, and summons. At around 2:00PM, he was that the police arrested the citizen released and left the headquarters. (A, S) 35 years old before he could (10th July) The police in Gaza Strip hurt himself after pouring gasoline arrested the freelance journalist, all over himself. The cameraman (O, Osama Al-Kahlout, from his K) 36 years old, and the citizens were house located in Deir Al-Balah, in referred to the Public Prosecution, connection his post about a young to complete the legal proceedings
98 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine against them”. Al-Kahlout spent 3 three days, they were arrested for days in Deir Al-Balah Police Center publishing a video of a student who (he was released under a bail on has forged her high school diploma Monday corresponding 13th July and talked about a mistake made by 2020). During his detention, Al- the Ministry to her diploma. Kahlout was not harmed by anyone According to MADA researcher, or any person. Muthanna Al-Najjar (36 years old), (15th July) The ministry of Interior Al-Quds Radio and Al-Hadath in Gaza Strip prevented Al-Arabiya Newspaper reporter, and Tareq and Al-Hadath TV Channels to Abu Isaq (35 years old), works for a work in the Strip and prevented any news page called “For Media” were journalist to be on their screens, not summoned by the security services to mention threatening to pursue of eastern Khan Younes in Gaza Strip any party that provides them with today corresponding 16th July 2020, media services. and detained due to a complaint According to MADA researcher, Al- filed by the Ministry of Education Arabiya TV obtained information against them for posting a vide for and details about the escape of a girl who’s saying that her diploma a field leader from Hamas to the was forged, “without referring to Israelis. It published the news, and the ministry”. They questioned placed it to Hamas leaders for any and detained for 7 hours, when comments. However, the refused they were released on bail of 1,000 that and did not deny the news at shekels, provided that they return on the time. On Sunday corresponding Sunday morning (19th July 2020) to 12th July 2020, Hamas issued a Al-Sharqiya Police Center again to statement addressing the “false complete the investigation. Indeed, news” and accused the girl of they went to the police center on misleading people and promoting time, and the moment they arrived at rumors and lies”. On Wednesday, about 12:00PM they were detained on the 15th of July 2020, Al-Arabiya for a period of 24 hours, and later TV Office official in Gaza Strip, Adel (the same afternoon) the Public Al-Zaghnoun received a phone call Prosecution informed them that from the Ministry of Interior in Gaza there detention is extended for 48 to close the offices of Al-Arabiya hours, and upon their detention they and Al-Hadath, and inform the were held in the cell in which there media companies and institutions is a number of detainees on various not to work with them. This decision charges, and they were not taken includes preventing the journalists to to a private place. On Monday (the be on their screens. The Director of day following their arrest (20th July Al-Arabiya TV Office in Al-Quds, Mr. 2020) and after they announced Ziad Al-Halabi, a text message on his a hunger strike, the center›s cell phone through WhatsApp with administration transferred them to the same content. another independent room, and they were not subjected to any torture (16th July) The security services in during their stay at the police center Khan Younes detained the journalists and during their interrogation. Muthanna Al-Najar and Tareq abu Isaq, for seven hours, and after (17th July) The cameraman, Journalist Tareq Sarkaji, was
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 99 injured by a gas bomb fired by the corresponding 17th July 2020. The occupation soldiers while he was soldiers tried to intercept them covering a peaceful march. and prevent them from filming and According to MADA researcher, Tareq broadcasting the events of the Yousef Khaled Sarkaji (34 years old), march more than once, and while a cameraman of JMEDIA, arrived Palestine TV staff was interviewing on Friday corresponding 17th July the coordinator of the factional 2020 to Asira ash-Shamaliya, in coordination committee, Naser Nablus, to cover a peaceful march Abu Jaish, in a live broadcast, the against settlement and confiscation soldiers fired a gas bomb towards of land on the summit of Mount Ebal, them from several meters, which organized by the townspeople at resulted in the injury of them and 12:30PM every Friday since several their guest, the coordinator of the weeks. As soon as the demonstrators committee with severe suffocation. gathered, the occupation forces that The live broadcast was cut off for arrived began firing tear gas and about 10 minutes before it was sound bombs at them intensively, resumed again. Due to the absence and at around 12:55PM, while he was of any ambulance crew in that area, covering the march in a live broadcast which is a rugged mountainous area, for “Al-Jazeera Live” channel, seven the soldiers tried to rescue Naser tear gas bombs fired by the soldiers Abu Jaish (who was speaking on fell near the cameraman Sarkji, one television and were attacked along of them injured his left leg, knowing with the journalists, Abdelhaq and that he was about 20 meters away Habash), but he refused. from the soldiers, and the bomb (20th July) The occupation soldiers caused his pants to burn, due to the detained the journalist Qais Abu fragments injuring him with burns Samra for about three hours, and scratches, and he received first handcuffed and questioned him, aid from an ambulance crew who at a military checkpoint, western was in the area and left. Ramallah. (17th July) The occupation soldiers According to MADA researcher, targeted Palestine TV staff by gas the occupation soldiers, at around bombs while it was live broadcasting 3:00PM, on Monday corresponding an interview from the field about 20th July 2020, detained the settlement resulting in the injury of Anatolia Agency reporter, Qais Omar the reporter, cameraman and their Darwish Abu Samra, 40 years old, guest with severe suffocation. at the Israeli army checkpoint near According to MADA researcher, the settlement of «Hallamish», west Palestine TV staff, including the of Ramallah, while he was returning reporter Baker Abdelhaq (31 years from his workplace in Ramallah old), cameraman Samer Habash to his village in the Qalqilya, and (65 years old), both from Nablus, after they saw his identity card and have arrived to Asira ash-Shamaliya searched the vehicle, they told him to cover a peaceful march against that he was “wanted” for the “Israeli establishing a settlement outpost intelligence service”. They detained at the top of Mount Ebal, northern him in the place for three hours after Nablus, at around 1:00PM, on Friday they handcuffed him and removed the muzzle that he was putting on
100 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine his mouth and nose (as prevention «Facebook», which prompted and protection from Corona virus) him to create the new reserve and covered his eyes with it during account through which he his detention. During that, they received a warning message to questioned him about what he was close it. writing and an officer asked him if 2. Journalist Sari Jaradat (34 he was writing about Israel’s plan years old), a resident of Sa›ir in to annex parts of the West Bank, Hebron, working as a reporter so the journalist Qais told him that with the «Refugee Gate»: On he was writing about the official 8th July 2020 he received and popular Palestinian position of a warning message from the situation, so the officer asked «Facebook» administration to whether he was writing about the close the alternate account he Israeli position as well, and Abu had created after his verified Samra told him that there others account was closed on 27th May in the Agency writing about that 2020, knowing that «Facebook» section. After about three hours of administration had asked him to being held handcuffed and with his confirm the identity, and he did eyes covered, he was released at that indeed, but it was closed about 6:00Pm in the evening after anyways, which prompted they returned his identity card and him to create a new account, phone to him. through which he received a (July, 2020) Facebook Company new warning message to close it Administration threatened three «in the event that the identity is Palestinian journalists with closing not confirmed» as stated in the their accounts, as they received message he received . messages that “the account will 3. Journalist Munqith Ragheb be closed if the identity is not Mohammad Salah (known as confirmed” noting that Facebook Saddam Abu Salah), a resident of Company has closed the accounts Burqa Village, in Nablus, works as of two of them. a cameraman for the local Adwa’ Below are the journalists who have TV, received on 4th July 2020 a been threatened to closed their warning message from Facebook accounts: company administration, “in case 1. Journalist Mohammad Ali Abdel the identity is not confirmed” the Qader Ateeq (28 years old), who account will be closed. It is not lives in the village of Burqin in the first time that he has been Jenin and works as a freelance subjected to such measures by journalist, received on 4th July the administration of “Facebook”, 2020 a warning message as the company had previously from Facebook Company banned him from posting Administration to close the and commenting through his alternate personal account, personal page several months after closing his verified account ago, and when the ban expired, suddenly on 4th May 2020, it was renewed automatically. under the pretext of violating the standards and policy of
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 101 î August: left, he was asked to sign a pledge that includes a condition that he (02/08/20) The General must remove anything related to Investigations of Gaza summoned the charitable society and to come the freelance journalist Muein back to the Investigations Center Tayseer Al-Dabbah and questioned on Wednesday corresponding him about images he posted on his 5th August 2020. Muein went personal account. He was forced to again to the center and arrived at sign a pledge not to post anything 3:00PM, along with MADA center about charitable societies in Gaza. lawyer, Ihsan Abu Sharkh. When the According to the investigations of Center’s Director learned about the MADA researcher, the freelance lawyer, he asked Muein to leave while journalist Muein Tayseer Ahmad MADA’s lawyer stayed for a while Al-Dabbah (32 years old), from Al- and then left the Center. Muein was Shujaiya, has seen some individuals taken to the investigation room and of a charitable society at 10:00AM, questioned again about the image on Sunday morning, corresponding he posted. He was again forced to 2nd August 2020, distributing some sing another pledge (other than the aids (meat) that they have given to one he signed the first time he went a group of children, and they wanted to the Center) that he would not post to take pictures of these children any photos or information about the holding the paper of aid (meat), work of charitable societies in Gaza. among these children was his He was then released at 4:30PM. nephew, so he intercepted them and (15/08/20) The journalist Ibrahim to a picture of the society members Abu Shaar was severely suffocated and posted it on his Facebook while covering a night demonstration account criticizing them and why at the separation fence eastern Gaza. would they film some children without their families knowing. According to MADA researcher, About half an hour after posting Ibrahim abdelmajeed Abu Shaar this photo, one of the employees of (36 years old), a reporter of the that society came to Al-Dabbah’s Iranian TV, has arrived at 10:15PM on house and threatened him with Saturday corresponding 15th August internal security, and left. At about 2020 to the border area eastern 2:30PM in the afternoon he received Gaza City/Malka area, to cover the a call from a person who introduced night protests referred to as “the himself as an Investigation officer, night confusion” as part of the and asked him to come immediately peaceful return marches, and he to the investigation center in Al- was in his press uniform. At about Shujaiya. Indeed, he went to the 11:15PM, while Abu Shaar was at 500 center where he arrived at 3:00PM, meters away from the separation and the moment he arrived he was border fence, the occupation questioned based on a complaint soldiers randomly fired gas bombs filed against him by one of the and he was severely suffocated, and Society staff members the picture fainted for few minutes. He received of whom he posted on his account. first aid by the ambulance staff in the The investigation and questioning area and fifteen minutes later went lasted for 45 minutes, and before he home. But on the following morning (Sunday 16th August 2020) and as
102 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine a result of inhaling a large amount views exceeded one million). Then of gas, he suffered from symptoms the «Israeli» coordinator›s page and complications such as shortness entered one of the live videos and of breath and a respiratory disorder, commented. This was followed by which required a visit to a private Israeli websites targeting the page, doctor who gave him some medicine especially the English PAL+ page, to treat the effects of the injury. and restricting access to its contents. (15/08/20) Facebook Company (20/08/20) The journalist Main Administration closed PAL+ page Shehadeh was severely suffocated claiming “it violates the criteria of due to a gas bomb fired at her by Facebook community”. one of the Israeli occupation soldiers According to MADA field researcher, while she was covering a march the creator of PAL+ page, Fadi against settlement in Tulkarem. Al-Sheikh Yousef, has noticed on According to MADA researcher, a 14th August a decrease in the number of journalists including Mai number of views and followers Farhan Shehadeh (29 years old), of the page that coincided with a reporter of “Aswar Press” have a notification from Facebook joined a peaceful march that started Company warning to close the page, on 11:00AM on 20th August 2020 to which was done on the following Shufah Village, southeast Tulkarem, morning, corresponding 15th August protesting against the confiscation 2020. Hours later, the page’s founder of hundreds of donums of lands and his team filed a direct challenge there by the Israeli occupation against this measure and contacted authorities, while she was in her press the support team at Facebook in uniform. The demonstrators started an attempt to recover the page. to gather near the confiscated lands, After 4 days of contacting, the team holding up slogans denouncing the succeeded in recovering the page, occupation policy, while the soldiers with «offences» still pending against who were there prevented them to it, as Facebook Administration have access to the confiscated lands, refused to remove the same. and when the demonstrators tried to According to Fadi Yousef, the threat reach their confiscated lands at 11:30, to close the page by Facebook along with journalist Main Shehadeh, started when the page began the soldiers started firing sound covering the return marches in bombs at the demonstrators, and Gaza Strip since 30th March 2018. journalist Shehadeh moved away to The page was transmitting the continue covering the event. One march live including all the events of the soldiers fired a sound bomb and updates and documented all at her but did not hit her, which of the Israeli Occupation violations. made the same soldier fire another Since that time, the page started gas bomb directly at her, one of the to receive notifications to delete demonstrators shouted her name to some contents (such as the video avoid the bomb, while it landed near of the martyr Razan Al-Najjar and her, causing her severe suffocation the martyr Yasser Murtaja, where until she fell to the ground. Some of Facebook restricted access to the demonstrators around her took these videos after the number of her away and helped her recover her consciousness using alcohol
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 103 especially that the occupation forces closed military zone, and ordered prevented the ambulance to reach the demonstrators to leave. the journalist Mai who returned (24/08/20) The security services home in Anabta with the help of in Gaza prevented the Journalists some of her colleague journalists. Movement Office to conduct an (22/08/20) An Israeli settler event of signing a memorandum prevented the journalist Mashhour of understanding with the Lawyers Al-Wahwah from covering a peaceful Movement Office, at Al-Zaytoun march that was taking place eastern Sports Club. Yatta, Hebron. According to MADA field researcher, According to MADA researcher, the Journalists Movement Office at around 12:00PM, on Saturday, in Gaza was about to conduct an corresponding 22nd August 2020, event to sign a memorandum of a number of journalists, including understanding with the Lawyers WAFA cameraman, journalist Movement Office, at Al-Zaytoun Mashhour Hassan Mahmoud Al- Sports Club in Gaza City. However, Wahwah (36 years old), arrived the Head of the Club received a to Sadet Al-Thaghlah, located in phone call from Hamas security Yatta City, southern Hebron, to services informing him to prevent cover a peaceful event called to the event scheduled to take place at by the national forces with the 5:00PM on Monday corresponding participation of some families, 24th August 2020 at the Club’s protesting against the decision of headquarters without explaining the the occupation authorities that reasons. It should be noted that the allowed one of the settlers to agreement provides for cooperation construct a road in their lands and between journalists and lawyers in expand the settlements projects eastern Gaza, to train and educate claiming “they are confiscated journalists about legal matters while lands”. Once the demonstrators carrying out their journalistic work, arrived to the location where a in return journalists are supposed to number of soldiers have arrived, train lawyers on some media issues the journalists started filming and such as drafting and disseminating documenting the assaults of settlers news about their activities, as stated against the citizens’ properties, one by the secretary of the Journalists of the settlers, with a gun on his side, Movement Office, Ahed Farwana, to approached and started shouting at Mada’s researcher. journalist Mashhour Al-Wahwah, and (26/08/20) The Israeli occupation prevented him from filming. When forces arrested the journalist Musab Al-Wahwah tried to move away to Saed from his house located in continue his work, one of the settlers Birzeit, northern Ramallah. stopped him, grabbed a gun and According to MADA researcher, threatened him in Hebrew which he an Israeli military troop, consisting does not know or understand. He of 40 soldiers, at about 3:00AM, had to move away for fear of being on Wednesday 26th August 2020, subject to any assault especially that raided the house of the freelance the soldiers did not interfere to move journalist Musab Ibrahim Saed away the settler, but rather deployed (29 years old) in Birzeit, northern in the area and announced it as a
104 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine Ramallah, after surrounding the officials at the Executive Authority house, smashing and exploding the to prevent the hosting of one of the main entranc. It searched the house, guests, namely Advisor Osama Al- messed up its contents and arrested Kelany. However, Abu Taima refused the journalist Musab, after detaining to do so and preferred to cancel the him for half an hour in one of the episode rather than doing this which house rooms. This was followed by was never done before at MAAN TV. handcuffing his hands and informing No guest has ever been prevented his family he was under arrest. He to appear on MAAN screen and was taken to the Israeli military no subject matter has ever been patrols that arrived at an area close blocked or changed. This proves to the house fifteen minutes after that the pressures were exerted by a they stormed it. The following day party with powerful influence. (Thursday 27th August 2020), It should be noted that “Kilimten Musab’s family learned that the o bas/ two words only” program occupation forces had transferred presented by Abu Taima has raised him to the «Etzion» detention center broad arguments and interests near Bethlehem, and that a trial and was subject to denigration session had been held for him in and ill-treatment, given the issued «Ofer» camp in Bitunia, Ramallah. His it discusses and addresses, to the detention was extended in absentia extent a complaint was filed against for a period of 6 days, and a new it at the Attorney General’s Office. court session will be held for him on However, MAAN Administration Tuesday (1st Sep. 2020). handled the pressures and refused to (27/08/20) Preventing the issue a statement for public opinion Administration of MAAN TV to hose announcing it is not supporting a guest of “Kilimten o bas/ two CEDAW, and confirmed that it will words only” program, presented by forever defend CEDAW and women Nahed Abu Taima, due to pressures rights as an approach and goal. exerted on the Channel by some of (28/08/20) The General the Executive Authorities parties, Investigations in Khan Younes forcing Abu Taima to cancel the summoned the journalist Mohammad episode in protest. Al-Haddad for his Facebook posts. According to MADA researcher, it According to MADA researcher, was scheduled to present an episode the freelance journalist Mohammad at 7:00PM on 27th August 2020 Ismail Al-Haddad (31 years old), of Kilimten o bas/ two words only” from Batn Al-Samen, western Kahn program by Nahed Abu Taima, on Younes, Gaza Strip, on Friday evening, repairing the judiciary, its problems, corresponding 28th August 2020, and the performance of the received summons from the General Transitional High Judicial Council. Investigations, to come on Saturday It was supposed to host: Amnah corresponding 29th August 2020, to Hamarsha, the Supreme Court the headquarters. The Investigations Judge, Osama Al-Kelany the former vehicle came to his house at 11:00PM Supreme Court Judge, the former on that day, gave his brother the Judges Club Head, the legal advisor notice ordering Al-Haddad to come at Al-Haq Institution Ashraf Abu to the Investigations headquarters Hayya, due to pressures exerted by
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 105 on the following morning (Saturday prepared an arrest protocol for him, 29th August 2020) the Technical with the guarantee of one of his Sources Section, and to bring a copy colleagues. He left the headquarters of his identity card. Indeed, when Al- at about 6:40PM, provided to come Haddad arrived to the headquarters, back at 8:00AM on the following he was immediately taken to one day (30th August 2020) to be of the investigations rooms for brought before the prosecution. questioning. He asked why he was He appeared on the scheduled day asked to come and the investigator and waited until 2:30PM, while the replied that it’s because his prosecutor did not show up. The Facebook posts accusing him that investigation inspector asked him he incites against the Government to come at 9:30AM on the following in Gaza, addressing him “this isn’t morning (31st August 2020), he the time to express opinion”. The went and waited until 12:30PM when investigator started reading him a he met with the prosecutor who post he believed inciting against asked him about inciting against the the Government “It is a shame to government and read some of his see the corrupt and the exploited Facebook posts and said “There’s being glorified at this time”. The nothing”. He asked him to support journalists asked: “And what is the Government and left the room. wrong with this?” the investigator He asked the journalist to sit outside replied “you are accusing us of the room and come back in ten corruption”. He read another post minutes. When the journalist came saying “Gaza Government and the back, the prosecutor said “I’ve seen Electricity Company honestly the your page and there’s nothing, but people no longer have energy and anything you would post against the we cannot sleep or sit or anything, Government or you want to post the floor tile marked out bodies, let us know first, or do not write you want the people to stay strong, anything”. He also asked him to sign please bring out what is hidden and the pledge of “Respecting the public you will be for sure compensated order and the Law”. He gave him later”. The journalist replied “How back his cell phone, and left at about is that inciting? This is my personal 1:00PM on the same day. opinion which I have the right to say”. Before the questioning ended, î September: the investigator asked the journalist (1st Sep.) The Occupation soldiers to turn off his cell phone and give it assaulted Palestine TV cameraman to him, and to leave the room and Fadi Yasine while he was covering wait outside. a demonstration against the Al-Haddad waited until 6:15PM settlement. (noting that the investigation According to MADA researcher, only took 10 minutes). Two police Fadi Abdelraheem Ibrahim Yasine officers came and asked him to (42 years old), from Tulkarem, come with them on foot to the Palestine TV cameraman, went investigation room in the nearby with his coworker Ihab Al-Damera police headquarters. Indeed, he went and a group of other journalists to with them and the investigator took Shoufa Village to cover a peaceful his statement on the same subject, protesting sit-in organized by the
106 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine families above the lands threatened while they were under gas bombs with confiscation by the Israeli while they were moving away. Occupation. Yasine was wearing (1st Sep.) The Palestinian Preventive the Press mask, holding his camera, Security Services subjected the tripod, and live streaming device cameraman and director of An- while covering the sit-in. At around Najah TV, Kanan Sabri Kanan to a 12:30PM, while he was filming the series of summons and detention demonstrators making a report after he was questioned about his along with his coworker on the work for An-Najah TV. event, clashes took place between According to MADA researcher, the demonstrators and Occupation Kanan Sabri Hassan Kanan (36 years soldiers. The soldiers started old), from Nablus, a director and suppressing the demonstrators cameraman for An-Najah University and assaulting each other violently, TV, on Tuesday, corresponding 1st especially the old man Khairi Hanoun, Sep. 2020, received a phone call from who was knocked out by the soldiers, a person who introduced himself as one of whom pressed his knee to an officer of the Preventive Security Khairi’s neck and almost suffocated Services and informed him to come him making a scene that widely to the headquarters at 10:00AM on spread and caused outrage. Some Thursday, corresponding 3rd Sep. journalists tried to jump in to stop 2020, and confirmed to him that the assault which almost resulted in he must show up on time to avoid the death of the mentioned citizen. being arrested should he fail to show Yasine approached, just like the up or meet the scheduled time. On remaining journalists, the citizen on the said date, Kanan went to the the ground to film him and document Preventive Security headquarters the assault. Meanwhile, more soldiers in Nablus, and there he was sent to arrived and started dispersing the the Political Security Department at journalists and shouting at them. At the headquarters, and after waiting that moment, Yasine heard one of the for about 4 hours, he was taken officers asking a soldier to arrest him to an office in which there was an (arrest Yasine), so the cameraman investigating officer, who questioned Yasine moved away, and the soldier him about his relationship with followed him trying to catch him, but Hamas and his activities therein, but he managed to escape from him, so Kanan denied his affiliation with any a group of soldiers ran after him and party. He was also questioned about grabbed his clothes trying to knock his relationship with people about 15 him to the ground, and seize his years ago, so he told them that he camera, but he managed to escape had known them a long time ago and again, so they continued to run after that he was previously questioned him, and they caught and beat him, about that when he was arrested which resulted in bruising him in for several days in 2012 without both hands, left leg and neck around being charged with any charges. which one of the soldiers wrapped One of the investigators asked him his hand strongly. Immediately a about his current work and what number of his fellow journalists he is filming, and his relationship intervened and took him away from with his co-worker, director of An- the soldiers who were after him Najah TV, Abdelrahman Al-Thaher,
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 107 so he told them that it is a collegial threat on the phone from the Internal relationship based on work. He Security Director Ameen Awad that was also asked about a “Promo” he he would abduct him and cause him filmed with Abdelrahman Al-Thaher a permanent disability if he would and was broadcasted on ROYA not stop posting about the real TV, and whether he was filming citizens of Gaza are facing in light media materials in partnership with of the difficult economic conditions Abdelrahman for any local or foreign unless he deletes his posts. On the stations. After that, he was taken following day, (Friday 4th Sep. 2020) from the investigation office, and a police jeep with 9 officers inside about two hours later, they took his it arrived at around 10:00AM to his personal belongings and told him house. He escaped without anyone that he was under arrest. He was noticing him, the police officers left taken to one of the cells, and he was him a summons under which he never questioned again. At 11:30PM has to go to the Internal Security on the same night, Kanan was headquarters. On the following day released, provided one of his family (Saturday 5th Sep. 2020), he went members shall come to collect alone to the police station. Upon his him, and before his departure, they arrival, he was taken to a cell where informed to come back on 7th Sep. he stayed from 7:40AM to 7:00PM 2020. Accordingly, at 9:00AM on without being questioned. While 7th Sep. 2020, Kanaan arrived at the he was in the cell, he asked the cell Preventive Security Services in the guard to allow him to make a phone city of Nablus, but he was not asked call, and after negotiations between or questioned, and after he was them, the guard asked him to pay detained for several hours, he was for it, and Al-Borsh complied and released and given a new schedule gave him 100 shekels that he had to come again, so that the scenario with him, the guard took 25NIS and of summoning and detention for returned the remaining to him. Al- several hours happens again without Borsh contacted his colleagues, Alaa any interrogation, on 14th, 20th, and Salama (broadcaster for Palestine 30th Sep. 2020. Today TV) and the reporter of the (4th Sep.) The General Investigations same Channel Akram Daloul, asking in Jabalia, northern Gaza summoned them to intervene, but they advised journalist Ahmed Al-Borsh against him to contact the Palestinian the background of his writings on Journalists Syndicate Chairman, social media including Facebook, Tahseen Al-Astal, and he did. The addressing the suffering of citizens latter promised he will intervene of Gaza from poor economic and contact the Minister of Interior conditions, increasing poverty, and to release him on the same day. unemployment rates. At around 7:00PM, Al-Borsh was summoned to the Investigations According to MADA field researcher, Office where he was asked to Ahmad Atef Ahmad Al-Borsh (26 immediately unlock his cell phone years old), from Jabalia, works and delete all of the posts on the for “Al-Hayat Press” website and suffering of Gaza citizens. They also a reporter for the Republic of asked him to sign on several papers Yemen Radio, received on Thursday including a written pledge not to corresponding 3rd Sep. 2020 a
108 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine write or post again about anything when she showed them her press related to Hamas Government and card, they left her, and after a minute, not to object to the living standard someone came back and pulled her in Gaza, and he responded, as he phone from her by force and handed was threatened with imprisonment it over to a policewoman who was and financial fine payment, then he there. was released. When she showed her press card, On the following day (6th Sep.) Al- they left her, but a minute later, Borsh cousin, a policeman in Hamas someone came back and forcibly Government, visited him in his house, pulled her cell phone, cursed and forcibly took the cell phone from his shouted at her, and gave her cell hands, and smashed it. phone to a policewoman who (5th Sep.) The Palestinian Police was present there. The journalist prevented journalist Kholoud Fatafta demanded her cell phone back but from filming a march organized by the policewoman denied. A few the “Mass Mobilization to bring down minutes later, a police officer came CEDAW” in Ramallah. and returned her phone and asked her to step back (away from the According to MADA researcher, demonstration) and stop filming, the journalist Kholoud Mohammad but she started filming again and Fatafta (31 years old), works for broadcasting live, until one of “Madar Al-Sa’a” Jordanian News the security officers (in civilian Agency, has seen, around 5:00PM on clothing)told her to stop filming Saturday 5th Sep. 2020, a protesting and addressed her: “put your phone march against CEDAW heading from down, you cannot film here”. Al-Quds Street towards Al-Manarah Square, central Ramallah City, and (5th Sep.) Facebook Company started filming the march and closed no less than three news pages broadcasting it live on her Facebook belonging to Palestinian journalists page. The security officers, who during September. were in military and civilian uniforms, According to MADA researcher, intercepted the march and tried to Facebook Company has closed prevent it from moving forward. the page of freelance journalist In the meantime, Fatafta was Imad Ali Issa Jabreen, from Taqou, filming and broadcasting what was southern Bethlehem, on 5th Sep. happening from the balcony of a 2020, suddenly and without sending cafe overlooking Al-Manarah Square him any prior warnings or messages and Jerusalem Street, where two stating that he has published things people who introduced themselves that violate Facebook’s public as Palestinian intelligence officers policies and standards. Journalist approached her, prevented her from Jabreen has been running the filming, took the cell phone from her, aforementioned page for about and deleted the video she filmed. ten years, and it included full At about 5:30PM, she headed to Al- documentation of his various Manarah Square and started filming works, including filming, videos, again, several people (from the correspondence, or links related intelligence services) came to her to his journalistic work. On 7th and asked her to stop filming, but Sep. 2020, he contacted Facebook
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 109 Company about the closure, but he and it has hundreds of thousands of did not receive any response. As a followers, and it has been promoted result, the journalist Jabreen created greatly on Facebook. another account on Facebook on (7th Sep.) The Occupation Army has 10th Sep. 2020, but it was closed arrested journalist Osama Shaheen two days later. After that, journalist from his house located in Imreish Jabreen created another account in Village, southern Hebron, and the period between 15th – 20th Sep. transferred him, a few days after, 2020 and did not publish anything to administrative detention for four related to news or anything else, but months. it was closed again after three days. According to MADA researcher, On 10th Sep. 2020, Facebook a force of the Israeli Occupation Company also closed “Taqou Al- Army raided, at around 3:00AM, Hadath” Page, a sociopolitical news on Monday corresponding 7th Sep. page that posts events and news 2020, the house of journalist Osama about Taqou Town, and in which Hussein Yousef Shaheen (39 years journalist Imad Issa works as an old), who works as a reporter for “admin”. Bilset News Website. The soldiers On 5th Sep. 2020, Facebook smashed the house main door Company closed “Ultra Palestine” with the equipment they brought website the publishes social, and for this purpose, and around 10 cultural news as well as journalistic soldiers spread out inside the house, investigations, in addition to various detained journalist Shaheen along news about the world. with his wife and three kids (the During 2019, the “Ultra Palestine” oldest is ten years and the youngest website received several is four) in one room. The soldiers warning messages by Facebook asked Osama to bring his identity Administration about published card and personal cell phone, and materials that violate the content they began a thorough and violent of the basic publishing standards, search inside the rooms of the house, as claimed. The admins of the page during which the soldiers threw the were unable to post detailed news closets on the floor and scattered the and were only allowed to post by kitchenware. The search continued the link. At the end of August 2020, inside the house until 4:00AM, Ultra Palestine page received a after which the soldiers drove the warning message from Facebook journalist Shaheen to his family›s Administration stating that there house, about 50 meters away from was news published in 2017 that his house, where another force of violated the standards of publishing, soldiers was searching the house. At and the news related to a Tunisian around 4:30AM, the force withdrew citizen who was assassinated. On from the house after arresting the 5th Sep. 2020, the page received journalist Shaheen and seizing his a message that I cannot post cell phone. Journalist Shaheen was due to “not observing publishing transferred with more than 20 other standards” and without explaining citizens who were arrested that the reason, noting that the page has night to an army camp in «Otniel» been on Facebook for about 4 years, settlement, east of Dura, and there Shaheen stayed for about two
110 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine hours with the rest of the detainees. the pictures. A few minutes later, Then they were taken to “Telem” the security officers announced that settlement, western Hebron, where there is a decision preventing filming they stayed for 5 hours. Several and stopping the event inside and detainees were released, while outside the courts complex. Al- journalist Shaheen, accompanied Jazeera Live staff had to wait on the by other detainees, was transferred opposite side of the police officers, to Ofer prison, west of Ramallah. but two officers followed them Three days following his arrest, he and stood beside them to watch was transferred to administrative whether they were going to film arrest for 4 months, and then he was anything secretly. More journalists transferred to Negev Desert Prison. and media outlets started to arrive, His family learned from his lawyer including Watan TV staff. Watan TV that the soldiers have assaulted him reporter, journalist Nizar Habash, in detention. upon arrival, grabbed the cell phone (7th Sep.) The Palestinian Police and began filming. Immediately, one prevented a group of journalists of the security officers told him it from covering a protest sit-in and was not allowed to film there. In the a press conference for a group of meantime, another security officer judges and lawyers in front of the approached the journalists and courts complex in Al-Bireh City. asked them if anyone had taken any pictures, and told them to delete According to MADA researcher, the anything that was filmed, without Palestinian Police placed iron barriers anyone answering him. The press in front of the courts complex building crews waited to see if they would which is housing the High Judicial be allowed to cover, to no avail, Council. Hours before the start of a and the police justified this that the protest sit-in and a press conference preventing the event or filming it is that was scheduled to take place decided by “higher bodies” that were there at 10:00AM on 7th Sep. 2020, not specified, which forced them to the sit-in was prevented and so the go outside the iron barriers where the conference was scheduled to take lawyers and judges were standing. place there. Journalist Jihan Awad, Some of the officers approached who provides news service for “Al- them also there and told Watan staff Jazeera Live”, arrived to prepare for not to film the security officers and the live broadcast of the event. Upon put down the camera when he saw her arrival, she managed to take a Watan cameraman trying to film one picture of the security personnel of the security officers. who were setting up barriers in front of the courts complex and posted it (10th Sep.) The Occupation on social media. forces have arrested journalist Abdelmuhsen Shalaldah after raiding Jihan, from far away, and after she his house in Sa’ir, Hebron. got out of the vehicle, managed to take pictures of security officers On 10th Sep. 2020, the Occupation placing the barriers in front of the soldiers have arrested the courts complex from all sides. Her cameraman and journalist of colleague noticed some officers (j-media) Abdelmuhsen Shalaldah, pointing at her while she was taking 29 years old, from Sai’r, Hebron.
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 111 According to MADA researcher, a suppressed by the Israeli Army. force of the occupation army, at When the march launched after the 4:00AM, on Thursday, corresponding midday prayers, clashes erupted 10th Sep. 2020, raided the house with the occupation soldiers who of Abdelmuhsen Shalaldah (29 were hiding between the trees. At years old), from Sai’r, and works about 1:45PM while Abdelghani for (j-media). He was arrested and was about 50 meters away from taken to one of the Army sites in Al- the soldiers, and about 200 meters Fureidis Mount (a territory between away from the demonstrators, Bethlehem and Taqou). He stayed accompanied by his colleague, the there until 8:00AM without taking photojournalist Abdullah Qaddumi any procedures against him and then and other journalists, while they he was taken to Etzion Investigation were wearing their press uniforms, Center, where he was questioned was shot by a rubber-coated metal about his journalistic work. An officer bullet in his right shoulder. Several told him not to focus too much young men helped him and took him while filming the events (clashes, to an ambulance that was parked suppressions, demolitions, and other 150 meters away, and there he was procedures done by the Israeli Army provided with the first aid, and the in Hebron) and to film all sides and paramedics advised him to go to the aspects. At around 11:00AM, he was hospital to follow up on his injury. released. (18th Sep.) The occupation soldiers It is noteworthy that journalist and settlers assaulted several Abdelmuhsen was wounded by a journalists, while they were covering rubber bullet in the head, fired at an event organized by the national him by one of the Israeli soldiers on forces and events to plant trees in 2nd February 2020, while he was the lands of Asira Al-Qibliya village doing his normal job. The process of in Nablus, which is threatened with arresting him and asking him to stop confiscation. filming the soldiers’ attacks is the According to MADA researcher, the fourth time by the Army. journalist Jafar Zahed Ishtayya (52 (18th Sep.) The journalist Mahmoud years old), a cameraman for the Fawzi Abdelghani was injured by a French Agency, arrived at around metal gunshot while covering the 10:30AM, on 18th Sep. 2020, in the peaceful march against settlement morning. There was a great number in Kufr Qadoum. of Israeli soldiers and settlers, and According to MADA researcher, they immediately tried to push him Mahmoud Fawzi Mahmoud away and prevent him from filming Abdelghani (35 years old), a or getting close to the event, which freelance cameraman, arrived at made him unable to take any of Kufr Qadoum, at around 11:30AM, the photos he wanted. As a result, on Friday, corresponding 18th Sep. Ishtayya and several journalists 2020, to cover the weekly peaceful were able to go up to a location march demanding the opening higher than the event’s location to of the village street which has film the assaults of the soldiers and been closed for years. It should settlers against the demonstrators be noted that this march is usually in the peaceful march. Soon later, several settlers headed towards
112 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine the journalists and one of them received on Sunday, 20th Sep. assaulted Ishtayya with a big stick, 2020, a phone call from Beith Lahia not to mention that others have Investigations, asking him to come assaulted him and his colleagues by to the Investigations headquarters beating them with their hands which at 6:30PM “only for ten minutes … resulted in the injury of Ishtayya it’s important”. When he went to Beit with bruises in his right hand and Lahia Investigations, he was taken left shoulder until he received first after fifteen minutes via a military aid in the field. During that, one of vehicle to the Internal Security the soldiers threw a sound bomb Headquarters in Al-Sheikh Zayed at Palestine TV cameraman Samer (Education Square). Upon his arrival Mustafa Abdel Hadi Habash (36 at around 7:00PM, he was taken to years old), which fell next to him solitary confinement and detained but did not cause him any harm. until the next day (Monday 21st Sep. The soldiers also prevented him and 2020). Then he was taken out of the his colleague, TV reporter Baker cell to the interrogation room where Mohammad Sabah Abdul-Haq, from three investigators were waiting. coverage while settlers pushed them The interrogation lasted about two away from the place. hours and focused on his posts on Meanwhile, Reuters cameraman, Facebook, in which he criticizes Adel Ibrahim Abu Nimah, from the general situation in Gaza Strip. Jericho who had arrived at the During the interrogation, he was بقطعة جلدية same place to cover the event, was insulted and beaten with At about 2:00PM, he was .»فلكة assaulted by several settlers, who tried to beat him with sticks they returned to his cell, and they asked were carrying while filming the event, him to call his brother Ahmad and which prompted him to flee quickly ask him to delete the post on his as his foot slipped into a hole and page in which he announced his he fell to the ground the moment arrest, as a condition for his release. he escaped from them, while one of Indeed, he called his brother and the the soldiers prevented settlers from post was deleted, but they did not approaching him (after his fall), and release him. In the evening hours, as a result, he suffered a sprain in the he was transferred to Kamal Adwan ankle of his right foot and scratches Hospital due to a sudden fatigue in his left hand, knowing that he was condition (shortness of breath, far from the citizens participating in dizziness, emaciation, and cramps), the event of planting trees at that and there he was examined in the time. hospital and given the necessary treatment, and then he was returned (20th Sep.) The Internal Security in to the headquarters of the Internal Gaza Strip arrested the journalist Security Services and placed in the Ameen Khaled Al-Hajeen after he cell again. On the third day, at around was summoned. 12:00PM, he was released after his According to MADA researcher, belongings were returned to him Ameen Khaled Al-Hajeen (27 (the cell phone and personal card). years old), lives in Beit Lahia, It should be noted that Al-Hajeen northern Gaza Strip, a reporter of was arrested three times by the Al-Shorouq Algerian Newspaper, Internal Security Services and he
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 113 was asked to sing on pledges not to around his Facebook posts. The stir up public emotion by criticizing officer asked him to cooperate in the general situation in Gaza Strip. any corruption issue or case, as his (22nd Sep.) The Palestinian role as a journalist is to help them Preventive Security summoned end any problems that may happen the journalist Samer Khwaira and in the city. questioned him about his posts. (23rd Sep.) The occupation According to MADA researcher, authorities have arrested journalist Samer Ameen Saed Khwaira, from Mujahed Mardawi at Al-Karamah Nablus, a reporter and program Bridge, on his way back from presenter at “Hayat” Radio, received Malaysia where he was completing at around 9:00PM, on Tuesday his studies. corresponding 22nd Sep. 2020, a According to MADA researcher, phone call asking him to come on the Mujahed Hamdallah Mujahed following morning (Wednesday) to Mardawi (27 years old), from Habla the Preventive Security headquarters in Qalqilya, on his way back from in Nablus. The caller told him “Come Malaysia where he was completing have a cup of coffee with us”, and his higher studies in Public Relations, Khwaira answered that he is a at Al-Karamah Bridge at around member of the Journalists Syndicate 9:00AM, on 23rd Sep. 2020, was and if they want him to come they informed by one of the Israeli have to summon him through the intelligence officers there that he Syndicate. The caller replied that it is was under arrest. He was allowed only “a chat not summoning” and that to call his family and inform them of he could go next week, on Sunday, what happened. His father said that corresponding 27th Sep. 2020, but he had received a phone call from a it was deferred to the following strange number, but turned out to day (Monday 28th Sep. 2020). At be Mujahed who informed him that 10:00AM, on Monday corresponding he was being detained by the Israeli 28th Sep. 2020, Khwaira went to the intelligence without knowing the Preventive Security headquarters in reason, and he could not tell him any Nablus, and after waiting for a few other details, or identify the location minutes, he was taken to a room of his detention and ended the call. of the Institutions Security where Mardawi’s family was able to he was questioned for two hours learn from his lawyer later that about the institutions in the city, in he was arrested at “Petah Tikva” particular Nablus Municipality. He Investigation Center and that a court was also questioned about the news session was scheduled for him on he published on the Municipality and 29th Sep. 2020 but was deferred to his sources of information. He was 6th Oct. 2020 in Al-Jalamah. told that some of his posts “cause (25th Sep.) The photojournalist disturbance in the city” and it would Nidal Ishtayya was shot with two be better if the Institutions Security metal bullets fired at him by the Services is informed because it helps occupation soldiers while he was in controlling such disturbance and covering a demonstration against prosecuting corruption within the settlement in Kufr Qadoum. Municipality, and the city in general. Most of the questions revolved According to MADA researcher,
114 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine Nidal Shafeeq Taher Ishtayya (50 called everyone to go on Friday 25th years old), a cameraman of Xinhua Sep. 2020 to one of the citizen’s News Agency, arrived on Friday lands in Asira Al-Qibliya threatened 25th Sep. 2020, to Kufr Qadoum, with confiscation and settlement, Qalqilya, to cover the weekly march to plough the land and plant tree, organized there against settlement which attracted many journalists and to close the town’s entrance that to cover this peaceful event. As has been going for years. Upon his the people gathered on their lands, arrival, he began filming the march an Israeli army force stormed the that started from Omar Mosque in gathering and began firing a barrage the center of the town and crossed of tear gas and sound bombs to several hundreds of meters heading disperse them and drive them towards the entrance to the town. away from their lands. Meanwhile, Meanwhile, clashes were taking journalist Adel Ibrahim Mustafa place between the demonstrators Abu Nema (52 years old), who and the occupation soldiers who works as a cameraman for Reuters were deployed in the neighboring TV, accompanied by a number of fields, and who were firing metal his colleagues, was far from the bullets and tear gas bombs at the gathering and was wearing the press demonstrators. At about 1:15PM, the uniform and a gas mask. The soldiers confrontations intensified and the fired tear gas bombs heavily towards journalists covering these events the journalists’ gathering. Abu Nema dispersed in different places, while tried to move away from the bombs, Nidal and Palestine TV reporter Anal but he was very close to the extent Al-Jada, Palestine TV cameraman the gas leaked into his mask, causing Mohammad Inaya, and cameraman him suffocation that he had to take Jaafar Ishtayyah remained in the it off. One of his colleagues (Fadi Al- same location, but when they Jayousi, Palestine TV cameraman), saw the soldiers approaching a laid him down on the floor and few meters, they retreated (the tried to give him the aid he needed, Journalists) to the back, and in those including CPR, especially the firing moments Nidal was injured by two of gas bombs continued targeting metal bullets, one in the right flank them that he had to move him and the other in the right armpit. His away. After Abu Nema regained colleagues rushed to help him move consciousness, he left and returned away to a safe place, knowing that to his home. When the 48-year-old he and his colleagues were wearing journalist Nasser Sulaiman Ishtayya, protective vests. a cameraman with the Israeli Agency (25th Sep.) The journalists Adel Abu Flash and Associated Press, saw Nema and Nasser Ishtayya, as a what happened with his colleague result of direct targeting by soldiers Abu Nema, and the soldiers’ during their coverage of a tree- deliberate targeting of journalists, planting event in an area, threatened colleague Shtayyeh withdrew, with confiscation in Asira Al-Qibliya, moved a few meters away from the south of Nablus. demonstrators, he retreated and stood next to a wooden electric pole According to MADA researcher, in an attempt to shelter from any Colonization and Wall Resistance targeting. At about 11:30AM, one of Commission and the National Forces
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 115 the soldiers fired a gas bomb (the Palestinian Authority, and ordered type of a missile - which is a cylindrical them to empty the vehicle of their tube) at him, injuring him directly in personal belongings, cameras, and the upper back, even though he was equipment, and told them that about 300 meters away from the the vehicle is seized for entering soldiers’ gathering. An ambulance a closed military zone. Then he took him after he received the field gave the vehicle’s driver (Sulaiman aid, and after about an hour he left Ghassan Hajja) the decision of to return to his home. the confiscation order, and it said (29th Sep.) The occupation forces (violation ... a government vehicle have seized a vehicle of Palestine entered a closed military zone). It TV in Yarza Village, Tubas, while the should be noted that Palestine TV TV staff was covering a demolition vehicle is still seized until this day of one of the houses by the Israeli (1st Oct. 2020). Occupation. î October: According to MADA researcher, (1st Oct.) The Israeli Occupation Palestine TV staff, including the Forces have arrested journalist Tareq reporter Ameer Shaheen, the Abu Zaid from his house located in cameraman Loay Samhan, and the Nablus. driver Sulaiman Hajjah, have arrived at around 10:00AM, on 29th Sep. According to MADA researcher, a 2020. To Yarza village, where a force force of the occupation army, at of the occupation army was deployed 3:30AM, on Thursday, corresponding not to mention the military bulldozer 1st Oct. 2020, has raided the house of that started demolishing the houses Tareq Zbdelrazeq Dawoud Abu Zaid of citizens in the Village. When the (45 years old), who is a freelance staff arrived and stopped at 100 journalist, located in Nablus, after meters away from the military force, blowing up his front door and raiding the soldiers approached them and the room where he and his wife one of the officers asked who were sleep. The force searched the house they and whether they were from for half an hour, seized a number of the Palestinian Authority. Journalist official documents for journalist Abu Ameer Shaheen stated that they Zaid, his cell phone, laptop, his kids’ are Palestine TV staff and they were Ipad, arrested and transferred him there only to cover the event. The to Petah Tikva Investigation Center, officer asked them to leave claiming where he stayed until a closed court that “it is a closed military zone” due hearing was held for him on 4th Oct. to the demolishes. The staff tried 2020 at Salem Court. His detention to tell them that they will only film was extended for 9 days, and on the event and leave, but the officer 12th Oct. 2020 he was again brought seized their IDs and job cards, and before Salem Court and his file was detained them for half an hour, and referred to Prosecution. His lawyer prevented them from filming. After requested to visit him on the same that, an official of the so-called Israeli day (12th Oct. 2020) but her request “civil administration” (his name is for the visit was denied. She was Avi) came and asked them about allowed to visit him on the following their work, and told them that the day (13th Oct. 2020). His lawyer told vehicle (TV vehicle) belonged to the his wife that the investigation with
116 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine Tareq is about his journalistic work, had bruises, infection and swelling and that he was brought again for in his hand. Furthermore, journalist questioning. On 18th Oct. 2020, the Ameed Zayed Ahmad Shehadah (33 Military Occupation Court at Salem years old) Al-Arabi TV reporter, was extended Abu Zaid’s arrest for injured by a rubber bullet in his right another 8 days, to refer his file and elbow from the back, causing him search for the possibility to place an swelling and cramping. He went to indictment against him. the hospital where he was imaged (2nd Oct.) Five journalists were and underwent some examinations injured while covering clashes that showed bruises. He received following a march organized in the necessary treatment and was Kafr Qaddoum, Qalqilya, against discharged. In the meantime, the settlement in conjunction with the photojournalist Ahmad Talaat Fawzi 20th anniversary of Al-Aqsa Intifada. Hassan (27 years old), a freelance cameraman, was injured by a stone According to MADA researcher, on in his knee while the demonstrators Friday afternoon, 2nd Oct. 2020, were throwing stones at the army. once the weekly organized march He was taken to Palestine Medical against settlement was launched, Complex in Ramallah, where he while it was being covered by many underwent x-ray images and found journalists, the occupation soldiers, to have bruises. He received the who were deployed in various necessary treatment and left to his locations around the town, started house. At around 1:30PM, WAFA firing rubber bullets, tear gas bombs, Agency cameraman, Ayman Ameen and sound bombs to suppress the Ibrahim Nobani (34 years old), was march, resulting in the injury of injured by a rubber bullet in his right several journalists. shoulder while he was covering While journalist Abdullah Bahsh (23 the events, and he was also injured years old), a reporter of Al-Quds by a stone in his leg by one of the News Network, was covering the demonstrators who were throwing march, 200 meters away from the stones at the soldiers. demonstrators, he was injured by (11th Oct.) No less than 15 journalists a rubber bullet in his right foot. He were injured after being assaulted received field treatment, and left by the Occupation Forces while to his house. At around 2:00PM, they were covering the attempts of while Hassan Khaled Hassan citizens in Burqa, Ramallah, trying to Nafe’ (Dabbous) (29 years old), access their lands for olive harvesting a freelance cameraman, and a close to an outpost constructed volunteer at Btselem Organization, on the village’s lands, along with a was at 50 meters away from the number of volunteers. soldiers, trying to move away from the clashes to a secured area, was According to MADA researcher, injured by a rubber bullet in his hand dozens of farmers from Burqa, east fired at him by one of the soldiers. He Ramallah, went on Friday morning, was transferred via a Red Crescent 11th Oct. 2020, to their lands located Ambulance to Rafidia Hospital in to the west of the village, near an Nablus, where he was imaged and outpost that is constructed there, to the x-ray images showed that he harvest their olive trees, accompanied by a number of journalists and
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 117 media crews. Before they arrived ambulance volunteers managed to to their lands, they were surprised get to him even though the soldiers with groups of soldiers deployed in prevented him from getting closer at various locations near their lands. the beginning), Al-Hayat Al-Jadida They assaulted the farmers and Newspaper and Anatolia Agency fired tear gas bombs and rubber cameraman Issam Huda Al-Rimawi bullets at them. They also tried to (injured twice by a gas bomb fired prevent the citizens and journalists directly at his shoulder). They were from being present there. They all suffocated, threatened, pursued, directly assaulted them, pursued kicked out and prevented from and kicked them out claiming it is coverage by the soldiers, even a military zone. This resulted in the though they were wearing the injury of dozens of citizens with press uniform. Furthermore, the suffocation, including a number following journalists were prevented of journalists. They tried to arrest from coverage and got kicked out some of the journalists and seize from the location of events not to their equipment, while some of them mentioned suffocated due to the were injured by rubber bullets and tear gas bombs: Reuters cameraman others were assaulted and pursued Mohammad Ali Turkman (50 years not to mention preventing the from old), Al-Arabiya TV and Quds News coverage. These violations have Network cameraman Mutasem affected: the cameraman of Anatolia Saqf Al-Hait (27 years old), the Agency Hisham Abu Shaqra (rubber cameraman Samed Tawfiq Baghdadi bullet tin the neck), the French (28 years old), the cameraman of Press Agency cameraman Abbas Associated Press Naser Naser, the Abulwahhab Al-Momani (pushed journalist Abdelrahman Younes, the and assaulted), Reuters Agency European Agency cameraman Alaa cameraman Adel Ibrahim Abu Nema Tawfeq Badarnah, and Al-Jazeera (pushed and assaulted), Iranian Live cameraman Mohammad Awad. Iribnews reporter Khaled Sabarnah (13th Oct.) The settlers and (attempted arrest and kicked occupation soldiers prevented out), Al-Jazeera Live report Alaa Palestine TV staff to cover the Al-Rimawi (assaulted, attempted establishment of an outpost in Beit seizure of equipment and scratches Dajan, detained them along with two due to throwing a sound bomb at his other persons from the village tobe feet), Associated Press cameraman interviewed within the report from Imad Mohammad Saed (pushed by the place. one of the soldiers deliberately while Palestine TV staff (composed of he was on a 2.5-meter wall, which reporter Baker Mohammad Sabah made him fall and got injured with Mamdouh Abdelhaq, cameraman bruises), BBC Network cameraman Samer Al-Habash, and driver Jimmy Moris Michel (two gas bombs Abdullah Sawalmah), went at were fired from zero distance directly 11:00PM, to cover the assaults of at him causing him and his colleague settlers and the establishment of suffocation, he was also prevented an outpost above the lands of Beit from coverage while being injured Dajan, eastern Nablus, northern from the soldiers who threatened West Bank, accompanied by Naser him at gunpoint, but one of the Abu Jaish, the Chairman of the
118 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine Popular Committee to Defend Beit Network for Press Investigations. Dajan Lands, and Abdelraheem Once the press investigation was Hanini, Beit Dajan Council Chairman, first posted and then the entire to show them the relevant location investigation, the threats and curses and be interviewed about it. would not stop against the journalist While the staff was live broadcasting Al-Taweel, on his personal page as the assaults, a number of armed well as some of the lawyers closed settlers approached them and groups. It escalated to the extent attempted to prevent the staff that one of the lawyers threatened from filming and broadcasting, Al-Taweel with the same horror fate by threatening and cursing them. as of that of the Jordanian young Fifteen minutes later, another group man whose hands were chopped off of settlers showed up and informed and eyes gouged by a local Jordanian the staff that they are under criminal gang. Therefore, Al-Taweel, detention. Immediately after that, a on 20th Oct., filed a complaint before force of the occupation army came the Palestinian Attorney General’s and seize their IDs to be checked. Office, along with the Journalists Ten minutes later, one of the officers Syndicate Board member Omar returned their IDs and told them Nazzal, to pursue these threats and they were under arrest. Abo Baker curses and take the necessary legal told them that the staff is only doing action, noting that the threats varied its job and will leave eventually, so and ranged between chopping off the officer told them to leave the his hands, gouging his eyes, fighting location (except for the activist with him if he goes to Jericho, Naser Abu Jaish who was with them, legally prosecute him, and others. to kidnap him) but the staff insisted None of these threats have actually to leave altogether as they came. addressed anything related to the After one hour of detention, they contents of the investigation. rather, were released and left the location. they targeted him personally, as he attached some of these threats and (16th Oct.) The journalist working for comments with the complaint filed Ajyal Radio Network, Firas Al-Taweel at the Public Prosecution. was exposed to a series of threats through the social media sites by a (16th Oct.) The photojournalist Issam group of lawyers, after he posting a Al-Rimawi was injured by a gas press investigation on 16th Oct. on bomb in his shoulder while he was the illegal charges the lawyers and covering events in Beit Dajan. their Bar collect for endorsing legal According to MADA researcher, documents and powers of attorney, the photojournalist Issam Huda Al- but forcing the notary public not to Rimawi (36 years old), words for authenticate any document unless Anatolia Turkish Agency and Al- after the seal of the Bar Association, Hayat Newspaper, before Friday as came in the investigation. Al- noon, 16th Nov. 2020, went to Taweel, on 16th Oct., posted the first Beit Dajan, eastern Nablus, to material of the press investigation cover a march against the outpost on the social media sites, and established above the lands of the two hours later, it was the entire village. While a number of journalists investigation was published by Ajyal were covering the march 200 meters Radio Network, ROYA TV, and Areej away from the demonstrators, the
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 119 occupation soldiers threatened them clashes escalated and the soldiers more than once and asked them to approached the demonstrators leave. In the meantime, the soldiers to suppress them and stationed fired sound and tear gas bombs themselves at the corner where the directly and heavily at them to force journalists were standing, forcing them to leave. One of the gas bombs four journalists to step back while injured the journalist Al-Rimawi in the cameraman Mohammad Inaya his shoulder causing him surface and the cameraman Jafar Ishatayya wounds that was treated in the field continued documenting the events by the Red Crescent Ambulance two meters away from the soldiers staff that was present there. who asked them later to leave. (16th Oct.) The occupation soldiers Shortly after, while Mohammad Inaya assaulted Palestine TV staff while and his coworker Anal Al-Jada as it was covering clashes in Kafr well as the cameraman Mohammad Qaddoum, amid their live broadcast Inaya were close to the olive mill to Palestine TV even though they at the closed street corner, and Al- were far from the soldiers and Jada’ was broadcasting to Palestine demonstrators, resulting in their TV Live, and the soldiers were 200 suffocation. meters away, they started firing gas bombs at the staff even though no According to MADA researcher, demonstrators were around them, Palestine TV staff, composed of the resulting in the injury of Anal Al-Jada cameraman Mohammad Mahmoud with severe suffocation, and vomiting Hassan Inaya (28 years old), and which required taking him by the the reporter Anal Basem Aref Al- ambulance. He was injured severely Jada’ (31 years old), has arrived because he took the mask off while Kafr Qaddoum, Qalqilya, at around he was live broadcasting, and his 12:20PM, on Friday 16th Oct. 2020, coworker was also suffocated. wearing the blue press uniform, the helmet and the mask to protect (27th Oct.) The Israeli Police detained themselves from the tear gas. They the journalist Moath Amarna while started covering the weekly march he was going to his treatment taking place every Friday since in Jerusalem City after being more than ten years against the transferred to one of its centers even settlement and closing the village though he had an Israeli permit to entrance. Once the demonstrators receive treatment in Jerusalem. crossed 500 meters away from the According to MADA researcher, at Village’s center, where the march around 10:00AM, on Tuesday, 27th usually starts, clashes erupted with Oct. 2020, the journalist Moath the occupation soldiers who were Ibrahim Atiya Al-AMarnah, 30 years hiding under the olive trees. At that old, arrived to (AL-Misrara) vehicles moment, Palestine TV staff and four parking at Bab Al-Amoud, Jerusalem, other journalists were standing at to head to Hadassa Hospital, to a house corner 100 meters away underwent medical examination and from the soldiers, and few meters receive medical reports on his injury away from the demonstrators. by gunshot fragments fired at him The soldiers started firing metal by one of the Israeli Borders Police bullets, sound and gas bombs while he was covering a peaceful randomly at them. At 12:45PM, the march western Souref, western
120 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine Hebron, on Friday 15th Nov. 2019. According to MADA researcher, a One of the Israeli police officers force of the occupation army, arrived stopped Moath and asked for his ID on Tuesday 27th Oct. 2020, at dawn, card and entry permit to Jerusalem, to the house of the director, producer and indeed he responded to the and presenter of programs at An- officer’s orders. Ten minutes later, Najah TV, Abdelrahman Asaf Aref Al- the police informed Moath that there Thaher (38 years old), knocked on is no permit allowing him to enter to the house door and when he opened Jerusalem City and Amarnah replied the door for them, they asked for that he entered the city (300) times his ID. When he went to bring the through the checkpoint, under a ID, around 20 soldiers entered the medical permit that was issued for house after him and were all over the him (despite the security prevention) living room searching it. One of the as he has been receiving medical officers asked him if he was taking treatment at Hadassa Hospital for a any medication to bring it and asked long time. The police officer asked where was his officer the house but Moath to accompany him to the he answered that he has no office police vehicle that took them to other than that at his workplace. the Israeli police center in Salah Al- The officer told him that he is going Deen street, where the journalist was to come with them, they seized his taken to a room inside of which the cell phone, handcuffed and arrested police investigator was waiting. He him. Later, his wife contacted was questioned about the reason he HaMoked, the Israeli Human Rights was in Jerusalem without having a Organization and learned that in 24 permit to enter. After an argument, hours that he was at Howara Camp. journalist Amarnah asked the police (23rd Oct.) The Occupation soldiers officer to bring his cell phone and he have prevented journalist Mashhour contacted the Israeli Liaison at “Gush Al-Wahwah from filming and Etzion” settlement where the permit threatened him with arrest. was issued and informed them that According to MADA researcher, he was detained by the police in journalist Mashhour Hassan one of its centers claiming he does Mahmoud Al-Wahwah (39 years not have a permit. After two-hour old), from Dora, southwest Hebron, a argument, Amarnah was released. photojournalist who works for WAFA It is worth mentioning that Amarnah Agency, has arrived at about 1:00PM, lost his left eye due to an injury by on Fridat, 23rd Oct. 2020, to Bab gunshot fragments that have settled Al-Zawiya, central Hebron, to cover near his brain cavity as the doctors the clashes between the Palestinians fear it may move at any moment who were throwing stones and the especially, they could not remove it Israeli occupation soldiers, where given the gravity of the operation. the Palestinian demonstrators have Not only he had lost his eye due to closed the road leading to Wadi Al- injury, he also lost his job at the news Tuffah street and Beir Al-Sabe’ old agency he used to work for. street. The soldiers were few meters (27th Oct.) The occupation forces away from the military checkpoint have arrested the journalist in Al-Shuhada’ closed street on the Abdelrahman Asad Aref Al-Thaher opposite side. Journalist Al-Wahwah from his house located in Nablus. was in a nearby location close to
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 121 the soldiers, who were firing sound about prisoners (broadcasts a total of and tear gas bombs randomly at 26 programs through the Facebook the Palestinians who were throwing page), based in Al-Shorouq Tower, stones and chased one of them. Gaza City, and followed by 60,000 Once the soldiers arrested one of the users, verified by Facebook. It was demonstrators who were throwing closed claiming that it posts “issues stones, Al-Wahwah approached to violating the public policies and film it, but two soldiers assaulted criteria of Facebook”. The page him, started shouting and asked received notifications on this regard him to move away. When he tried as stated by the Executive Director to talk to them, one of the soldiers of the TV channel Eng. Wael Rajab pushed him to back and threatened Naseem Fannounah. Most of the him with arrest if he would not notifications received by the Channel leave and stop filming. Al-Wahwah were about its program broadcasted tried to take pictures from far away, about the case of the prisoner Maher but the soldier came after him and Al-Akhras, who has been on food kept shouting at him, forcing him to strike inside the Israeli Occupation move farther and leave the site of prisons for 97 days, in addition to the events. No one except him was the program “Hona Al-Asima/the present with the journalists at the Capital is Here” which addresses site. Jerusalem city and Al-Aqsa Mosque (October) Facebook Company has and the Israeli violations against the closed no less than 4 news paged same. The TV channel administration belonging to Palestinian journalists contacted Facebook Company on claiming they violate the publishing/ the closure immediately but did posting criteria. not receive any response and thus created a new page. According to MADA field researcher, Facebook Company has blocked, for It should be noted that Facebook one month, all of the accounts of the Company has previously closed Israeli affairs activist and journalist the TV official page twice. The first Mohammad Abu Alan Daraghmeh, time was in November 2018 and the starting from 1st Oct. until 1st Nov. second was at the end of 2019. The for the claim of “incitement” and third closure was after one year post violating the posting criteria noting the last one. that all of the page’s posts claimed On 5th Oct. 2020, Facebook to have violated these criteria are Company has closed the account of only news, and translations of the freelance journalist Imad Issa Jebrel, same. The block included all of his claiming it violates the posting accounts including the main page criteria. This was the fourth time his that is followed by 7000 users, and page was closed since the beginning when he activated a back up account of September 2020 when it was after 48 hours, it was closed as well. closed and journalist Jebrel could On Wednesday, 28th Oct. 2020, the not create any new page for being main page of “Quds Today” TV was linked to his personal email address closed. It is a Palestinian page that and personal cell phone number. posts daily news as well as social and On Sunday, 25th Oct. 2020, the political programs and other news social networking site Facebook
122 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine suspended, for three renewable According to MADA researcher, on days, the page of the Jordanian 30th Oct. 2020, after Friday prayers, channel “ROYA” reporter in the West at Al-Aqsa Mosque, in Jerusalem, Bank, journalist Hafez Mahmoud a demonstration was launched to Abu Sabra, from publishing and protest against the offense of the commenting on for allegedly messenger Mohammad - All Prayers publishing content that violates and Blessings of Allah be upon him- Facebook standards, according to in which thousands of prayers have Facebook’s claim. The block for taken part. The occupation forces posting on Abu Sabra page came have assaulted the demonstrators after it published a comment about and some of the journalists who were the Palestinian prisoner on hunger covering the demonstration, and strike (Maher Al-Akhras), on the 92nd arrested the freelance photojournalist day of his hunger strike in the Israeli Abdelafou Bassam Abdelafou Al- prison, and he received a message Zughair (28 years old), and took from Facebook several minutes after him to “Al-Yaho” Investigation posting, in which he was informed Center at Bab Al-Silsilah, where he that he was blocked from posting was taken by the police vehicle to and commenting through his page. Al-Qashla Investigation Center at After he contacted Facebook Bab Al-Khaleel. He was questioned Company, he was informed that he about the demonstration and those had published content that violated who planned it, as well as about the Facebook standards, and his activity parties who organized the same and on his page was suspended for a the figures that took part thereof, period of three days, subject to noting that he informed them from renewal. the beginning that he is only a Furthermore, Facebook Company photojournalist. The investigator has closed “Dora Media Network” showed him some pictures of him website, which is a social news while he was at Al-Aqsa Mosque and website, run by journalist Issa Abu and asked him about the person in the followed by 80,000 users, claiming pictures and he replied that it was it violated the posting criteria. It is him and he was there doing his work. believed that this closure is linked He was released from Al-Qashla to listing the names of Palestinian Center at about 5:00PM provided martyrs and organizations. He was he stays away from Al-Aqsa Mosque forced to create a new page (Dora for one week as of the date of arrest Media) noting that in 2018 and 2019 (until Thursday 5th Nov. 2020) and Dora Network Page was also closed. visit the center afterwards (Thursday, 5th Nov. 2020) to be questioned at (30th Oct.) The Occupation Al-Qashla Center. He was threatened forces have arrested the freelance with another alienation order for a photojournalist Abdelafou Bassam period of six months. Al-Zughair while he was covering a demonstration in Jerusalem City, î November: who was alienated from Al-Aqsa (2nd-10th Nov.) The Israeli for one week, and summoned him occupation intelligence services to another investigation after the summoned the journalist Christine expiry of his alienation. Rinawi twice. She was questioned the
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 123 first time, and the second time she months. was given a decision on extending It is worth mentioning that this is the the closure of the Palestine TV office 8th summons for journalist Christine in Jerusalem and preventing it from Rinawi, on the background of her working for another six months. work for Palestine TV, noting that According to MADA researcher, the Occupation Authorities have the Israeli Intelligence Services raided the TV Office, destroyed the summoned Palestine TV reporter in filming equipment, and arrested the Jerusalem, Christine Khaled Waleed TV staff. Al-Rinawi (31 years old), as the (8th Nov.) The Israeli Occupation Prisoner Club Lawyer Mufeed Al-Haj Forces have arrested the journalist was contacted by telephone, at 1:00 Bushra Al-Taweel, 27 years old, on PM, on 2nd Nov. 2020, so she comes Sunday evening, corresponding to Moscobiya Investigation Center at 8th Nov. 2020, from Al-Bireh, while 3:00 PM, on 2nd Nov. 2020. Indeed, she was moving between Jenin and she went on the said schedule, and Al-Bireh after she was detained at a the investigation with her lasted for hasty military checkpoint. two hours and a half for suspicion of According to MADA researcher, violating the decision of the Israeli the journalist Bushra Al-Taweel (27 Minister of Interior, which prohibits years old), from Al-Bireh, while she Palestine TV from operating in was at around 6:00 PM, on Sunday, Jerusalem, which has been valid for corresponding 8th Nov. 2020, about a year. She was questioned with one of her friends and their about the nature of the work of children, heading home from Jenin Palestine TV in Jerusalem and the to Al-Bireh, was stopped by the political movement in the City. This occupation soldiers while passing included clues from the investigator through a movable checkpoint about extending the Israeli decision the soldiers have set up at Yitzhar on closing the Palestine TV office in settlement street. They searched the Jerusalem for another six months. vehicle she was riding and then one After the investigation with Christine of the soldiers asked for her personal ended, she was released in the identity card and her friend’s. Then afternoon on a bail (paper-unpaid he asked her to dismount the vehicle bail) of three thousand shekels, and made her wait for 45 minutes. and to return to the investigation After checking the IDs, one of the center when she was summoned soldiers came to tell Bushra she was again to hand her over a decision arrested and to ask her friend to on renewing the order preventing leave. Bushra then called her mother Palestine TV from operating in and told her she was arrested. She Jerusalem. On 10th Nov. 2020, the was taken to a detention center Occupation Intelligence Services and was prevented to contact or summoned the journalist Christine communicate with her friend. On again through a phone call, and she the following day, Monday 9th Nov. went to Mascobiya Center where 2020, Bushra’s family learned she she was given a new decision on was arrested at Hasharon Prison extending the period during which and that the occupation authorities Palestine TV must not operate inside have tested her for COVID-19, to be the City of Jerusalem for another six
124 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine questioned two days later, as the at Balata Camp. The Investigation lawyer informed her family. It should lasted for half an hour, then he left be noted that Bushra was arrested the room. An hour later, the officer administratively before for seven told him to bring evidence of months and a half and was released employment at the Agency he works on 28th July 2020. for, and another from the Journalists (8th Nov.) The Preventive Security Syndicate. This is in addition to Services in Nablus summoned the another summons another officer journalist Mohammad Anwar Fathi gave him to come back at 10:00 Mona and questioned him. AM on Thursday 12th Nov. 2020. On the aforementioned schedule, According to MADA researcher, the journalist arrived at the HQ and Mohammad Anwar Fathi Mona (38 after handing over his ID, he waited years old), from Nablus, a reporter until noon when the officer took his for SANAD News Agency, received papers that he was asked to bring at around 10:30 AM, on Sunday, in the summons and then he left the corresponding 8th Nov. 2020, a HQ. Mona asked the investigators phone call from someone who and officers about equipment introduced himself as an officer of that was seized from him by the the Preventive Security Services and Preventive Security Service HQ that he would like “to have him” come when he was arrested on 25th Feb. to the Preventive Security Services 2020 (a laptop, 2 cell phones, and a HQ. Mona asked whether this was small camera). The officer told him a summons only or arrest, the caller that he will check with the HQ in said it was just “a summons”. So, Ramallah and will contact him once Mona said he could not come on the they receive the equipment. said day but could show up on the following day. At around 10:00 AM, (13th Nov.) The photojournalist on the following morning (Monday, Hazem Bader (52 years old) was 9th Nov. 2020) Mona arrived at the injured by a gas bomb fired at him Preventive Security Services HQ by an Israeli soldier while he was where they took his personal card covering clashes in Hebron City. and had him wait inside a caravan According to MADA researcher, outside the HQ for half an hour. A at around 12:50 PM, on Friday, military officer then came and took corresponding 13th Nov. 2020, him to the investigation room, where the photojournalist Hazem Jameel two other officers were waiting to Ragheb Bader (52 years old), arrived question him. He was questioned to the French News Agency, Bab Al- about his study, the type of press Zawiya area, central Hebron City, to field he works in, with who has cover clashes between the soldiers he worked since graduation, and and stone-throwers. Upon the what he does currently (and about arrival of journalist Bader to the area SANAD News Agency offices he opposite the military checkpoint works at currently), his salary and at the northern entrance of Al- how he receives it, the transfers he Shuhada’ closed street, a group of receives, the colleagues he works soldiers were standing behind the with at the Agency in Nablus, and concrete blocks, 20 meters away some of the press coverages he had from journalist Bader who was in his done including covering some events press uniform, and while a group of
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 125 young men were on the other side soldiers dismantled the recording throwing stones at the soldiers, one device of the surveillance cameras of the soldiers fired gas bomb that to seize it. However, Abu Rmailah injured the journalist, Bader, in his intervened and prevented the right leg, forcing him to slowly walk soldiers from doing so. The officer to a hallway that leads to one of the addressed Abu Rmailah “you cause nearby houses where he sat to rest troubles in the area” and they left the from the severe pain. Bader checked house 10 minutes after the search his leg that swollen so quickly was done. Abu Rmailah works in while the photojournalist Mamoun documenting the violations of the Wazwaz arrived and provided him occupation army and settlers in the with first aid. Bader left 20 minutes old city of Hebron and Sanctuary later to Al-Ahly Hospital in Hebron of Abraham where journalists are in his vehicle. He took some medical prohibited. tests and was imaged. The x-ray (19th Nov.) “RAYA FM Radio” image showed a rupture in the right deleted from its website an episode leg muscle. He was given the needed of “Panorama Program” presented treatment and prevented from by journalists Aseel Salman Reehan moving on his right leg for a week. (22 years old), a diverse entertaining (18th Nov.) The Occupation Army radio show presented by Aseel stormed the house of journalist through RAYA FM, between Saturday Raed Abu Rmailah in Hebron and until Wednesday each week. searched it. According to MADA researcher, the According to MADA researcher, at journalist Aseel, at the beginning of around 9:00 PM, on Wednesday, that episode, has intensely criticized 18th Nov. 2020, a force of the Israeli the Palestinian Authority’s decision Occupation soldiers, stormed the on complying again with the house of freelance journalist Raed agreements signed with Israel. This Jihad Abu Rmailah (47 years old), introduction, which was first posted located near the military checkpoint on Aseel’s Instagram, raised broad (Abu Al-Reesh) at the southern interaction through social media. entrance of the old city of Hebron Therefore, after the video surfaced, City. Abu Rmailah and his family much debate stirred up on the were detained in one room while the Administration of RAYA FM Radio force searched and messed around referring the journalist Aseel to the house. The search lasted for 15 an investigation committee and minutes, then the soldiers left the dismissing her from work, which house after completing the search turned out to be wrong later on. and did not take journalist Abu The journalist Salman did not Rmailah with them. At around 10:00 receive any letter under which PM on the same day, the same force she should be transferred to an stormed the house again, detained investigation committee by the the journalist and his family in a Radio Administration or that she room, and searched the house again is dismissed, or that any other without allowing the journalist to procedure is taken against her. she witness the search. They checked was asked to stick to the introduction the surveillance cameras installed of the program and make sure it is in around the house while one of the
126 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine line with the diverse content of the was questioned on the background topics she presents in the program. of “defaming Al-Falah Charitable The journalist Aseel did not receive Society for republishing a report he any calls and was not contacted by had prepared 4 years ago through the security services, noting they “Naba’ News Agency” when he used contacted and communicated with to be the Editor-in-Chief then. Note the Radio Administration to find that the report revolves around the out what happened, as the radio death of a child in Al-Falah Society administration, in turn, contacted gymnasium, and the negligence Aseel’s father to inform him of and carelessness on the part of the what had happened, while the administration and workers of the director of the radio and Aseel’s Society in dealing with the incident. father received phone calls from In his defense, the journalist Fares figures of Fatah Movement, talking indicated that the Society’s Director to them about the program and is the complainant but he passed what had Aseel said in the opening. away about two weeks ago. Thus, (19th-21st, Nov.) The General the case is dropped with the death Investigation Services in the of its complainant, but the officer northern governorate of Gaza Strip promised him to transfer the case to summoned journalists Yousef Fares the Public Prosecution to complete and Mohammad Al-Khalidi to the the investigation, and after about Cybercrimes Department of the half an hour of the investigation, Investigation Services, to interrogate the journalist Fares signed the them on charges of defaming record of his statements and left the workers in Al-Falah Charitable headquarters. Society. On 21st Nov. Misbar Website According to MADA researcher, Reporter, Mohammad Abdelhameed the journalist at Naba’ Press News Hassan Al-Khalidi (33 years old) Agency Yousef Mohammad Hussein received summons to go to the Fares (30 years old) received a Cybercrimes Department at the notification on 9th Nov. 2020 to go General Intelligence Services in the to the Investigations Services HQ North Governorate, for the charge in the North Governorate as soon of defaming Al-Falah Charitable as he receives the notification, but Society. Immediately after receiving he refused to obey their orders. the notification, the journalist Ten days later, on 19th Nov. 2020, Mohammad went to the department, another notification was sent to and there he was questioned about his house located in Tal Al-Za’tar, the case of “defamation” against northern Gaza Strip, but he wasn’t Al-Falah Society, through his at home then. One hour later, after own Facebook account, accusing the notification was sent, a major its director and employees of from the Cybercrime Department “corruption and exploitation of of the Investigation Services aid money that comes to the poor contacted him to inform him that for their personal interests.” The he must come to the department journalist Al-Khaldi responded to immediately. At around 11:30 PM, on those accusations that what he the same day, the journalist Fares published about the Society falls arrived at the department, where he within the exercise of his right to
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 127 freedom of opinion and expression, peaceful march against settlement and the officer threatened him to and prevented them from coverage. transfer the case file to the Public According to MADA researcher, a Prosecution to take legal measures peaceful march started at around against the “accused in this case”. 10:30 AM, on Monday 30th Nov. After Al-Khalidi signed his statement 2020 against the settlers for upon the request of the officer, he leveling the land at “Al-Ra’s” area, left the headquarters. western Salfeet, and initiating the (24th Nov.) The journalist Ameer construction of a new outpost Shaheen was injured by a gas bomb there. About half an hour after the fired at him by the soldiers while demonstrators arrived at the site, a covering a march against settlement great number of settlers arrived and in the Northern Valleys. began verbal and physical attacks According to MADA researcher, against the demonstrators and Ameer Hilmi Mohammad Shaheen assaulted some of them with batons. (29 years old), a press reporter This resulted in hand-to-hand fighting for Palestine TV in Tubas, went at with the demonstrators, and about 12:30 PM, on Tuesday 24th Nov. 10 minutes after the settlers arrived, 2020, to cover a march against an army force arrived as well. Soon a settlement that was heading the soldiers began firing a barrage towards Kherbet Hamsah Al-Foqa n of tear gas bombs at the Palestinian the Northern Valleys demolished by demonstrators to disperse them and the occupation three weeks earlier. drive them away, so the settlers, When the march reached the military some of whom had dogs with them checkpoint located near the village and were armed, were not allowed of Tayasir (5 km east of Tubas), the to show their weapons in the face of soldiers prevented the march and demonstrators and journalists alike. suppressed it with tear gas bombs While the journalists were filming to disperse the demonstrators. the soldiers’ assaults against some Meanwhile (around 01:20 PM), demonstrators and their attempts while the journalist Shaheen, who to arrest them, settlers attacked was wearing the press uniform and the journalists and tried to seize the covering these events, was on a equipment of some of them, threw live broadcast and interviewing one stones at them, chased them, and of the demonstrators, the soldiers kicked them away, and prevented prevented him from continuing his them from reporting. As a result, work and someone pushed him. three journalists were injured with Twenty minutes later, while Shaheen the settlers’ stones, namely: Anatolia continued covering these events, Agency Cameraman Hisham Abu one of the soldiers fired a tear gas Shaqra (injured by a stone in the bomb directly at him, injuring him in right leg), “Al-Ghad TV” cameraman the right foot, causing him a slight Hazem Imad Husni Nasser (30 years injury, and he left the place without old), injured by a stone in his leg too, going to any health center. the French News Agency cameraman Jafar Zahed Ishtayya (51 years (30th Nov.) Israeli settlers and old), injured by a stone on his left soldiers have assaulted no less shoulder. This forced all journalists than 13 journalists while covering a to move back and away from the
128 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine settlers’ assaults who prevented users claiming “she violates the them from coverage and chased Facebook criteria” after posting them. This affected the journalists: an image of a military show for GMedia cameraman Tarek Yousef, one of the Palestinian factions. the cameraman AlaaBadarnah (48 4. Restricting the page of Al-Aqsa years old), “Al-Ghad” TV reporter Radio Editor, Iyad Abu Raidah, Khaled Saleh Mahmoud Budair (32 followed by 5500 users, after years old), Reuters cameraman حد_#“ tweeting the hashtag Raneen Sawafta, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida edge of the sword, for 48/ ”السيف Newspaper cameraman Issam Huda hours. Al-Rimawi, Xinhua News Agency 5. Closing the account of freelance cameraman Nidal Shafeeq Ishtayya cameraman Mohammad Shbair (49 years old), the American on Instagram after posting a News Agency cameraman Majdi story of images for martyrs of Mohammad Ishtayya (37 years old), “Al-Qassam” Brigades. the journalist Mohammad Turab, Flasha Israeli Agency cameraman 6. Closing the page of “Palestine Nasser Sulaiman Ishtayya (48 years Today News” followed by half old) and Palestine TV reporter a million users, on 11th Nov. Mohammad Abdelqader Hassan 2020 after posting images of Ishtayya. Palestinian martyrs. (November) Facebook Company 7. West Bank, on 11th Nov. 2020, has blocked and closed accounts for Facebook Company suspended several journalists during November the live broadcasting feature claiming “they violate the Facebook on Facebook for the freelance Community criteria”. journalist Yousef Kamel Ibrahim Amro (26 years old), from Dura, According to MADA researcher, Hebron, for 90 days, after posting Facebook Administration has media content of a march on suspended, closed, and restricted the anniversary of the former the accounts of “five journalists and Palestinian President Yasser media professionals” from Gaza Strip Arafat, claiming it “violates the during November 2020, namely: criteria of posting on Facebook”. 1. Restricting the account of 8. On the same day, 11th Nov. 2020, freelance journalist Mohammad Facebook Company suspended Al-Najjar for one month claiming the work of journalist Yousef “he violates the Facebook Kamel Amro, in his capacity as criteria” noting that Al-Najjar has (the admin) of Dura City News 9,000 followed on his account. Page, with the consideration that 2. Closing two pages for the the page is liked by 34.684 users, freelance journalist Hassan and it has been suspended until Islaih, one of which is followed September 2021 claiming that “it by 100,000 users and the other violates the criteria of posting by 3,000 users without sending on Facebook”. The block also them any notification. included suspending the work of 3. Closing the page of the freelance journalist Amro, in his capacity photojournalist Mariam Abu as the “admin” in another two Duqa, followed by 23,000 pages, the first belongs to Fateh
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 129 Movement southern region, and officer arrived, the journalist Al- the second is a commercial page Wahwah explained to him what that he has been running (but happened, and the officer said: why refused to say its name) since would you approach the soldiers? 15th Sep. 2020. Al-Wahwah replied, I was 10 meters away from them, and this is my job, I î December: am going to file a complaint against (4th Dec.) An Israeli soldier these soldiers. The officer did not assaulted the journalist Mashhour care about what the journalist said Al-Wahwah while he was covering and walked towards the checkpoint, clashes in Hebron. while Al-Wahwah left so he would According to MADA researcher, not be assaulted again. at around 4:00PM, on Friday, (12th Dec.) An Israeli settler corresponding 4th Dec. 2020, assaulted the cameraman Mohannad the photojournalist of WAFA Qafishah while he was crossing a News Agency, Mashhour Hussein checkpoint to Hebron. Mohammad Al-Wahwah, 37 years According to MADA researcher, old, from Dura, southwest Hebron, at around 11:30AM, on Saturday, arrived to Bab Al-Zaweya, central corresponding 12th Dec. 2020, Hebron, to cover clashes that the freelance journalist Mohannad were taking place near the military Mustafa Mohammad Qafishah (28 checkpoint at the northern entrance years old) (works for Palestine of Al-Shuhada’ closed street, known Sports TV), arrived to the military as the (56) military checkpoint. checkpoint “Gilbert”, at the southern Upon the arrival of the journalist Al- entrance to Tel Rumeida in Hebron, Wahwah, a number of soldiers were coming from his house located standing behind the concrete blocks in Johar Mountain, going to the near the checkpoint, and one of the center of the city, to film a report soldiers pointed with his hand at the on Corona Pandemic. When the journalist Al-Wahwah threatening journalist Qafishah stopped near him not to approach, the journalist the checkpoint, a group of settlers did not care, and the young men were standing close to him, and he started throwing stones at the heard one of the settlers speaking soldiers who in turn started firing gas in Hebrew, which he understands, bombs at them and chasing them. saying that he is going to beat him The journalist followed the soldiers up, and they even made a bet on it. to film what was happening, and few The journalist approached one of minutes later, the soldiers returned the soldiers at the abovementioned to their positions while the same checkpoint and told him what he soldier who threatened Al-Wahwah heard. At that moment, the settler approached him, started yelling at approached and hit his head with him and cursing him. Al-Wahwah Qafishah’s head. The journalist tried to talk to him, but the soldier filmed the assault of the settler kicked him twice in his feet and and the population around the continued cursing him. Al-Wahwah checkpoint started gathering to started shouting at the officer who watch while the soldier was yelling was at the (56) checkpoint, while at them to stay away, and did not the soldier moved away. When the care what the settler did. The settlers
130 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine left, and after about 15 minutes, an the settler who assaulted him. On Israeli police patrol arrived at the the other hand, the investigator aforementioned checkpoint, and showed Qafishah the testimony of the journalist Qafishah told them the soldier at the checkpoint and what had happened, showed them the video the cameras filmed there a picture of the settler who had showing the settler while assaulting attacked him, and filed a written journalist Qafishah. The session complaint with the policeman, and lasted for an hour and a half, then then the journalist Qafishah left the the journalist was taken out of the checkpoint headed home. room to the waiting square, until one At 1:00PM, the journalist Qafishah of the Israeli police officers brought received a phone call from the Israeli the settler to the investigator’s police asking him to go to “Gilbert” room, and their session lasted for checkpoint again. When he arrived two hours. Then the investigator there, he found a police patrol took the settler out of his room waiting for him and the policeman and he was handcuffed, and asked asked him to go with him to the the police to take him, while he told Sanctuary of Abraham Police Center, the policeman to have the journalist to identify the settler who assaulted Qafishah sign on an unpaid financial him. Indeed, the journalist went guarantee amounting to three with the Israeli police officers to thousand shekels, and then he was the mentioned police headquarters, asked to leave the police center, where he waited for half an hour, and while the journalist Qafishah asked while waiting he requested a lighter for a ride in the police vehicle to the to smoke. However, the policeman city of Hebron, due to the lack of replied to him “you are under arrest vehicles as a result of the closures, here under a complaint filed by but the investigator told him that a settler against you”. He argued there was only one vehicle in which with the policeman about what the settler would be transported. happened, and at around 2:30PM, The journalist waited until 11:30PM another policeman showed up and at night, until friends arrived in their informed Qafishah that he will be private vehicle and took him back to transferred to the investigation his home. center in “Gush Etzion” settlement (10th Dec.) Journalist Mohammad but no investigators were there, Allaham was threatened with therefore, he will be transferred to kidnapping and murder by citizens “Beitar Illit” Police Center, southern belonging to Al-Ja’bari family, Jerusalem. Indeed, the journalist after broadcasting a video clip was transported in the Israeli about one of the notables of the Police Vehicle to “Beitar Illit” Police aforementioned family. Center, where he waited inside the According to MADA researcher, headquarters square until 6:00PM, the journalist of MAAN TV, until one of the investigators came Mohammad Allaham, and the Head and asked Qafishah to accompany of the Freedoms Committee of the him to his room where they talked Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, about what happened and Qafishah has presented in his show “nos bi showed him the video on the camera nos”, broadcasted on MAAN TV, he filmed at the checkpoint showing on 10th Dec a video clip showing
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 131 Abu Khader Al-Ja’bari, one of of professional work within the Hebron tribes notables, threatening framework of the Journalists and rejecting the Palestinian Syndicate or the Palestinian judiciary, Government’s decision on closing and emphasized his rejection of any Hebron (among other governorates) tribal or family reconciliation of this as part of the procedures taken to issue, or compliance with the Israeli face the outbreak of Corona Virus. judiciary in the event of a complaint Allaham followed the video clip of against him, according to what Abu Al-Ja’bari, with another old video Khader Al-Ja’bari threatened. clips of him, in which he appears Threats against Allaham were limited in meetings with Israeli officers to posts through the social media, and settlers. Allaham commented but he did not receive any direct on these images that Al-Ja’bari is threats through the cell phone, or expressly declaring that there is his personal accounts on the social relationship (with the Israelis). Upon media or face to face. the end of the episode, threats Allaham intends to submit an official against Allaham were flooded and written complaint to the Public through social media by members Prosecution soon, attached with a of Al-Ja’bari family, but the most complete file of the threats issued serious of these threats appeared against him. in a gathering of the Ja’bari family held in front of the family’s Diwan (18th Dec.) The occupation soldiers the next day (December 11), after have assaulted the photojournalist a clash between gunmen and the Mohammad Mahmoud Inaya while Palestinian security services in covering the clashes taking place in Hebron took place. The participants Kufr Qadoum, eastern Qalqilya. in the meeting chanted against the According to MADA researcher, journalist Allaham, and threatened the cameraman of Palestine TV, him, accusing him of seeking to stir Mohammad Mahmoud Hassan Inaya up sedition, and promised to sue (28 years old), who was wearing his MAAN TV before Israeli courts. press uniform, has arrived at around Allaham denies that he has insulted or 11:20PM, on Friday, 18th Dec. 2020, cursed anyone in the press material to Kufr Qadoum Village, to cover the that he broadcasted during his show, weekly march against settlement and that he left it to the viewers to that has been taking place every interpret what he had presented, Friday in the village for years. After and that he was surprised by the the families marched about 500 intensity of the reaction represented meters away from the center of the in shooting and public threat of village towards its entrance closed killing, kidnapping and insulting for the benefit of the settlers, clashes his family, which prompted him to erupted with the occupation soldiers transfer those threats (whether the hiding among the olive trees, while videos or posts on social media) to the cameraman Inaya and a number the Public Prosecution Office to be of his fellow journalists began to legally pursued. Allaham expressed document what was happening, his readiness to be held accountable standing next to “Al-Ma’sarah” for his press material and its building about 100 meters away from compliance with the conditions the soldiers and a few meters from
132 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine the demonstrators, the occupation calling him. He approached him and soldiers started firing metal bullets, when he arrived the policeman, the gas and sound bombs randomly. In later told him that the officer wants those moments (around 12:30PM), him for a while. He walked with him the demonstrators retreated for 200 meters in the street, and towards the center of the village, when they arrived the officer, he was and the soldiers approached the told that he will be transported to demonstrators, and the journalists the police center for “violating the at that time dispersed in different curfew”. The officer did not accept places due to the open nature of Qindeel’s clarification that he was the area. During that, the soldiers filming near his house and he was launched a drone to fire gas bombs, planning to get back home upon and the demonstrators were able to completing taking some images. He drop it in front of the journalists who told the officer that even if he went documented the event. Immediately, to the center, he would be released the soldiers stormed the village from immediately and would return several directions, and while the home, but the officer threatened journalists were retreating, Palestine him, saying, “If you indeed go home, TV cameraman was a little late while I will quit and tell them to take care he was documenting what was of you”. He asked him to get in the happening, and he was surprised police jeep to be transported to Tal while retreating that a number of Al-Sultan Police Center. There, the soldiers surrounded him and tried director of the center seized the to seize his camera but he resisted cell phone and camera from the which resulted in one of the soldiers journalist Qindeel upon his arrival, knocking his face trying to grab the and refused to allow him to contact camera. However, he managed to the Ministry of Interior’s media or his hold it tight and ran away towards family to inform them of the place of the village’s houses. his detention. They took him into a (11th Dec.) In Rafah, Gaza Strip, the cell of 1x1.5 meters, that had a small police arrested the photojournalist, window in the door (10 x 10 cm), and Mohammad Omar Qindeel, while he it smelled so bad. He could not sit was filming an empty street next to in it, and he remained standing on his house, on the pretext of violating his feet near the small window, as the curfew imposed as part of anti- he demanded the police officers to Corona measures. release him, but they informed him that the matter was in the hands According to MADA researcher, the of the director of the center. After photojournalist of Masdar News about 7 hours of detention (at Network, Mohammad Omar Qindeel 9:00PM on the same day), he was (32 years old), from Tal Al-Sultan, handed his camera and cell phone, western Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, and he signed a pledge not to go left his house on Friday, 11th Dec. out and film anything in the curfew, 2020, at around 1:30PM, holding a otherwise he would be subject to photography camera, headed to a arrest and pay a financial fine. He left street near his house. He started on foot to his home, which is about taking photos of the empty street, one kilometer and a half from the and some of the cats on the road. He police center. soon heard a policeman in the area
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 133 (18th Dec.) The Israeli occupation on the following day (Monday, 21st soldiers detained Palestine TV staff Dec. 2020). He was detained from and searched their car while they 10:00AM until 5:00PM provided he were on the way returning from shall come back again on Tuesday covering the anti-settlement march. (22nd Dec. 2020) when he was According to MADA researcher, the detained by the Internal Security occupation soldiers stationed at a Service until Thursday (24th Dec. military checkpoint at the entrance 2020). Meanwhile, according to the to the village of Beit Furik, east of journalist Allouh, he was summoned Nablus, at 1:00PM, on Friday 18th and questioned on the background Dec. 2020, stopped Palestine TV of his dispute with the Popular Front staff, consisting of the reporter Baker for the Liberation of Palestine and Mamdouh Mohammad Abdel Haq Sawt Al-Shaab Radio, from which (31 years old), the cameraman Samer he was dismissed and in connection Habash (65 years) upon their return to the account of another citizen from covering the anti-settlement called Shady Al-Masry. According to march that was organized in the Allouh, who explained that he was neighboring village of Beit Dajan held in a small room with two offices, that day (after the march ended). and he was sleeping on the ground They forced them to get out of the without being assaulted, he was car and tried to crucify them with questioned during the hours of his their heads towards the wall, but presence in the room, which made they refused, so the soldiers took him experience a poor psychological their cards and ordered them to sit state, and he added that during the on the ground. They searched their five days of summoning, they used car, which carried the logo of the to provide him with food, but not press, in addition to the fact that the regularly. Three meals were served journalists Abdul Haq and Habash to him during the 5 days, and he was told the soldiers from the first feeling tired during the time he was moment that they were journalists. arrested. His summons did not stop, After about half an hour of search as he was asked to come back to the and detention, they were released internal security again on Sunday and allowed to leave. 27th Dec. 2020. (19th Dec.) The Internal Security (18th Dec.) An Israeli settler fired Service in Deir Al-Balah, central with a pistol at demonstrators, who Gaza Strip summoned the journalist were accompanied by a number of Mahmoud Allouh. journalists, during a peaceful march against settlement, in the villages According to MADA researcher, the of Kafr Malik and Al-Mughayer in journalist Mahmoud Allouh, who Ramallah Governorate. previously worked at Al-Shaab Radio, received a phone call on 19th Dec. According to MADA researcher, a 2020 asking him to go to the Internal peaceful march headed on Friday Security headquarters. Accordingly, 18th Dec. to Ein Al-Teen area, in on Sunday, 20th Dec. 2020, he went Al-Mughayer Village, Ramallah, to to the headquarters and waited protest against the establishment of from 10:00AM until 6:00PM, then an outpost in that area. The march he was asked to come back later was also witnessed by a number of journalists to cover the event.
134 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine When the march and journalists including the soldiers’ attempts to approached the site, one of the forcibly evict the residents of the settlers started firing from a pistol house. Citizens came to the area randomly, from a close distance, and set fire to the rubber tires, towards the demonstrators and and tried to prevent the digging journalists, threatening their lives. machinery from approaching the But this did not result in any injury. house. The Israeli soldiers began Four journalists were covering the firing sound and tear gas bombs march, namely: (Kamel Abu Shaqra towards the citizens and the press – Anatolia Agency, Hamza Mahmoud staff that arrived to cover what was Shalash (30 years old) – WAFA happening, which resulted in the Agency, Imad Mohammad Isaid (52 injury of many citizens, in addition years old)- Associated Press Agency, to the journalists Mamoun Wazwaz, and Jihad Ibrahim Barakat (31 years Reuters Cameraman, journalist Raed old) – Al-Arabi Al-Jaded Newspaper Al-Shareef, Al-Ghad Al-Arabi TV reporter). The Israeli soldiers quickly reporter, journalist Musab Shawer, intervened and started firing bullets Al-Hadath Newspaper reporter, in the air, forcing the demonstrators and journalist Sari Jaradat, with (about 50 people) and the journalists suffocation. They were treated in to leave the site, and returning the the field as reinforcements from the 6 settlers to the settlement outpost occupation forces arrived in the area, they had established there, which is they began to move the citizens a tent and barracks. away by force and push them with (29th Dec.) The journalist Sari rifles. They prevented journalists Jaradat was injured by a rubber- from approaching and forced them coated metal bullet while covering to retreat back, while the machines the demolition of a house, which began to demolish the house. The included clashes with citizens in presence of the forces continued Yatta. in the area until 12:00 midday, and before they left the site, clashes took According to MADA researcher, place between angry young men and at around 9:00AM, on Tuesday the army forces that fired a barrage corresponding 29th Dec. 2020, of tear gas bombs with a cannon the reporter and photojournalist installed above one of the military of Al-Mayadeen TV, Sari Shareef jeeps, towards the stone throwers, Abdelghaffar Jaradat (34 years citizens and press staff randomly. old), arrived Al-Khalideya area, Meanwhile, several rubber-coated eastern Yatta, southern Hebron, metal bullets were fired at the where the Israeli Border Police stone throwers, and the journalist, forces were present with vehicles Sari Jaradat, who was away clearly belonging to the Israeli Construction from the army, was fired, wounding and Organization Department in him with a rubber bullet in the left the “Israeli Civil Administration”, shoulder, at a distance of about 80 a bulldozer and a digger. They meters away from the location of the arrived at the site in preparation soldiers. The journalist was forced to for the demolition of the house of leave the site, and he was transferred Khalil Rabei, under the pretext of to Hebron Governmental Hospital unauthorized construction. Jaradat by a private car, where appropriate began filming what was happening
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 135 treatments were provided to him. event to take some pictures during (29th Dec.) The occupation forces the dismantling and demolition of detained Palestine TV cameraman the housing units for the residents of Omar Abu Awad, and prevented Al-Kharabsheh cluster. him from covering the demolition (29th Dec.) The Israeli occupation of residences near Jericho forces arrested the journalist Yousef and prevented WAFA Agency Fawadleh (30 years old) from his cameraman from coverage. house in Aboud Town, northwest According to MADA researcher, Ramallah. Palestine TV staff in Jericho and According to MADA researcher, WAFA Agency staff arrived Al- the occupation soldiers, at around Kharabsheh gathering area northern 3:00AM, on 29th Dec., sieged the Jericho, at around 11:00AM, on 29th house of journalist Yousef Fawadleh Dec., after they learned that the in Aboud, and tried to raid his house occupation forces have raided the without making any noise. However, area with a bulldozer. They saw a when one of the family members great number of soldiers and one of woke up and the journalist’s father them asked the journalists to stay went to the front door and opened 100 meters away, they responded it for the soldiers, they outraged and retreated to the back. However, and broke the door screaming. one of the soldiers seized the camera Immediately after storming the of Palestine TV and pushed the house, the soldiers began asking cameraman Omar Abu Awad (34 the 6 family members about their years old) to the back. About seven names and cell phones that they soldiers gathered around Abu Awad had seized for a period of time, and to assault him but a group of people then an army officer who was not came and prevented them from present at the house called Yousef’s doing so. The soldiers threatened to cell phone and told him that they fire gas bombs on everyone asking would be arrested and after he was them to stay away. They detained informed of the decision to arrest the journalist Abu Awad, and seized him, Yousef put on his warm clothes his press and personal identity that the occupation soldiers tried cards. Meanwhile, a group of soldiers to prevent him from wearing, and was dismantling three tents for the he bade farewell to the members residents, and after it finished, the of his family, and the soldiers took soldiers returned the card to the him on foot from the house to the journalist Abu Awad, and released settlement of Beit Aryeh, adjacent him, after being detained for about to the town, knowing that the house an hour without being assault. The of Fawadleh family is located on occupation forces also prevented the the edge of the town, close to the cameraman of the Palestinian News settlement. The Israeli occupation Agency “WAFA” Sulaiman Mahmoud soldiers stayed in the journalist’s Sulaiman Abu Srour (38 years old) house for about a third of an hour, from filming what is happening and and upon leaving they seized threatened him with arrest if he Yousef’s cell phone only. Yousef did not move away from the place, Fawadleh has been working in the which forced him to move about 500 Media Unit in Ramallah Municipality meters away from the place of the for more than 5 years. Before that, he
136 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine worked as a journalist with Al-Hadaf to the journalist and presenter of magazine and MAS Center, and he the programs at Sawt Al-Hurriyah is a journalism and media graduate Radio in Hebron, Mahmoud from Birzeit University. Othman Mohammad Iknaibi, His family learned later that the 50 years old, claiming that he occupation forces have transported violates the content standards Fawadleh to Moscobiya Camp and for posting. The notification he underwent a court session on 31st was about a news issued by the Dec. at Ofer Camp. Palestinian Ministry of Health, “that warm water with lemon is (29th Dec.) The Preventive Security useful for treating Covid 19 virus.” Organization in Nablus summoned On 2nd Dec., Facebook banned Anas Mujir Ibrahim Hawari (24 years the aforementioned journalist old), a graduate of the Electronic from doing any activity on his and Written Press Department at own page, posting, sending An-Najah University, and works as a messages and commenting on freelance journalist in addition to his posts and live broadcasts, for work for “Tayqan” website. a period of 30 days from the According to MADA researcher, date of receiving the notification one of the Preventive Security for violating Facebook content officers contacted Hawari family criteria, noting that the journalist by phone, and informed them that Iknaibi runs a Facebook page on the next day (30th Dec.), Anas that is followed by more than must go to the Preventive Security 41,000, which is a social and headquarters in Nablus, noting that news page. Anas during that period was outside 2. On 10th Dec. the journalist the West Bank, and no one from the and reporter of “Al-Hadath” Preventive Security contacted the Newspaper in Hebron, Musab journalist Anas directly. As a result, Abdul Samad “Mohammad Anas contacted the Journalists Hamed” Shawer Al-Tamimi, 29 Syndicate and told them what had years old, received a message happened, and after the Syndicate from Facebook on banning contacted the Preventive Security him from live broadcasting, Organization, he was informed that commenting and posting on his summoning was not linked to the page for a period of 90 his press work, and by virtue of his days, claiming that the journalist presence outside the West Bank, Musab had previously posted Anas Hawari did not go to meet the content that does not comply Preventive Security based on this with Facebook standards, summons. and “violates our standards (December) – Facebook Company regarding dangerous persons closed the below three accounts and organizations”. His post was belonging to Palestinian journalists “Palestine … its sky is filled with from the West Bank claiming they the great scent of the blood of violate the criteria of posting on martyrs and the wounded …. May Facebook: Allah have mercy on the martyrs 1. On 1st Dec. 2020, the Facebook of Gaza … and all martyrs of administration sent a notification Palestine. Hamas leader Sami
2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine 137 Abu Zuhri says: Gaza will only be 5. Closing the account of the a hell for the occupation”. freelance journalist Mahmoud 3. On 15th Dec. 2020, Facebook Omar Allouh and his news suspended the page of the page, after posting news about freelance journalist, Amer Abdel the activities of the Palestinian Halim Abu Arafa, 35 years old, factions, knowing that he is for allegedly having a post on his followed by 5,000. page that violates the standards 6. Blocking the account of the of posting, including banning freelance journalist Saba Al- him from live broadcasts, Jaafrawi for three days, after she messageing, commenting, and posted about the implications of posting. The ban was based on a the Israeli bombing that targeted picture posted several years ago sites in Gaza Strip, noting that of the founder of Hamas (Ahmed her page is followed by more Yassin), noting that the account than 3,000. of the journalist Abu Arafa is 7. Blocking the account of the verified with a blue mark. journalist in “Nawa” news network, According to MADA researcher Sherine Khalifa, and banning her in Gaza, the banning, closure and from live broadcasting for three restriction of accounts affected months, against the background the below journalists and media of old posts, including the call professionals: for recovery to Abdullah Shalah, 1. Closing the account of the and posting the statements by editor-in-chief of “Gaza Post” the resistance factions inside news website, Asaad Kamel Al- and outside Gaza, knowing that Beiruti, noting that it has about about 6 thousand people follow 3,000 followers. It was closed her page. after posting photos of a number 8. Blocking and then closing the of martyrs. account of the journalist at Fatah 2. Restricting the account of Al- (Dahlan) Media Commission, Aqsa radio broadcaster Samira Sahar Dahlis, due to old posts, Nassar “Al-Daya” for a month, including the biographies of a under the pretext of “not adhering number of martyrs. to Facebook’s standards.” 3. Restricting the account of journalist Mahmoud Imad Al- Hadidi at “24 Platform” for a period of 90 days, under the pretext of “violating the standards of Facebook community,” knowing that he is followed by about 5,000. 4. Restricting the account of “Al- Quds Al-Youm” TV reporter, journalist Rami Salim Abu Taima, was restricted for 3 days, knowing that he had 5,000 followers.
138 2020 Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine