Violence against Palestinian journalists

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NGOs and human rights groups have alleged violence against Palestinian journalists for decades.[1][2][3][4] Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Palestinian Authority (PA), the IDF, and others have all been accused of utilizing violence against Palestinian journalists, which has resulted in Palestine being ranked 156th out of 180 countries in the 2023 Reporters Without Borders' Press Freedom Index.[1] Freedom House has stated that in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip, journalists are surveilled and threatened by both Palestinian and Israeli authorities.[5][6] In 2022, the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedom found 605 violations against media freedom, with 69% attributed to Israel.[7]

Violence from IDF[edit]

The IDF and Israeli settlers regularly uses violence against Palestinian journalists. A CPJ report in 2000 stated that there had been "dozens of violent attacks against Palestinian journalists by Israeli settlers or military forces in the occupied territories (throughout the 1990s)."[8] Human rights groups sent reports to the ICC for 4 journalists who had been killed or injured by the IDF between 2015 and 2019.[9] Reporter Without Borders has sent three complaints to the ICC regarding journalist killings by the IDF since 2018.[10][11] Media offices were bombed in Gaza in 2021 by the IDF, despite housing multiple press offices.[12] The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh by IDF forces received significant media attention in 2022.[13] A Palestinian media watchdog found 407 violations (~42% physical assaults) against Palestinian journalists by Israeli occupation in 2015.[14] The same watchdog found in their 2022 report, that 416 violations were committed by the Israeli occupation (~29% physical assaults).[7] In 2015, Israeli journalists decried the government closing of Arab news stations serving Palestinians and Arab Israelis.[14][15]

Use of Administrative Detention against Journalists[edit]

Israel has been claimed to charge Palestinian journalists with incitement for press coverage, usually through administrative detentions.[16] +972 Magazine reported in 2016 that Israeli security forces regularly arrest and use administrative detention against Palestinian journalists for incitement, but do not use administrative detentions against Israeli journalists publishing similarly incendiary materials.[14] In 2016, Palestinian Prisoner Society was quoted as saying that 25 Palestinian journalists were imprisoned, with 7 under administrative detention.[17]

Journalist Muhammad al-Qiq received international attention for protesting his administrative detention in 2016 with a 94-day hunger strike.[18] He was subsequently administratively detained again in 2017 and protested with a 32-day hunger strike.[19]

2023 War in Gaza[edit]

See also: Killing of journalists in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war and List of journalists killed in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war

During the 2023 war in Gaza, the IDF has been criticized for its significant killing of journalists in Gaza.[20] The CPJ, in the context of the Gaza war, placed Israel on a list of "worst jailers of journalists".[21]

Violence from Palestinian Authority[edit]

Though the Israeli occupation remains the greatest source of violence against Palestinian journalists, Palestinian journalists are also reliant on the PA for financial and political support, which can lead to violence and suppression.[3] The PA received criticism in 2000 for allegedly attempting to censor footage of the Ramallah lynchings.[8] Anecdotes of arrest and interventions (tadakhkhulat) by the PA for unfavorable coverage are common, such as threats, detainments, destruction of equipment or worse.[3] One commentator, Hani al-Masri, states that after the occupation, the second threat against Palestinian journalism is the "split inside the Palestinians [between Fatah and Hamas]", followed by lack of resources and infrastructure.[3] One Palestinian media scholar, Juman Quneis, states that “The laws are too weak to protect anyone, especially journalists. Any security group can go and arrest a journalist from their home without even a warrant, a notice, anything legal.”[3] Human Rights Watch has posted a report documenting several cases of attacks and physical abuse against journalists by the PA.[22] A qualitative study of journalists in the West Bank and Gaza suggests that due to the split, there is a fear of surveillance and censorship by both political parties in the occupied territories.[4]

In 2012, the PA detained journalist Yousef al-Shayeb after he wrote about corruption of the PA diplomatic mission to France.[3][23]

Violence from Hamas and Islamic Jihad[edit]

According to Reporters Without Borders, "Hamas and the Islamic Jihad harass and obstruct journalists suspected of collaborating with Israel".[1] Yasser Murtaja was killed by Israeli fire in 2015, but had previously also been attacked and beaten by Hamas in 2015 while filming.[24] Human Rights Watch has posted a report documenting several cases of attacks and physical abuse against journalists by authorities in Gaza.[22]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Palestine | RSF". rsf.org. 2023-12-26. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  2. ^ "Widespread Targeting of Journalists in Gaza Amid Israeli Attacks [EN/AR] - occupied Palestinian territory | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2023-11-27. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Berger, Miriam (Winter 2013), "Palestine's Occupied Fourth Estate: An inside look at the work lives of Palestinian print journalists" (PDF), Arab Media and Society, retrieved 2023-12-30
  4. ^ a b Hazboun, Ibrahim; Maoz, Ifat; Blondheim, Menahem (2019-01-02). "Palestinian media landscape: Experiences, narratives, and agendas of journalists under restrictions". The Communication Review. 22 (1): 1–25. doi:10.1080/10714421.2018.1557964. ISSN 1071-4421.
  5. ^ "West Bank: Freedom in the World 2023 Country Report". Freedom House. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  6. ^ "Gaza Strip: Freedom in the World 2023 Country Report". Freedom House. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  7. ^ a b Al-Khateeb, Shireen (2022). Bani Odeh, Ghazi (ed.). "Violations of Media Freedoms in Palestine" (PDF). MADA:The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms.
  8. ^ a b "Bloodied and Beleaguered". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  9. ^ Dispatch, Peoples (2022-04-29). "Media and legal groups file complaint at ICC over Israeli violence against journalists". Peoples Dispatch. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  10. ^ "RSF files complaint with ICC for war crimes against journalists in Palestine and Israel | RSF". rsf.org. 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  11. ^ Narea, Nicole (2023-12-08). "Israel's wartime assault on the free press". Vox. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  12. ^ "Media demand Israel explain destruction of news offices". AP News. 2021-05-16. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  13. ^ Tahhan, Zena Al. "Shireen Abu Akleh: Al Jazeera reporter killed by Israeli forces". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  14. ^ a b c Ratem, Noam (2016-04-22). "Israel's covert war against Palestinian media". +972 Magazine. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  15. ^ Matar, Haggai (2015-11-26). "Israeli journalists slam Netanyahu over closure of Arabic media outlets". +972 Magazine. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  16. ^ Abraham, Yuval (2022-04-05). "Israel Charges Palestinian Journalists With Incitement — for Doing Their Jobs". The Intercept. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  17. ^ "PPS: "25 Journalists Are Imprisoned By Israel, Seven Of Them Without Charges Or Trial"". IMEMC. 2016-09-01. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  18. ^ Konrad, Edo (2016-02-26). "Palestinian journalist reaches deal to end 94-day hunger strike". +972 Magazine. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  19. ^ AFP (10 March 2017). "Palestinian prisoner ends hunger strike as Israel agrees to his release". The Times of Israel.
  20. ^ Iqbal, Nosheen; Balousha, Hazem; Abrahams, Ruth; Yusuf, Courtney; Khaleeli, Homa (2023-12-04). "Why is the Israel-Hamas conflict so deadly for journalists? – podcast". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  21. ^ McGreal, Chris (2024-01-18). "Israel added to list of 'worst jailers of journalists' for first time". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  22. ^ a b "Palestine: Crackdown on Journalists, Activists | Human Rights Watch". 2016-08-29. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  23. ^ "PA detains journalist who wrote about diplomatic corruption". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2012-03-26. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
  24. ^ AFP and TOI Staff (11 April 2018). "Gazan journalist killed by Israel was beaten by Hamas — press group". The Times of Israel.
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