Palestinian Journalists Syndicate records 108 violations against media workers in July
Ramallah, Aug. 10 (SANA)The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said it documented 108 attacks and other violations against Palestinian journalists and media workers by Israeli occupation forces and settlers during July.
In its monthly report, the syndicate’s Freedoms Committee said the violations included detentions, interrogations, physical assaults, obstruction of media coverage, raids and attacks involving tear gas and stun grenades.
Brief detentions and restrictions on reporting accounted for 58 documented incidents, making them the most common violations during the month.
The committee also recorded 11 attacks by Israeli settlers against journalists and media crews in the West Bank. These reportedly involved physical assaults, threats and attempts to prevent journalists from covering events.
Israeli occupation forces used tear gas and stun grenades against journalists in 12 cases, the report said, causing some reporters to suffer breathing difficulties. Six beatings and four incidents in which journalists sustained bleeding injuries were also documented, including injuries from missile and artillery shrapnel in the Gaza Strip.
The committee reported the detention of two journalists and the interrogation of four others over their professional activities. Four raids on journalists’ homes and media organisations were also recorded, including the closure of one media outlet and the seizure of its contents.
Three cases involved the seizure or destruction of journalistic equipment, while footage was deleted in two other incidents. Two journalists were expelled from al-Aqsa Mosque and prohibited from entering its courtyards for specified periods, according to the report.
The syndicate said the figures demonstrated the range of dangers facing Palestinian journalists and called for their protection, respect for press freedom and accountability for attacks on media workers.