Thursday , 23 October 2025
In September 2025, Israeli airstrikes on Gaza killed two journalists, five photographers, and one artist, and injured eight others. Meanwhile, in the West Bank and Jerusalem, 25 media professionals were subjected to various violations and attacks. In Lebanon, an Israeli drone strike targeted a journalist amid a continued wave of judicial summonses, while Syria witnessed a surge in arrests and Jordan faced ongoing campaigns of incitement and defamation.
Below is a detailed summary of the violations monitored by the Samir Kassir Foundation’s SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom across the four countries: Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Jordan.
In Lebanon, an Israeli drone targeted Legal Agenda journalist Hussein Shaaban and his assistant with a bomb that exploded just meters away from them in the border village of Zalloutieh (09/16). In a separate incident, MTV news director Walid Abboud received threats of kidnapping, torture, and murder through flyers scattered around his home in Keserwan (09/07).
The Anti-Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Rights Bureau summoned Hayat Mirshad, editor-in-chief of the platform Sharika Wa Laken, and journalist Joelle Abdul-Aal following a complaint filed by artist Fares Karam over an investigative report. Abdul-Aal appeared for questioning and chose to remain silent, while her lawyer requested that the case be referred to the Publications Court (09/22). Also, the Jebjennin police station summoned LBCI’s Bekaa correspondent Mohammad Ali Ahmad, who refused to comply (09/22).
In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military continued its attacks on civilians, including journalists, photographers, artists, and their families. Several media professionals were killed: Safa News Agency journalist Mohammad Al-Kuweifi (09/15); Palestinian Media Center journalist Mohammad Al-Dayya (09/27); Manara Media photographer Rasmi Salem (09/02); Siraj Media Network photographer Osama Balousha, along with his parents and three siblings (09/07); Al-Quds Al-Youm TV cameraman Mohammad Al-Sawalhi (09/17); Rawafed Educational TV videographer Sami Daoud, whose wife and children were also injured (09/24); freelance photographer Yehya Barzaq (09/30); and artist Hamza Abu Aita, who was killed along with several family members (09/03).
The airstrikes also injured freelance photographers Bilal Al-Nabih (09/04) and Ahmad Ibrahim (09/13); Al Jazeera cameraman Hammam Al-Zeitounia (09/22); Al-Risala newspaper journalist Rola Abu Hashem (09/08); Aseel correspondent Safinaz Al-Loh of the Iranian channel (09/11); freelance journalist Ansam Al-Qattaa and members of her family (09/13); Arriyadiyah Online editor-in-chief Ahed Farwana (09/14); and Al-Quds Al-Youm TV journalist Bilal Al-Sawalhi (09/17). Freelance journalist Adeeb Khalaf narrowly escaped injury when a concrete block fell nearby while he was filming airstrikes. The block struck and destroyed his phone after it slipped from his hand (09/05).
In the West Bank, Israeli forces fired tear gas at Al-Alam TV correspondent Raya Jamil Arouq and cameraman Mohammad Abdul-Khaleq (09/13). They arrested freelance journalist Mohammad Muna at his home (09/26), and detained Sipa Press photographer Nasser Shtayeh and freelance journalist Jamal Rayan, questioning them and deleting footage from their cameras (09/12). Freelance journalist Yasser Thalji was held for five hours (09/25), while Sanad News Agency journalist Nawwaf Al-Amer and Awda TV correspondent Anas Hoshieh were detained for several hours (09/26).
Israeli forces also obstructed the work of Reuters photographer Ma’moun Ismail Wazzouz, Al-Hadath newspaper journalist Misaab Abdul-Samad Shawer, and freelance journalists Taha Daoud Abu Hussein, Amer Shaloudi (09/21), and Abdullah Tayseer Bahesh (09/28). They prevented freelance journalist Sari Jarad; Wafa News Agency correspondent Hamza Al-Hattab; photographer Ma’moun Wazouz; correspondent Misaab Shawer (09/13); and freelance photographers Moatasem Saqf Al-Heit, Wahaj Bani Mufleh, and Kareem Khameiseh (09/24) from filming military operations across the West Bank. In another incident, an Israeli soldier deleted photos and videos from the phones and cameras of freelance journalist Mohammad Turkman and freelance photographer Moatasem Saqf Al-Heit (09/16).
Meanwhile, Palestinian Intelligence forces arrested freelance journalist Misaab Qafisheh after storming his home in Hebron (09/10).
In the 1948 Territories, Israeli police officers arrested Al-Jarmaq news agency correspondent Aram Kiwan, releasing him the following day (09/12). They also arrested freelance journalist Mohammad Sadeq, questioned him, and issued an order barring him from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque for one week (09/11); a ban later extended to four months. Police forces raided the Al-Bawaba bookstore, confiscated several English-language books, and detained its owner on charges of “incitement” (09/03). Meanwhile, dozens of settlers obstructed the work of Al-Araby TV correspondent Ahmad Darawsheh and photographer Ali Diwani in Jerusalem (09/08).
In Syria, authorities detained journalist and human rights activist Amer Mattar, founder and director of the Syria Prisons Museum (SPM), on accusations of “illegally obtaining official security documents.” He was released on bail the same day (09/24). Meanwhile, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) arrested Syrian photojournalist Hassan Ali Al-Kitab in Raqqa and transferred him to an undisclosed location without filing any charges (09/30).
In Jordan, the Public Prosecutor banned media coverage of the assault on journalist Fares Al-Habashneh, one day after a former Agriculture Ministry official, suspected of orchestrating the attack, was detained (09/09). The Jordanian Press Association imposed new fees on online news outlets, prompting publishers to threaten escalation unless the decision was revoked (09/28).
Meanwhile, artist Yazan Al-Noubani faced a wave of criticism and defamation from members of the Artists’ Syndicate after Jordan TV announced a Ramadan drama featuring him, with a production budget of 450,000 dinars. Critics claimed he was “a content creator, not an artist, and not a member of the syndicate” (09/24).