Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip killed a poet, a painter, two photographers, and five journalists, and injured ten others. At the same time, Israeli authorities targeted 38 media professionals in the West Bank and inside Israel (the 1948 Territories). In Lebanon, summonses, detentions, and arrests persisted – violations that were echoed in Jordan and Syria.

The following report summarizes the abuses documented by the Samir Kassir Foundation’s SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom across the four countries.

In Lebanon, the army detained Manateq Net correspondent Mahdi Krayyem and environmental activist Dr. Hassib Awdeh at an illegal construction site near Shawaqir, adjacent to the Tyre Nature Reserve (04/27). They were later released, and soldiers refrained from deleting the photographs they had taken. Separately, Daraj editor-in-chief Hazem Al-Amin, CEO Alia Ibrahim, and managing editor Diana Moukalled, together with Megaphone co-founder Jean Kassir and editor-in-chief Samer Frangieh, were summoned to appear before the Beirut Public Prosecutor (04/10) on allegations that their reporting contributed to Lebanon’s economic collapse. The five declined to comply and asked that the case be transferred to the Publications Court (04/15).

Moreover, General Security banned Disney’s new adaptation of Snow White because it features Israeli actress Gal Gadot (04/11). The Middle East Broadcasting Network (MBN), operator of Alhurra TV and its news website, announced staff cuts in several countries and dismissed 13 employees from its Beirut bureau alone (04/12). In addition, Meta temporarily suspended Megaphone’s Instagram account after coordinated mass-reporting prompted the removal of multiple posts; the account was reinstated the following day (04/30).

Throughout April 2025, the Israeli army continued its deadly assaults on civilians in the Gaza Strip, claiming the lives of journalists, photographers, artists, and members of their families.

Journalists killed included Al-Aqsa Radio journalist Mohammad Al-Bardawil, together with his wife and their three children (04/01); freelance journalist Islam Maqdad and her child (04/06); Palestine Today’s head of social media, Hilmi Al-Faqaawi (04/07) and his colleague, journalist Ahmad Mansour (04/08); and Al-Aqsa Radio journalist Saeed Abu Hassanein, who died with his wife and daughter (04/23).

Freelance photographers Youssef Hassouna (04/03) and Fatima Hassouna (04/16) were also killed, as were illustrator Dina Khaled Zurub (04/13) and poet and writer Mohammad Tamer Ansiu Moqdad (04/18).

Several journalists and media workers were injured during the same period, among them freelance journalist Hassan Esleih, Algerian Radio correspondent Majed Qudeih, BBC Arabic correspondent Ahmad Al-Agha, Anadolu Agency photographer Abdullah Al-Attar, Al Jazeera photographer Mahmoud Awad, ABC photographer Ehab Al-Burdaini, and Alam24 photographer Ali Esleih (04/07). Freelance photographers Mohammad Fayeq and Abdul-Raouf Shaath (04/07), as well as Salma Al-Qaddoumi (04/08), were likewise wounded.

Moreover, an Israeli drone fired on a group of journalists, including Al-Alam TV correspondent Basel Khair Al-Din, Al-Masirah TV reporter Doaa Rouqa, Al-Kufiya reporter Ahmad Harb, Al-Araby TV correspondent Islam Badr, and Al-Etejah reporter Mazen Al-Balbisi (04/21).

Separately, Hamas security forces barred Sawt Al-Hurriya radio correspondent Tawfiq Abu Jarad from covering a women-led protest calling for an end to the war (04/27).

In the West Bank, Israeli forces targeted numerous media professionals with live ammunition and tear-gas grenades. Victims included Roya TV correspondent Hafez Abu Sabra and photographer Mahmud Fawzi; Pal Post reporter Mujahid Tabnajeh; An-Najah satellite-channel cameraman Omeir Esteitieh; Xinhua photographer Nidal Ashtieh (04/09); freelance journalists Mohammad Samreem (04/02) and Mohammad Al-Sayeh (04/09); and Al-Alam correspondents Shadia Bani Shamseh (04/09) and Raya Oruk (04/20), together with photographers Suheib Abu Dyak (04/09) and Mohammad Abdul-Khalek (04/20).

Israeli forces also arrested freelance journalists Samer Khoueira (04/10), Ibrahim Abu Safieh (04/16), Ayat Ramadan, and Khaled Abu Aysheh—who was additionally beaten (04/02)—as well as Palestine TV correspondent Amina Blalo and photographer Tarek Abu Zeid (04/12), Al-Quds correspondent Ali Al-Sumudi (04/29), and freelance photographer Moath Amarneh (04/02). They further obstructed the work of several media professionals: Palestine TV correspondents Jihad Al-Qawasmi (04/08) and Mohammad Khatib (04/28) with photographers Alaa Al-Haddar (04/08) and Abdullah Abu Sabra (04/28); Roya correspondent Hafez Abu Sabra and photographer Mahmud Fawzi; Al-Ghad TV correspondent Shadi Jararaa and photographer Khaled Bdeir; and freelance journalists Abdullah Bahesh and Mohammad Al-Sayeh (04/28).

Separately, Palestinian intelligence services summoned and arrested Hayat Nablus journalist and radio host Adham Al-Kharoubi (04/27). A Nablus court later extended his detention for a month on charges of “inciting strife, defaming the authority, and insulting dignitaries.”

In the 1948 Territories, police continued their harassment of Palestinian journalists. They arrested Al-Asima Network correspondent Nadine Jaafar and barred her from Al-Aqsa Mosque until May 5 (04/11). Officers also served freelance journalist Firas Al-Dibs with a three-month ban from Al-Aqsa (04/06) and obstructed the work of Al-Jarmaq News Agency correspondent Karin Al-Bash and Roya TV reporter Ward Qaraqreh (04/10).

Separately, Haifa University canceled the staging of a play without offering any clear explanation (04/28). Prison authorities released freelance photographer Saeed Rukn on the condition that he not return to his hometown (04/03), while the Haifa District Court extended the detention of Radio Al-Nas journalist Saeed Hassanein for an additional eight days (04/28).

In Syria, security forces mistakenly detained reporter Akram Saleh and photographer Judy Haj Ali for more than ten hours while they covered events in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, in the Damascus countryside (04/30). Meanwhile, forces affiliated with the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration (Asayish) arrested Al Arabiya and Al Hadath correspondent Jomaa Akash in Qamishli over a social-media post (04/24).

The Syrian Ministry of Information has also ordered publishers to secure prior approval from its Media Evaluation Directorate before releasing any books (04/22). In a separate move, the Artists’ Syndicate revoked the membership of actress Sulaf Fawakherji, citing her continued support for ousted president Bashar Al-Assad and her refusal to condemn crimes committed by his regime (04/15).

In Jordan, the Media Commission banned all outlets from dealing with the now-dissolved Muslim Brotherhood, and security forces blocked journalists from entering or filming inside the Islamic Action Front’s headquarters. The Ministry of Interior likewise barred reporters and photographers, except those from the state-run Al-Mamlaka TV and Jordan Television, from attending a press conference by Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya (04/23). Additionally, the State Security Court prohibited publication of any documents, statements, records, or transcripts related to its trial proceedings (04/29).

Journalist Bilal Al-Ajarmi also endured a coordinated cyberattack that ridiculed his character, professionalism, and dialect after he delivered a lecture at a student seminar at Hashemite University; online critics labeled him “unworthy of speaking at a seminar” and claimed that “other journalists were more deserving” (04/30).