Israeli forces killed nine journalists, three photographers, a writer, and an actress in the Gaza Strip, and injured eight others. Additional violations targeted 55 professionals in the media and cultural sectors across the West Bank, the 1948 Territories, and Gaza. In Syria, a journalist was killed in the Homs countryside, while five others received death threats in Sweida. Meanwhile, Israeli troops detained five journalists near Quneitra for questioning. In Lebanon, violations included physical assaults, summonses, raids, interrogations, and censorship attempts, with censorship emerging as the most widespread form of repression in Jordan, often accompanied by arrests and media license revocations.

Below is a detailed summary of the violations monitored by the Samir Kassir Foundation’s SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom in Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Jordan.

In Lebanon, Asharq News editor-in-chief Nancy Al-Lakkis was the target of two consecutive attacks on her home and car (05/03 and 05/04). In Saida, municipal police officers assaulted photographer Ali Hanqir and destroyed his equipment (05/21). LBCI reporter Nada Andraos was injured by a stray bullet while covering the municipal elections in Tripoli (05/11), and Israeli forces opened fire on Middle East Images photographer Courtney Bono in Houla (05/15).

General Security officers raided the home of writer and journalist Wissam Saadé, confiscating his computer, phone, and passport; he was summoned for questioning the next day (05/30). The Anti-Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Rights Bureau also summoned Daraj CEO Alia Ibrahim, editor-in-chief Hazem Al-Amin, managing editor Diana Moukalled, and head of investigative reporting Hala Nasrallah, following a complaint by banker Antoun Sehnaoui over a published report (05/29).

Several lawyers, along with Dar Al-Fatwa, filed lawsuits against LBCI and comedian Tarek Tamim, accusing them of “inciting sectarian strife” through a satirical program (05/12 and 05/13). Separately, journalist Joe Maalouf filed a complaint against Al-Akhbar newspaper over articles deemed offensive to Gulf countries (05/15).

In another case, a court ruling suspended for three months a television series about the late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, which had been scheduled to air on MTV starting June 1 (05/30). Meanwhile, cable providers in Beirut’s southern suburbs blocked Al-Jadeed TV in protest of a report addressing the mausoleum of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah (05/10).

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli military operations claimed the lives of dozens of Palestinian civilians, including nine journalists, three photographers, a writer, an actress, and several of their family members.

Israeli airstrikes killed freelance journalists Nour Al-Din Abdo and Yehya Sbeih (05/07), Hassan Islih (05/13), Abdul-Rahman Al-Abadleh (05/17), and Ahmad Al-Zainati along with his wife and child (05/18). The same day, Nour Qandil, her husband, freelance photographer Khaled Abu Seif, and their daughter were also killed (05/18). Additional casualties included Sawt Al-Aqsa radio journalist Hassan Sammour and several of his family members (05/15); Barq news agency director Hassan Abu Warda, along with his mother and brother (05/25); journalist Hashem Al-Bursh (05/30); freelance photographers Rizq Al-Madhoun (05/02) and Nidal Abu Amsha (05/10); and actress Ibtisam Nassar, who was killed along with 14 of her relatives (05/20). Writer and historian Zakaria Al-Sinwar succumbed to injuries sustained during the bombardment (05/22).

Israeli strikes also injured BBC journalist Amro Tabash (05/13); Al-Ghad TV correspondent Mahmoud Alloh (05/29); freelance journalists Hussein Abu Khreis (05/13) and Osama Al-Ashi (05/25); Quds News Network photographer Mohammad Al-Amour (05/13); Al Jazeera Mubasher cameraman Mohammad Al-Khatib (05/17); and freelance photographers Abdul-Rauf Shaath (05/13) and Yousef Al-Za’noun (05/30). Journalist Yousef Faris, a contributor to Al-Akhbar, Al-Manar, and Al Jazeera Mubasher, survived an airstrike on his home and escaped unharmed with his family (05/15).

Meanwhile, Israeli sources issued death threats by phone to Safinaz Alloh, a reporter for Aseel and Al-Kawthar TV channels in Gaza (05/20), while freelance journalist Huda Baroud was the target of an online smear campaign (05/13). Under joint Israeli and U.S. pressure, Nilesat satellite operators suspended broadcasts of Al-Aqsa TV (05/13).

In the West Bank, Israeli forces targeted numerous journalists with live ammunition, tear gas, and stun grenades. Among those affected were Al-Fajr TV correspondent Ru’a Duraidi (05/02); Roya TV reporter Hafez Abu Sabra and his cameraman Mahmoud Fawzi; Al-Fajr Radio correspondent Walaa Ftayyer; Palestine TV videographer Abdullah Abu Sabra; Al-Ghad TV photographer Shadi Jararaa (05/04); freelance journalists Mohammad Al-Sayeh and Sidqi Ryan (05/04), Ahmad Samara (05/25), Dina Jaradat, Mohammad Atiq, and Yara Mansour (05/27); Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Obaid Tahayna; and Al-Fajr TV reporter Ahmad Shawish (05/27). Many sustained injuries or suffered from acute suffocation due to gas inhalation.

Israeli troops also beat freelance journalist Mahmoud Asaad during his arrest (05/10), Anadolu Agency reporter Hisham Abu Shaqra, and Viory Video reporter Abdul-Rahman Younes (05/29). Several journalists were prevented from covering events, including freelance photographer Ahmad Al-Khatib (05/20); freelance journalists Mohammad Turkman (05/20), Louay Issaeed, and Mohammad Al-Sayeh (05/22); Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammad Al-Atrash (05/22); and Al-Ghad correspondent Khaled Bdeir with his cameraman Shadi Jararaa (05/25).

Israeli forces also detained multiple journalists: Quds News Network reporter Hamza Hamdan and freelance photographer Fadi Yassin (05/02); Al-Ghad TV correspondent Diya Houshiya and cameraman Mundher Al-Khatib (05/05); Quds News Network photographer Moatasem Saqf Al-Hit; Irsaal Network reporter Karim Khmaisah; freelance journalists Mohammad Turkman, Mohammad Hamdan, Mohammad Awad (05/06), Haneen Qawareeq (05/07), and Mahmoud Yasser Asaadm, who was also beaten (05/10). Louay Issaeed was arrested, interrogated, and assaulted (05/15). Additionally, Al-Kofiya TV reporter Zaid Abu Ara and freelance journalist Moath Ghannam narrowly escaped being run over by an Israeli military vehicle (05/15).

Quds News Network reporter Raghad Abu Safieh suffered a hand injury after being caught between an Israeli police vehicle and an armored personnel carrier. An officer then deleted the photos from her phone (05/05). Settlers assaulted freelance photographer Issam Rimawi (05/27), and detained Irsaal Network reporter Karim Khmaisah, along with freelance journalists Mohammad Hamdan and Ahmad Al-Khatib (05/03). Meanwhile, the Salem military court sentenced Al-Quds newspaper correspondent Ali Al-Samoudi to six months of administrative detention (05/08).

On the other hand, the Palestinian authorities summoned freelance photographer Mujahid Tabanjeh for questioning after threatening him with arrest (05/06). They also attempted to prevent investigative journalist Wafaa Hassan Khsib (known as Wafaa Al-Arouri) from traveling to Jordan (05/11). Although she was eventually allowed to leave, she was handed a summons for questioning upon her return.

In the 1948 Territories, Israeli police arrested freelance journalist Rose Al-Zaro and Al-Quds newspaper correspondent Ahmad Jalal (05/02), as well as freelance journalist Tharwat Shaqra in Jerusalem (05/26); all were questioned and later released. Meanwhile, settlers assaulted Al-Ghad TV correspondent Razi Tatur, his cameraman Iyad Abu Shalbak, and freelance photographers Firas Hindawi and Ghassan Abu Eid while they were covering a settler march in Jerusalem (05/26). In a separate incident, unknown assailants hurled an explosive device at the home of journalist Fayez Shtiwi, owner of the Kul Al-Arab newspaper and website, in Galilee (05/24).

The Israeli Knesset also extended for another six months its ban on foreign media outlets deemed “a threat to state security” (05/21). In a separate legal development, the Haifa District Court released Radio Al-Nas journalist Saeed Hassanein and placed him under house arrest (05/13).

In Syria, unknown assailants shot and killed journalist and former broadcaster Mohammad Ismail outside his home in the village of Al-Zaafaran in the western Homs countryside (05/04). In Sweida, armed men threatened to kill journalists Moawiya Al-Atrash, Mohammad Haroun, Ibrahim Trissi, Ammar Istifi, and Amer Al-Asi, and stole their equipment as they made their way to the governorate building to cover the signing of an agreement between Druze community leaders and the Syrian government (05/04).

Meanwhile, Israeli forces detained BBC Arabic correspondent Feras Kilani and his six-member crew near Quneitra, seizing their phones and equipment. The journalists were blindfolded, interrogated, and released after roughly seven hours (05/09).

In Jordan, security forces arrested writer and political analyst Ahmad Abu Ghneimah over social media posts; he was released four days later, with his case referred to the judiciary (05/07). The Media Commission blocked 12 news websites, accusing them of “spreading toxic content, insulting national figures, and damaging Jordan’s reputation” (05/14). It also revoked the license of Amman Net, citing a “serious ownership violation” because its owner does not hold Jordanian citizenship. The ban was lifted three days later after the outlet pledged to address the issue and comply with regulations (05/19).