In March 2025, violence surged after the collapse of the Gaza cease‑fire agreement. Three journalists, four photographers, and one artist were killed as the Israeli military resumed strikes on civilian areas, and Israeli forces targeted 35 journalists and photographers in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the 1948 Territories. In Syria, the defected Syrian ambassador and renowned poet Noureddine Al‑Labbad was assassinated alongside his brother, while four other journalists were injured. Meanwhile, Lebanon saw incidents ranging from physical assaults and threats to incitement campaigns and legal summonses, and in Jordan most violations were linked to coverage of parliamentary affairs.

Below is a detailed account 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, Annahar correspondent Lina Ismail was attacked in Baalbek by two individuals who confiscated her phone while she was reporting (03/19), and Beirut Time correspondent Hussein Khreiss received death threats (03/10). The Anti‑Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Rights Bureau summoned Hazem Al‑Amin, co‑founder and editor‑in‑chief of Daraj, following a complaint by banker Antoun Sehnaoui over a report published on the site (03/12). Three lawyers also filed a complaint against the Megaphone platform and the Daraj website, accusing them of publishing content critical of political and financial figures deemed responsible for Lebanon’s economic collapse (03/13); thirteen days later the public prosecutor referred the case to the Beirut Court of Appeal for further action.

In the Gaza Strip, the cease‑fire between Hamas and Israel collapsed in mid‑March, and Israeli warplanes resumed deadly strikes. Hundreds of civilians were killed, including journalists Bilal Abu Matar (media director at the UK‑based Al‑Khair Foundation), cameramen Mahmoud Al‑Sarraj and Bilal Okaila, freelance videographer Mahmoud Al‑Bassous (03/15), Palestine Today correspondent Mohammad Mansour, Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Hussam Shabat, and trainee cameraman Mohammad Abu Ouda (03/24). Visual artist Dirgham Quraiqa was killed (03/18), and freelance journalist Esra’ Al‑Aareer was injured the same day. Israeli tanks also opened fire on an Al Jazeera crew, comprised of correspondent Hisham Zaqout, cameraman Ismail Al‑Za’noun, broadcast engineer Hossam Al‑Kurdi, and technician Mohammad Abu Deqqa (03/23). French satellite operator Eutelsat took Al‑Aqsa TV off the air (03/12) following an American‑European directive.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces fired live ammunition at several media professionals: Al‑Araby TV correspondent Amid Shehadeh and cameraman Rabee Munyer, WAFA correspondent Fatima Ibrahim, Anadolu Agency cameraman Qais Abu Samra, and freelance journalist Mohammad Otaik (03/20). They detained Awda TV correspondent Anas Hushiya, Pal Post correspondent Mashael Abu Rab, Al‑Alam TV cameraman Mohammad Abdul‑Khaleq (03/08), freelance photographers Mohammad Abed and Mahmud Zakarneh (03/08), Ahmad Al‑Khatib (03/12), and Wahhaj Bani Mufleh, who was detained twice and beaten during the first incident (03/26 03/31). Director Hamdan Bilal was arrested after being attacked by settlers on (03/24). Israeli forces also obstructed the work of Al‑Alam TV correspondent Raya Oruq and cameraman Mohammad Abdul‑Khaleq (03/12), freelance photographer Hadi Sabarneh (03/21), and freelance journalist Lama Abu Halwa (03/26). They raided freelance journalist Shaza Abdul‑Rahman Hammad’s home (03/09), questioned her, and seized her helmet. The Ofer military court renewed freelance journalist Qutaiba Hamdan’s administrative detention for a third consecutive three‑month term (03/13).

In the 1948 Territories, Israeli police, intelligence services, and border guards intensified pressure on Palestinian journalists and photographers. They arrested or detained – and in many cases issued orders barring access to Al‑Aqsa Mosque – freelance journalists Rami Al‑Khatib (03/03), Bassem Zaidani (03/04), Mohammad Sadeq (03/07), and Ibrahim Sanjlawi (03/10); Al‑Asima network correspondents Nadine Jaafar (03/04) and Saif Qawasmi (03/22); Reuters reporter Latifa Abdul‑Latif (03/16); and freelance photographers Mohammad Dkeidek (03/01), Mohammad Abu Sunaina (03/02), and Mohammad Dweik (03/17). Al‑Quds reporter Ahmad Jalajel was arrested and interrogated twice (03/05 and 03/08), and freelance photographer Wahbeh Makkiyah was summoned for questioning (03/12). Israeli forces also raided the Scientific Library in Jerusalem, briefly detained its owner Imad Muna, and confiscated books deemed supportive of terrorism. The magistrate courts in Acre and Haifa repeatedly extended Radio Al‑Nas journalist Saeed Hassanein’s detention (03/02, 03/07, 03/12, and 03/19), on charges of “broadcasting content that glorifies terrorist organisations” following an interview with Al‑Aqsa TV. The Magistrate Court in Jerusalem likewise extended freelance journalist Bayan Jaabeh’s house arrest (03/04, 03/20, 03/25) on charges of “incitement and praising terrorist figures,” while the Jerusalem District Court postponed freelance journalist Lama Ghosheh’s incitement trial (03/12) without setting a new date.

In Syria, unidentified assailants assassinated former ambassador and celebrated poet Noureddine Al‑Labbad and his brother in Daraa shortly after his return from France. Hezbollah targeted Al‑Arabiya Al‑Hadath correspondent Mohammad Al‑Ashqar and cameraman Rustum Abu Salah with a missile strike on (03/17), lightly injuring both as they covered clashes between Syrian‑army forces and Hezbollah near the Zita Dam in Homs. Gunmen linked to the former regime opened fire on an Al‑Araby TV crew in Al‑Haffa, Latakia countryside (03/10), damaging their vehicle and wounding a crew member, and Al Jazeera cameraman Riad Al‑Hussein was shot and injured in Jableh (03/06) while reporting on the coastal rebellion.

In Jordan, MP Qassem Al‑Buqai assaulted Saraya News reporter Mohammad Al‑Aananzeh (03/12) by smashing his phone as he filmed inside Parliament; the House Speaker apologized publicly five days later after the outlet lodged a complaint. Jordanian security forces detained journalist Amjad Maala (03/22) in connection with an old defamation case filed by MP Dima Tahboub over social‑media posts she considered offensive. Authorities mistakenly arrested members of the Haloolooo film crew the same day, releasing them on bail. Journalist Fares Al‑Habashneh was also detained (03/27) under a defamation‑related warrant dating to the COVID‑19 period and was freed on bail the same day; this followed a Ministry of Agriculture statement attempting to discredit him (03/11), which the ministry later retracted.