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SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom - Samir Kassir Foundation

Freedom of Expression Violations in the Levant – November 2024

Thursday , 12 December 2024

The Israeli army has continued to commit war crimes against civilians, including journalists, in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. In Lebanon, two media professionals were killed, two others injured, one channel building destroyed, another damaged, and a radio station burned due to Israeli shelling across multiple regions. Additionally, Hezbollah members and supporters perpetrated violations against 14 media professionals. In Gaza, Israeli forces killed eight journalists and three photographers, injured five others, and burned a press tent. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Israeli forces carried out violations against 17 media professionals. In Syria, a citizen journalist was killed while covering clashes between regime forces and opposition fighters in Aleppo.


Below is a detailed summary of the violations documented by the SKeyes Center across Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Jordan:


In Lebanon, despite a ceasefire agreement on November 27, the Israeli army continued its offensive. Freelance photographer Zeinab Ghosn and her family, along with Al-Nour radio journalist Sukeina Kawtharani and her two children, were killed in Joon (11/12). Associated Press photographer Mohammad Al-Zaatari was shot twice in the leg, while Sputnik correspondent Abdul-Qader Al-Bay was injured by shrapnel in Khiam (11/27). Journalist Nabil Mamlouk was injured, and his house in Tyre was damaged on (11/17). The Israeli shelling also destroyed the Taha TV building (11/14) and damaged Al-Rissala radio station in Beirut’s southern suburbs. The Strike radio building in Sin El-Fil was burned down (11/23) after Israeli jets dropped thermal balloons.


The Al-Arabiya channel crews had the lion’s share of “internal” violations. Hezbollah members and supporters intimidated correspondents Mohammad Al-Baba (11/17), Ghinwa Yatim and Johnny Fakhry, as well as photographers Maher Al-Murr and Mohammad Darwish (11/27), hampered their work and confiscated their equipment in several Lebanese regions. They also assaulted journalist Daoud Rammal in his hometown Doueir because of his political stance (11/30), while young men beat journalist Nabil Mamlouk and fired bullets to frighten him after he published an article (11/13), knowing that he had already received threats because of his publications and political positions (11/02). The Manateq.net platform editorial management and its Bekaa correspondent were threatened over a video tackling the people displaced by war (11/20).


Hezbollah members and supporters carried out numerous "internal" violations, particularly targeting Al-Arabiya channel crews. They intimidated correspondents Mohammad Al-Baba (11/17), Ghinwa Yatim, and Jouny Fakhry as well as cameramen Maher Al-Murr and Mohammad Darwish (11/ 27), obstructing their work and confiscating their equipment in various regions. Journalist Daoud Rammal was assaulted in Doueir (11/30) due to his political stance. Journalist Nabil Mamlouk was beaten and threatened (11/13), with bullets fired to intimidate him, following earlier threats over his publications and political positions. The Manateq.net editorial team and its Bekaa correspondent also received threats (11/20) for publishing a video about war-displaced communities.


The Criminal Investigation Department questioned writer and economic journalist Mounir Younis over publication and tweets (11/26), and summoned journalist Firas Hatoum, requesting the presence of his wife, journalist Nancy Al-Sabeh over an investigative report related to the pagers that Israel exploded on September 18, but they both refused to show up (11/20). Journalist Hisham Haddad and MTV correspondent Iman Chweikh were victims of a smear campaign and accused of collaboration for their anti-Hezbollah stance, which prompted the latter to quit her job at the channel (11/12). The Asas Media website editor-in-chief, Mohammad Barakat, appeared before the Public Prosecutor on charges of criticising the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council (11/07), while the Facebook administration deleted an article published by writer Tony Issa without providing any explanation (11/15).


Additionally, the Criminal Investigation Department questioned writer and economic journalist Mounir Younis (11/26) over social media posts. Journalists Firas Hatoum and Nancy Al-Sabeh refused to comply with a summons related to their investigative reporting on Israeli-exploded pagers (11/20). Smear campaigns targeted journalist Hisham Haddad and MTV correspondent Iman Chweikh for their anti-Hezbollah stance, prompting Chweikh to resign (11/12). Asas Media editor-in-chief Mohammad Barakat faced charges for criticizing the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council (11/07). Meanwhile, Facebook removed an article by writer Tony Issa (11/15) without explanation.


In Gaza, the Israeli army killed eight journalists and three photographers in its ongoing assault on Palestinian civilians. Among the victims were Al-Quds Today journalist Bilal Rajab (11/01), Al-Shabab radio sports reporter Khaled Abu Zir (11/08), News Press Agency photographer Ahmad Abu Sakhil and his journalist sister Zahraa (11/09), Palestinian Media Network journalist Mohammad Al-Sharif (11/16), Holy Quran radio journalist Wael Abu Quffa (11/22), Al-Aqsa channel journalist and editor Mamdouh Qanniteh (11/30), and freelance journalists Nureddeen Abu Nada (11/15) and Abdul-Rahman Al-Tahrawi (11/20). Freelance photographers Ahmad Abu Shari’a (11/19) and Mahmoud Al-Khatib (11/20) were also killed. Additionally, Al-Quds Today journalist Fatmeh Al-Kriri succumbed to toxic gas inhalation from phosphorous bombs on (11/19).


Several journalists sustained injuries, including Al-Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Hussam Shbat, photographer Mohammad Al-Masri, BBC correspondent Samer Al-Zaanin, Yemen Today channel correspondent Abdul-Hadi Farhat (11/19), and Al-Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Talal Al-Arruki (11/28). The Israeli army burned the press tent of the Safinaz Alloh news agency correspondent (11/19) and arrested Istiqlal newspaper editor-in-chief Toufik Al-Sayyed Slim while he was fleeing with his family (11/18). Furthermore, Instagram suspended the account of northern Gaza-based Al-Jazeera correspondent Anas Al-Sharif (11/06).


In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued targeting media professionals with violence and intimidation. Fajr TV cameraman Mohammad Nazzal was shot with live bullets (11/02). Al-Araby TV cameraman Amid Shehada and correspondent Rabih Al-Munayyer were also targeted with live ammunition (11/05) and later assaulted with tear gas grenades. Tear gas grenades were used against Quds Network correspondent Mohammad Abed, Al-Ghad channel correspondent Khaled Bdeir, and photographer Shadi Jararaa, causing acute suffocation (11/20).


Israeli forces obstructed the work of Awdeh channel cameraman Youssef Shehada and freelance photographers Hadi Sabarneh and Karim Khmaysseh (11/04). They searched their phones and deleted footage from Shehade’s device. Wafa news agency correspondent Isra’ Ghawrani, Palestine TV correspondent Amir Shaheen, and photographer Salim Bsharat were arrested and interrogated about their journalistic activities (11/13). Israeli intelligence detained photographers Wahaj Bani Mufleh and Sakr Khodor at the Al-Karameh crossing for questioning (11/18).


The Israeli Salem military court sentenced Wafa journalist and editor Rasha Ahmad Harzallah to six months in prison and imposed a fine on charges of "incitement" (11/17). Meanwhile, the Ramallah Magistrate’s Court postponed the trial of freelance journalist Rami Samara and SKeyes correspondent Naela Khalil on defamation charges to a later date (11/18).


In the 1948 Territories, the Jerusalem District Court sentenced freelance photographer Said Rakan to 13 months in prison (11/21). The trial of freelance journalist Lama Ghosheh was postponed to December 3 (11/20). Additionally, the Nazareth District Court lifted house arrest restrictions on artist Mayssa Abdul-Hadi but prohibited her from using the WhatsApp application (11/08).


The Israeli Knesset extended the so-called "Al-Jazeera Law" for an additional six months (11/20), citing national security concerns. This law restricts foreign media outlets such as Al-Jazeera and Al-Mayadeen from operating within Israeli territories.


In Syria, opposition forces launched the “Deterrence of Aggression” operation to counter the regime’s growing control of Northern Syria. Amid the clashes, regime forces shot and killed citizen journalist Mustafa al-Sarout in Aleppo (11/30) while he was covering the fighting.


In Jordan, the Northern Amman Court convened the first trial session in the case filed by the defense team of imprisoned writer Ahmad Al-Zoabi against Al-Rai newspaper (11/ 27). Security forces released artist Khalil Ghaith after nine days in detention (11/03). The Royal Film Commission withdrew its selection of the film Helwa Ya Ardi to represent Jordan at the Oscars (11/11), citing diplomatic pressure from Azerbaijan as the reason for its decision.

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