Israel’s massacre of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip continued unabated. Six journalists and photographers were killed, while six others were injured. Additionally, the Israeli violations targeted 11 journalists in the 1948 Territories, and five in the West Bank. The Palestinian authorities also carried out three violations. In Lebanon, twelve different violations, including smear campaigns, summonses, assaults, and bans, were reported.
Below is a detailed summary of the violations monitored by the SKeyes Center in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.
In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army continued its assault against civilians, including journalists, photographers, writers, poets, and their families. Several media professionals were killed in the shelling. Freelance journalist Abdul-Majid Abu Nasr was killed (04/17), freelance journalist and poet Amina Hameed and her eldest son (04/24), Palestine Now news agency photographer Mohammad Bassam Al-Jamal (04/25), freelance photographers Mohammad and Ibrahim Al-Gharbawi (04/26), and Al-Quds Today satellite channel journalist Salem Abu Toyour (04/29). Others were injured, including TNT channel videographer Sami Shehada, who underwent a leg amputation, his colleague correspondent Sami Barhoum, freelance photographers Mohammad Al-Sawalhi and Ahmad Alloh (04/12), Al-Arabiya channel correspondent Ahmad Harb, and the general director of Zaman radio, Rami Al-Sharafy along with several family members (04/22).
In the West Bank, Israeli forces detained journalists Amer Al-Shaloudi and Tarek Khmayseh for an hour (04/25). The Ofer court sentenced freelance journalist Asma Nouh Hreish to three months in administrative detention (04/03) and extended freelance journalist Mohammad Badr’s administrative detention for four months (04/26). Freelance journalist Rola Hassanayn’s trial on charges of “incitement against Israel” was postponed on (04/02).
Additionally, the Palestinian Intelligence Service arrested the Al-Jazeera Mubasher journalist Khalil Zueib for “possession of weapons and ammunition” (04/15). He was beaten and threatened after being questioned about his journalistic work. The Nablus Magistrate’s Court extended the detention of freelance journalist Ahmad Al-Baitawi for fifteen days (04/01), but he was released eight days later. The Ramallah court fined freelance journalist Firas Ahmad Tneine after his 2018 prison sentence (04/17).
In the 1948 Territories, Israeli police assaulted Al-Quds newspaper correspondent Ahmad Jalajel (04/26), Al-Jazeera channel crew members – correspondent Najwan Samri and cameraman Wael Slaymeh (04/24) – and Alassima news agency correspondent Saif Al-Kawasmi, who was also handed a summons and a deportation decision out of Al-Aqsa mosque (04/16). Police hindered the work of SKeyes and Al-Jarmaq press agency correspondent Nejma Hijazi, Arab48 website correspondent Inas Mreih, and Al-Madina newspaper correspondent Rashad Omri (04/17). They also arrested Hamza Khodor in Jerusalem and postponed his trial (04/01).
Other incidents include Israeli border guards beating Alassima news agency correspondent Nadine Jaafar (04/19) and settlers harassing Al-Jazeera channel correspondents Fatmeh Khmeisse (04/21) and Najwan Samri (04/30), as well as journalist Christine Rinawi (04/24). The Knesset approved a on Al-Jazeera channel in Israel (04/01).
In Lebanon, the Israeli army opened fire on the car of Al-Mayadeen TV correspondent Hussein Al-Sayyed in southern Lebanon (04/12). Young men assaulted Beirut Today website journalist and photographer Karem Munzer, threatened to kill him, fired shots in the air, and demanded money (04/27).
Additional incidents include the Information Department questioning journalist and producer Firas Hatoum over military uniforms and plastic weapons in his comedy show “Marhaba Dawleh” (04/03). General Security head, General Elias Al-Baysari, collected singer Nancy Ajram’s testimony about photos with an Israeli blogger (04/09). Journalists Jean Kassir and Diana Moukalled, along with activist Wadih Al-Asmar, were targets of a smear campaign over their political stance supporting Syrian refugees’ rights (04/26). Journalist Dima Sadek faced a similar campaign after tweeting about the Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel (04/14).
The Monnot Theatre administration cancelled Wajdi Mouawad’s play “Journée de noces chez les Cromagnons” over accusations of communicating with Israel, receiving threats against the theatre and some of the actors (04/10). The administration of the American University of Beirut barred Al-Akhbar, Al-Mayadeen, and Al-Manar crew members from entering the campus to cover pro-Gaza protests (04/30). Al-Arabiya journalist Taher Baraka announced his denial of access to Lebanon for six months (04/22) due to a complaint filed after he interviewed the Israeli army spokesperson in November 2023. Additionally, LBCI’s X account was hacked (04/08).
In Syria, the Tahrir Al-Sham group destroyed citizen journalist Mufeed Obeido’s car in Idlib (04/19). The Syrian Democratic Forces intelligence service arrested journalist Ahmad Soufi (04/02) and writer and actor Nasser Jaro in Al-Hasaka (04/21). Moreover, the Syrian Information Ministry temporarily suspended the Afaq company for “violating the licensing decision and media regulations” (04/20).
In Jordan, the Media Commission referred Al-Mamlaka channel to the public prosecution after it reported a state of emergency in Jordan during Iran’s launch of drones and missiles towards Israel (4/15). The Jordanian Ministry of Interior issued decided to deport Syrian journalist Attiya Salem six days after his arrest while covering solidarity protests with Gaza in front of the Israeli embassy in Amman (4/15). Furthermore, the Administrative Court in Amman rejected the appeal against the deportation decision, and security services summoned a photographer, forcing her to sign a pledge not to participate in demonstrations (04/01). Finally, journalist Khaireddeen Al-Jabri appeared before the court on charges of undermining security after participating in the same demonstrations (04/01).
