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SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom - Samir Kassir Foundation

Freedom of Expression Violations in the Levant – December 2024

Thursday , 23 January 2025

The rapidly evolving developments in Syria stole the limelight during the month of December. The Assad regime collapsed following five decades of autocratic rule with countless crimes against humanity, enforced disappearances and injustice against the Syrian people. Five journalists were killed while covering the clashes in various Syrian cities.


The Israeli army continued its violations against civilians in the Gaza Strip; thirteen journalists, photographers and artists were killed, while two others were injured. The Israeli forces carried out violations against twenty others in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem. A journalist was killed after being shot in the head in the Jenin refugee camp, where violent clashes took place between gunmen and the Palestinian security. The latter prevented eight journalists from covering the events and summoned two others. The Fatah movement banned Al-Jazeera from operating in six governorates inside the West Bank, and Hamas security beat a photographer and a journalist in Gaza.


In Lebanon, assaults, arrests, investigations, censorship and threats flared up, while publication bans returned to the fore in Jordan.


Below is a detailed account of the violations monitored by the Samir Kassir Foundation’s SKeyes Center across Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan.


In Syria, the Assad regime crumbled with astonishing speed during a major offensive carried out by the opposition forces. President Bashar Al-Assad fled to Russia with his family, putting an end to half a century of crimes against humanity, injustice, tyranny against the people and enforced disappearance of tens of thousands of civilians, including dozens of Syrian and foreign journalists, activists and intellectuals whose fate remains unknown to this day.


On the ground, the regime continued its bloody attacks until its very last moments, carrying an airstrike on Aleppo, which killed citizen journalists Ahmad Al-Omar and Alaa Al-Abrash (12/01). The DPA German press agency correspondent Anas Alkharboutli was killed by the same warplanes in the Hama countryside (12/04). They were all covering the clashes between the regime army and the opposition forces. In the Aleppo countryside, Hawar News Agency correspondent Jihan Belkin and photographer Nazem Dashtan were killed in a Turkish drone attack while reporting on clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (12/19).


In Gaza, the Israeli army continued its systematic targeting of Palestinian media professionals and their families. Those killed included Mohammad Al-Kreinawi (Snd News Agency) along with his wife and three children (12/14), Iman Al-Shanati (Al-Aqsa Radio) with her husband and three children (12/11), Bilal Harara (freelance photographer) with his wife and three children (12/27), Mohammad Farid Al-Shurafi (freelance photographer and editor) with his two brothers (12/18), Faisal Abu Al-Qumsan, Fadi Hassuna, Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Ali, Ayman Al-Jadi, and Mohammad Alladaa (Al-Quds Today Satellite Channel crew) (12/26), writer and artist Wala’ Al-Franji with her husband (12/25), Mohammad Baalousha (Al-Mashhad Satellite Channel correspondent) (12/14), Mohammad Alloh (Al-Jazeera videographer), killed a week after his family’s building was bombed by Israeli forces (12/15), and Abdul-Rahman Al-Qassas (freelance photographer) (12/11).


In addition, freelance journalists Wael Abu Zineh (12/02) and Mohammad Awad (12/04) were injured. Freelance journalist Mohammad Al-Sharif was detained for twelve hours, while freelance photographer Islam Ahmad was arrested at Kamal Adwan Hospital (12/26). Hani Issa, editor-in-chief of the Quds Net News Agency, was detained while fleeing northern Gaza (12/06).


Hamas security forces also assaulted freelance photographer Ibrahim Muhareb in a press tent in Khan Yunis (12/12). At Al-Awda Hospital, a security officer prevented freelance journalist Saleh Al-Jaafarawi from documenting the arrival of victims. The hospital’s manager later forced him to delete his footage (12/11).


In the West Bank, Israeli forces used live bullets and teargas against several media professionals, including Abdullah Tayseer Al-Bahesh (Quds News Network), Hafez Abu Sabra (Roya TV correspondent), photographer Mahmoud Fawzi (12/25), and freelance journalists Mohammad Ali Atiq and Hamza Mahmoud Hamdan (12/24). They also arrested Karim Khamayseh (Al-Irsal News Network), Motasem Saqf Al-Heit (Quds News Network), Hadi Baaran (Al-Jazeera Mubasher), freelance journalists Mohammed Awad and Hatem Hamdan, and freelance photographers Mumen Samreen and Mahmud Khilaf. Additionally, three others were assaulted (12/06). Freelance journalist Asaid Amarneh was detained at a military checkpoint (12/25), while journalist Mohammad Nazzal was prohibited from traveling without explanation (12/05). In a particularly alarming incident, an Israeli military vehicle attempted to run over journalist Raghda Salameh (12/25).


The ongoing clashes in the Jenin refugee camp between the Palestinian Authority’s security forces and gunmen further compromised press freedom and journalist safety. Journalist Shaza Al-Sabbagh was tragically killed after being shot in the head (12/28). In response to Al-Jazeera’s coverage of these clashes, the Fatah movement banned the channel from operating in six governorates (12/23). Palestinian security forces also restricted reporting by preventing journalists, including Shaza Hnayshe (Al-Jazeera Mubasher), Jarrah Khalaf (Quds Feed), Mohammad Abed (Quds News Network), Raya Oruk (Al-Alam channel), Ali Al-Sumudi (Al-Quds daily), Ahmad Shawish, Amr Munassra (freelance journalists, 12/14), and Mashael Abu Al-Rabb (Pal Post, 12/16), from covering events in Jenin and its refugee camp. Freelance photographer Wahaj Bani Mufleh was arrested in Nablus after being summoned (12/25), and journalist Mujahid Bani Mufleh was summoned for questioning in Ramallah (12/24).


In the 1948 Territories, the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court extended the detention of freelance photographer Saeed Rukun until January 18 (12/19). Meanwhile, the Jerusalem District Court reopened the case of freelance journalist Lama Ghosheh after she declined an offer to exchange prison time for public service in the Negev (12/18).


In Lebanon, Hezbollah members assaulted Mahmud Shokr, a correspondent for Al-Arabiya (12/06). Meanwhile, Egyptian poet Abdul-Rahman Al-Qardawi was arrested by Lebanese General Security at the Masnaa border crossing following an extradition request from the UAE and an arrest warrant issued by the Egyptian judiciary (12/28). He was extradited to the UAE days later, upon a Council of Ministers’ decision.


Additionally, journalists Firas Hatoum and Nancy Al-Sabeh appeared before Public Prosecutor Judge Mirna Kallas over a complaint related to an investigative report (12/04). Lawyer Majed Bouez, acting on behalf of MP Gebran Bassil, filed a slander and defamation complaint against journalist Joe Maalouf (12/20).


Lebanese artist Ragheb Alama became the target of a coordinated social media campaign after the release of a video (12/23). Moreover, Annahar newspaper administration controversially removed a sentence from an article by journalist Fares Khachan after its publication (12/31).


In Jordan, the Amman Public Prosecutor issued a gag order prohibiting the publication of any information related to a fire at an elderly care center that claimed seven lives. The Media Commission's general director instructed all media outlets and social media platforms to comply with the order (12/15).

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