In January 2025, four journalists and five photographers were killed in the Gaza Strip before the Israel-Hamas ceasefire took effect. Israeli forces targeted 15 additional media professionals in Gaza and Jerusalem, and more than 20 in the West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority (PA) also committed 11 violations, including freezing Al Jazeera operations and persecuting its correspondents. Additionally, the Israeli army targeted eight correspondents and photographers in southern Lebanon with live ammunition, injuring two. Hezbollah supporters and members also committed violations against media professionals in various areas. Furthermore, in Syria, unidentified individuals abducted and killed a photographer.

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

In the Gaza Strip, before the ceasefire ended a 15-month-long war that resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and widespread destruction, the Israeli army targeted Palestinian journalists, photographers, and their family members. The following media professionals were killed: Safa News Agency journalist Mohammed Al-Talmis (01/14), freelance journalists Ahlam Al-Tallouli (01/13), Ahmad Abu Al-Rous, and Ahmad Al-Shiah (01/15), Al-Rabi'a News Agency photographer Omar Al-Diraoui (01/03), Al-Ghad satellite channel videographer Saed Abu Nabhan (01/10), as well as freelance photographers Hassan Al-Qishawi (01/02), Areej Shaheen (01/03), and Alaa Salama (01/08).

The remains of Al-Quds News Network and Watan Media Agency journalist Khaled Kodeih, who had been missing for four months, were discovered (01/21).

Israeli airstrikes also injured freelance journalist Bashir Abu Al-Shaar (01/14) and Al-Sabah channel journalist Hammam Al-Hattab (01/16). Additionally, tanks surrounded and fired live bullets at several photographers, including Saber Nour El-Din (German Agency DPA), Fadi Thabet, Salem Al-Rayes, Mustafa Musallim, Amer Al-Sultan, and Mohammed Abu Safia (01/19). Warplanes bombed the homes of Al-Jazeera correspondent Rami Abu Taima (01/01), filmmaker Ayman Al-Amriti (01/14), and the Solidarity Media Center, affiliated with the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (01/03).

In the West Bank, Israeli forces attacked Palestinian journalists and photographers using live ammunition and stun grenades, including: Quds News Network correspondent Mohammad Abed, Al-Ghad channel correspondent Khaled Bdeir and photographer Shadi Jararaa, Al-Araby TV correspondent Amid Shehadeh and photographer Rabih Al-Munayer, Pal Post channel correspondent Mashael Abu Al-Rab, SIPA USA agency photographer Nasser Ashtieh, in addition to freelance journalists Jamal Rayan, Mohammad Otayk, and Shaza Hanaysheh (01/10), freelance photographer Ahmad Shawish (01/21), freelance photographer Soheib Abu Dayak and Quds Feed network’s Nagham Zayet (01/28). Israeli authorities also prevented media crews from covering military operations at the Jenin camp, arrested several journalists, and expelled them multiple times. A military bulldozer chased Roya TV correspondent Hafez Abu Sabra and photographer Mahmoud Fawzi, forcing them to leave (01/22). Israeli forces stormed the Al Jazeera office, renewing its closure for 45 days (01/07).

The Ofer Court sentenced journalist Bilal Al-Tawil to nine months in prison for “incitement” (01/08) and extended the detention of journalist Asiad Amarneh twice on dubious charges (01/02). The Israeli forces arrested Iranian Tasnim satellite news correspondent Farah Abu Ayash and questioned her (01/20), while the Israeli intelligence summoned journalist Ashwaq Awad (01/19) and detained journalist Raghd Salameh (01/31).

On the other hand, the Palestinian Authority decided to freeze Al Jazeera operations and persecute its employees under the pretext of “broadcasting inciting materials and misleading reports that provoke strife” (01/01). They also blocked access to websites affiliated with Al Jazeera network for four months, according to the Cybercrime Law (01/06). The PA’s security forces continued to persecute the channel’s employees. They arrested correspondent Guevara Al-Budairi, videographer Ramadan Afaneh, sound engineer Hammouda Salameh (01/19), and correspondent Mohammad al-Atrash (01/23). They also summoned correspondent Laith Jaar before handing him a decision preventing him from appearing on the channel until the ban is lifted (01/09), and freelance journalist Mohammad Samrin before forcing him to sign a pledge not to work with the channel (01/08).

The Palestinian security also arrested journalists Mahmoud Matar (01/06), Jarrah Khalaf (01/08), and Obada Tahayneh (01/11). They also questioned Alam radio station program director  Salah Abu Al-Hassan (01/08) and prevented several media professionals from covering local developments: Al-Araby TV correspondent Amid Shehadeh and his colleague videographer Rabih Al-Munayer (01/14), Al-Ghad satellite channel correspondent Raed Al-Sharif and his colleague videographer Jamil Salhab, freelance journalist Abdul-Mohsen Shalalda, Al-Hadath newspaper correspondent Misaab Shawar and the Xinhua news agency photographer Ma’moun Wazzouz (01/15).

In the 1948 Territories, Israeli police arrested journalist Sabreen Diab on charges of “incitement” and sentenced her to house arrest for five days (01/31), while the Public Services Unit decided to sentence journalist Lama Ghosheh to prison again (01/09). Israeli forces hampered the work of journalist Bassem Zeidani (01/19), while settlers launched a smear campaign against Al-Nas radio journalists Mohammad Majadleh (01/07) and Mohammad Mahamid (01/16).

In Lebanon, the Israeli army fired live ammunition at the LBCI crew – correspondent Wissam Nasrallah and photographer Rony Hawat – (01/16), the NBN crew – correspondent Hassan Fakih and photographer Radwan Harb – (01/26), the Russia Today crew – correspondents Hussein Ayad and Joel Maroun, along with transmission engineer Hussein Khalil who was injured by shrapnel (01/26), and freelance photographer Hassan Fneish who was injured in the foot (01/27), while covering the return of residents to their villages in South Lebanon.

In Lebanon, the Israeli army fired live ammunition at an LBCI crew including correspondent Wissam Nasrallah and videographer Rony Hawat (01/16), an NBN crew including correspondent Hassan Fakih and videographer Radwan Harb (01/26), and a Russia Today crew including correspondents Hussein Ayad and Joëlle Maroun, along with transmission engineer Hussein Khalil, who was injured by shrapnel (01/26). Freelance photographer Hassan Fneish was also injured in the foot (01/27) while covering the return of residents to their villages in South Lebanon.

Hezbollah members prevented the MTV channel’s “Kulluna lil Watan” show from filming and deleted the footage they had taken in Burj Al-Barajneh (01/04). Meanwhile, young supprters of Hezbollah assaulted an LBCI crew comprising correspondent Lara Hashem and videographers Tony Kyrillos and Robert Ghosn before confiscating their camera in Deir Mimas. They also attempted to destroy the broadcast van after following it to the Khardali bridge on (01/27). Furthermore, pro-Hezbollah residents interrupted MTV correspondent Nawal Berri’s live coverage from Maroun Al-Ras (01/26).

The military investigative judge questioned Al-Arabiya channel’s Layal Alekhtiar (01/22) after she interviewed Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee. Additionally, the Criminal Investigation Department questioned artist Qassem Jaber following a complaint filed by lawyer Bushra Khalil (01/02). The department also summoned Megaphone editor-in-chief Samer Frangieh and managing director Jean Kassir, but they refused to appear before the unit in response to a complaint filed against them by Serta CEO Hisham Itani, following the publication of information about the pager explosion (01/02). Moreover, the Anti-Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Bureau summoned journalist Jean Kassir (01/20) in response to a complaint filed against him by MP Fouad Makhzoumi, but he also refused to attend. The same bureau questioned journalist Sahar Ghaddar on (01/21) following a complaint filed by MTV, while the MTV administration dismissed journalist Elsy Moufarrej on (01/23) over union activities.

The Lebanese authorities handed over Egyptian poet Abdul-Rahman Al-Qaradawi to the UAE (01/07), based on an extradition request issued by the UAE on charges of undermining security in the country.

In Syria, unknown people abducted the Sana agency photographer Ibrahim Ajaj. His lifeless body was found riddled with bullets in Hama (01/22). The Israeli army arrested French journalist Sylvain Mercadier and his translator, Syrian lawyer Mohammad Fayad in Quneitra (01/08), while the Syrian General Security arrested Syrian screenwriter Ali Saleh at his home in Homs (01/02) and the Syrian Democratic Forces arrested citizen journalist Thamer Shehade in Deir-Ezzor (01/28).

In Syria, unknown individuals abducted SANA agency photographer Ibrahim Ajaj. His lifeless body was found riddled with bullets in Hama (01/22). Meanwhile, the Israeli army arrested French journalist Sylvain Mercadier and his translator, Syrian lawyer Mohammad Fayad, in Quneitra (01/08). The Syrian General Security arrested Syrian screenwriter Ali Saleh at his home in Homs (01/02), while the Syrian Democratic Forces arrested citizen journalist Thamer Shehada in Deir-Ezzor (01/28).

In Jordan, the Amman Magistrate Court issued a decision to release journalist Ahmed Hassan Al-Zoubi (01/16), replacing his prison sentence with a community sanction after repeated demands from his defense team. His community penalty consists of an electronic bracelet requiring him to remain at home until the end of his sentence—two more months. The Court of Appeal had previously issued a decision sentencing him to one year in prison with a fine, following a Facebook post he published about the truck strike in Jordan two years ago.