Palestinian Media Faces Surge in Violations amid West Bank Crackdown: MADA Report
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) reported 148 violations against Palestinian media in September, marking a 41% increase from August, with the majority attributed to Israeli forces' intensified aggressions in the occupied West Bank.
This represents a 41% rise compared to the violations documented in August, Safa reported.
MADA attributed the increase to the intensified crackdown by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank during the month.
Out of the total, 140 violations were committed by Israeli forces, with 132 incidents in the West Bank and eight in the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, Facebook, a platform owned by Meta, restricted the account of one journalist in Gaza.
Among the Israeli violations, three journalists were killed.
Israeli forces targeted media personnel 39 times in the West Bank and prevented journalists from covering events on 43 occasions.
In an attempt to block coverage, bulldozers used by Israeli forces endangered 22 journalists.
Four journalists were arrested in the process.
MADA also documented 11 cases of physical assaults on journalists.
Three journalists were wounded by shrapnel from Israeli missile attacks in Gaza.
The occupation forces raided Al Jazeera's office in the latter half of September, confiscated its equipment, and ordered its closure for 45 days.
They also raided the homes of two journalists in Hebron (al-Khalil) and ransacked the headquarters of the Palestinian Media Company, where equipment was either stolen or destroyed.
On 1 September, Israeli authorities placed Tulkarm photojournalist Hazem Nasser under administrative detention for five months, with no formal charges. He has been detained since July 25.