Report documents 57 Israeli violations against Palestinian journalists in November

Israeli forces and settlers were responsible for 57 separate violations and assaults against Palestinian journalists in November, according to a new report by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS). The syndicate’s monthly assessment, covering the occupied West Bank and Gaza, describes a pattern of systematic escalation aimed at obstructing media work and endangering reporters' lives.

A Pattern of Dangerous Assaults

The PJS report documented a range of aggressive tactics, including two cases where journalists in Tulkarem and Gaza were injured by live ammunition and plastic-coated bullets while reporting. Illegal Israeli settlers were cited as central perpetrators, carrying out 22 assaults that involved preventing coverage, chasing journalists, and attacking them with sticks and stones. Other violations included detentions, physical assaults, equipment confiscation, and the deliberate destruction of journalists' vehicles.

Calls for International Protection

Mohammed al-Lahham, head of the PJS Press Freedoms Committee, stated that the figures reflect "a clear policy aimed at silencing Palestinian journalists." He called for increased international pressure on Israel to halt the daily attacks and to provide formal international protection for journalists working in Palestinian territories. The report frames the violations as part of a broader environment of intimidation restricting press freedom.

Context of Ongoing War

These incidents occur against the backdrop of the ongoing Palestinian genocide. According to Palestinian health authorities, over 70,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in Gaza since October 2023. The report underscores the perilous conditions for journalists attempting to document events in the region, where they face direct threats from both state and non-state actors.