Report: 51 violations against media freedoms in West Bank

A Palestinian Photographer is evacuated after inhaling tear grenade fired by Israeli border guard during clashes at a demonstration next to a section of Israel’s separation wall in the biblical town of Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank, on December 23, 2016 [Shadi Hatem/ApaImages]

There were 51 violations of press freedoms in the occupied Palestinian territories in March, the Palestinian Centre for Development and Media Freedom (MADA) announced today.

The report showed that March witnessed the largest number of violations against the media since October 2015, with a significant increase of nearly 240 per cent. Only 15 attacks were recorded by the organisation in February.

Half of the attacks recorded in March against journalists and media freedoms were “serious”, MADA, an independent, non-governmental and non-profit organisation, said.

Some 33 of them were committed by Israeli forces who are continuing to target media institutions, the report explained. In March, the Israeli occupation confiscated five printing presses, injured several journalists and arrested five others.

The report also highlighted 18 Palestinian violations against media freedoms an increase from six the month before.

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