Israeli violations of Palestinian media freedoms spike at 27

BETHLEHEM: The Palestinian Centre for Development and Media Freedoms monitored 28 violations against media freedoms in the occupied Palestinian territory during October, 27 of which were carried out by Israeli forces, according to a statement.

The group said the number of violations committed by Israeli forces increased from 22 in September to 27 during October, all of them “serious attacks”.

Israeli violations of media freedoms in October included storming 10 offices and headquarters of Pal Media, Trans Media and Ramsat media companies in the cities of Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem and Nablus, “confiscating their property and turning 94 journalists and employees working in these institutions jobless”, the watchdog group said.

“Not only did these companies lose their work... but they have also endured heavy losses of equipment as a result of the destruction and confiscation of property,” the statement said, adding that these media companies used to provide at least 15 local, Arab and foreign TV channels with media services.

The Israeli occupation forces arrested four Palestinian journalists during October, two of whom were working for Trans Media, and were arrested during the raid on the company’s offices.

Palestinian government violations continued to decline, dropping from four in September to one in October.

Palestinian journalists often describe their work as a form of “resistance”, as they believe their stories show the world the devastating effects of Israel’s policies on Palestinians and provide Palestinians an outlet in a media climate that is often overshadowed by pro-Israeli narratives.