There was a marked decrease in the number of violations in April, which was, however, negated by the increased brutality of the attacks.
(MADA/IFEX) – The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) monitored a number of violations against journalists in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in April 2011. Trends for 2011 show a reduced number of violations in April compared with previous months. This marked decrease is however negated by the increased brutality of the violations, such as the abduction and murder of Italian journalist Vittorio Arrigoni by an armed Palestinian group, and the fact that journalist Mohamed Almadhoun sustaining severe head injuries following an attack by Israeli Forces in the Gaza Strip.
From January to April 2011, MADA monitored a total of 82 violations against journalists; with Israeli Occupation Forces and settlers committing 31, and Palestinian security forces in the West Bank and Gaza committing 51 violations. This unprecedented increase in Palestinian-perpetrated violations stands in stark contrast to 2010, when, in the same period MADA monitored 69 violations, 57 of which were committed by Israeli occupation forces. This marks an increase of Palestinian-perpetrated violations from 17% to 62% of all reported violations.
