(CPJ/IFEX) – According to CPJ, on 13 March 1998, Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) soldiers opened fire with rubber-coated metal bullets on a group of reporters covering clashes in Hebron between Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops. The names of the wounded reporters include: Nael Shiyoukhi and Mazen Dana of Reuters; Majdi al-Tamimi and Amer al-Jabari of […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – According to CPJ, on 13 March 1998, Israeli Defense Forces’
(IDF) soldiers opened fire with rubber-coated metal bullets on a group of
reporters covering clashes in Hebron between Palestinian protesters and
Israeli troops. The names of the wounded reporters include: Nael Shiyoukhi
and Mazen Dana of Reuters; Majdi al-Tamimi and Amer al-Jabari of ABC News;
Hazem Bader and Imad al-Said of the Associated Press; and Wael Shiyoukhi and
Ayman al-Kurd of Amal TV.
CPJ is deeply disturbed by what witnesses to the incident have characterized
as the IDF’s intentional targeting of the journalists, who were in the
vicinity of the clashes. Three of the wounded journalists told CPJ that they
were at least 200 meters from Palestinian protesters when they were fired
upon. These journalists also maintain that soldiers continued shooting at
them despite their attempts to identify themselves as members of the press
and entreaties to the soldiers to halt their fire. According to Reuters,
“Witnesses said the troops fired rubber bullets at the journalists from a
distance of about 20 meters
even though they repeatedly identified themselves as journalists.”
One of the injured journalists, Nael Shiyoukhi, was shot in the head, back,
and leg by rubber bullets. “Video footage showed him lying on the ground
with blood streaming from his forehead and drenching his shirt”, Reuters
reported. “It showed him being shot two more times while he lay on the
ground.” Mazen Dana was then shot in the shoulder while going to the aid of
Shiyoukhi. According to Dana, soldiers continued to fire at the reporters
even as they attempted to carry Shiyoukhi into a nearby automobile.
CPJ fears that the journalists wounded in Hebron on Friday were targeted for
having carried out their professional duties.
Background Information
According to CPJ, on 13 July 1997, four reporters were also shot. The
reporters “Imad al-Said (Associated Press), Mazen Dana (Reuters), Amer
al-Jabari (ABC), and Diya Juabi (Abu Dhabi TV)” were wounded while covering
a group of Palestinian demonstrators burning an Israeli flag in Hebron.
Eyewitnesses to that incident said that the attack appeared to be
intentional, given the considerable distance of at least three of the four
journalists from the demonstrators and their conspicuous camera equipment,
clearly identifying them as members of the media (for information on this
case see IFEX alerts of 14 and 15 July 1997).
In September 1996, journalists provided similar testimony after several were
wounded by rubber bullets fired by the IDF while covering
Israeli-Palestinian violence in the West Bank. Those wounded in September
1996 charged the IDF with extreme negligence in failing to recognize members
of the press who were far removed from the combatants and were clearly
identifiable as cameramen (for information on this case see IFEX alerts of
27 September 1996).
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
incident and make its findings public
brought to justice and that all appropriate measures be taken to ensure the
IDF’s compliance with
regulations safeguarding journalists in the field
Appeals To
His Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister of the State of Israel
Office of the Prime Minister
3 Kaplan Street
Kiryat Ben-Gurion
Jerusalem 91919
Fax: +972 2 664 838 / 697 7839 / 3 691 7915
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
