The journalists were covering clashes between the soldiers and Palestinian youth when they were targeted with tear gas and sound grenades.
(MADA/IFEX) – On 4 February 2011, six journalists were attacked by Israeli soldiers while covering clashes between Israeli Occupation Forces and Palestinian youth after Friday prayers in the Bab Al’moud area of Jerusalem.
Israeli Occupation Forces threw tear gas canisters and concussion grenades in the direction of the journalists, one hitting Japan agency photographer Mu’amar Awad on his hand, resulting in burns. Other journalists present at the scene, including Quds Net correspondent Diala Jwehan, “Alquds” newspaper photographer Mahmud A’lian, Silwan Net website photographer Muhammad Abu Snenah, MNB agency photographer Ahmad Jaber, and freelance photographer Mahfouth Abu Turk, suffered severe respiratory problems due to the high concentration of tear gas. Abu Turk was also struck by a stone thrown at the Israeli soldiers by Palestinian youth.
“We were brutally and deliberately targeted. We were standing near each other, then tear gas and sound bombs were thrown at us,” said Mu’amar Awad.
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) strongly condemns the Israeli forces’ continuous attacks on journalists and their attempt to employ various methods to prevent them from covering events. MADA also calls on the international community and human rights organizations to exert pressure on Israel to halt its attacks against Palestinian journalists, and to observe Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression.
