Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA)

MADA monitored 12 violations of media freedom in May 2011, including the near fatal shooting of Mohamed Othman.

There was a marked decrease in the number of violations in April, which was, however, negated by the increased brutality of the attacks.

Mohammad Osman was hit with live rounds to the chest and right hand after Israeli soldiers opened fire on demonstrators.

Forty-two IFEX members and 15 partners appealed for global attention to stop detention, torture and threats to journalists and free expression activists, including to IFEX member Bahrain Centre for Human Rights.

According to the report, 2011 has brought with it an unprecedented increase in Palestinian-perpetrated violations against the media.

During a ceremony marking Word Press Freedom Day, MADA’s chairman highlighted the major violations committed against journalists in 2010.

Ja’far Zahid Ashtiyeh, Nasser Ishtayeh and Wajdi Mohammed Shtayyeh were attacked by stone-throwing settlers; in their attempts to escape the attack, Ishtayeh and Shtayyeh were beaten by Israeli soldiers.

Numerous violations against press freedoms in Gaza were recorded as well as incidents of the targeting of women journalists.