Israeli forces attacked a peaceful protest in Bethlehem, that is part of weekly-organised demonstrations denouncing violations, such as the Apartheid Wall and settlement expansion south of Bethlehem.
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) condemns the ongoing violations being committed by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) against peaceful citizens and protesters. ANHRI also condemns the continued targeting of journalists and media professionals reporting on the IOF’s violations.
On 20 August 2013, the IOF attacked and raided the Jenin refugee camp by using over 20 military vehicles. Security forces clashed with those present in the camp and fired tear gas and bullets at citizens. As a result of the attack, several people suffered from suffocation, four were wounded by gunshots, and one 22-year-old man, Maged Lahlouh, was shot dead.
On 16 August, the IOF attacked a peaceful protest in Bethlehem that goes by the name of Al-Masara. The protest is part of weekly-organized demonstrations denouncing the violations committed by the IOF such as constructing the Apartheid Wall and settlement expansion south of Bethlehem. Abdel Rahman Younis, a photographer for Al-Quds news site, was among those attacked by Israeli forces. He was detained for an hour before being released.
“The continued attacks against Palestinian citizens aspiring for freedom and democracy committed by the IOF infringe on international and regional appeals and prove the country’s unwillingness to listen to the international community,” said ANHRI, “especially in light of the disgraceful stance taken by many countries that claim to protect freedom and democracy in the world while looking over Israel’s human rights violations.”
ANHRI stated that the IOF’s attack on the photographer was an attempt to prevent him from reporting their violations against the peaceful demonstrators in Bethlehem in order to make sure these violations don’t make it into international news outlets’ reports. This is not the first time Israeli forces harass a Palestinian journalist, the violations’ list includes a large number of journalists and media professional that were targeted by the IOF, including the recent case of Mohamed Awad, a photographer for Watan newspaper and Watan TV in Ramallah who was arrested on 13 August.
ANHRI demands that the international community as well as international and regional organizations concerned with democracy and freedoms, specifically the press freedom, to force the IOF to respect Palestinians’ right in voicing their opinion and and peacefull protesting.
