During 2019, Israeli military forces committed 255 violations against journalists and media institutions working in the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT). These figures appear in the annual report prepared by WAFA, the Palestine News and Information Agency, which the organization released on Sunday, January 5. The violations included the firing of live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets and teargas canisters against journalists, in addition to physical beatings and arrests.

Palestinian photojournalist Moath Amarneh was seriously injured while covering protests in Surif, near the West Bank city of Hebron, November 15, 2019. (Photo Al-Ittihad)

The report details that 145 journalists were actually injured by live fire, rubber-coated rounds, tear gas inhalation or bodily assault by Israeli forces during the year, while another 145 were either arrested or targeted by Israeli gunfire but were not hurt. In addition, Israeli forces conducted 27 incursions into the offices of media institutions operating in the West Bank during 2019 .

“These daily crimes and violations against journalists require an urgent and immediate intervention to pressure the Israeli government to stop its systematic and deliberate targeting of photographers and field journalists,” the report said. WAFA called upon international and regional human rights organizations and journalists to pressure the Israeli government to stop its violations against journalists in the occupied Palestinian territories.