108 Attacks on Palestinian Journalists in July

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate has documented 108 attacks by Israeli forces and settlers against Palestinian journalists and media workers in the occupied West Bank in July. The attacks included detentions, beatings, interrogations, targeting with stun grenades and tear gas, cases of settler violence, raids on homes and workplaces, seizure of journalistic equipment, and obstruction of journalists' work.

Brief detentions and restrictions on reporting were the most common violations, with 58 cases recorded. This has made it increasingly difficult for journalists to document Israeli military raids and settler violence on the ground.

The syndicate also documented 11 settler attacks on journalists, including physical assaults, shoving, and threats. These incidents mostly occurred while crews covered settler attacks and military raids elsewhere in the occupied West Bank. Additionally, 12 cases were recorded where Israeli forces fired stun grenades or tear gas at journalists, causing some to suffocate.

Six journalists were beaten, and four sustained bleeding injuries while covering developments in Gaza, including from shrapnel. Two others were detained and four interrogated about their reporting. The committee recorded four raids on journalists' homes or media offices, including the closure of one outlet.

## Why it matters The attacks on Palestinian journalists are part of a larger pattern of violence and intimidation against media workers in the occupied West Bank. According to rights groups, more than 270 journalists have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 2023. Al Jazeera has confirmed that 12 of its own journalists have been killed in Gaza since the start of Israel's campaign in 2023. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate has called for journalists to be allowed to work “free from threats, attacks, and restrictions” and for an end to the targeting of media workers.

The situation highlights the risks faced by journalists covering the conflict in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. The attacks on journalists not only harm individuals but also undermine the ability of the media to report on important events and hold those in power accountable. As the situation continues to escalate, the need for protection and support for journalists in the region becomes increasingly urgent.