During its monthly report on the state of press freedoms during October 2022, the Journalists Support Committee monitored more than (83) violations against media freedoms and journalists in Palestine.

The committee stated, in a statement, that the occupation forces committed (61) violations, while Palestinian parties committed two violations, in addition to recording more than (20) violations by social media companies conspiring with the Israeli occupation to fight and prevent Palestinian content and obliterate the crimes of the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people".

Israeli violations

The Israeli occupation forces committed (61) violations against media freedoms and press crews, ranging from arresting, detaining and summoning of (5) journalists, who were later released. They were Muhammad Thabet, Saleh Al-Zaghari, Muhammad Turkman, Karim Khamaiseh, Moaz Wsheha.

The report indicated that the occupation forces and settlers attacked (24) journalists and media crews, using bullets, poisonous gas bombs, sound bombs, pepper gas, beating with sticks and rifle butts.

The report indicated that "among these attacks were the injuries of Palestine TV cameraman Louay Samhan and reporter Mahmoud Fawzy who were shot by rubber bullets in their arms.

The Israeli occupation forces and its settlers prevented journalists from covering (25) attacks against citizens in occupied Jerusalem and throughout the West Bank, in which the occupation used intimidation, death threats and shootings.

Meanwhile, (7) press equipment was damaged as a result of the occupation forces' assault on the press crews and prevented them from covering the events.

Fighting the Palestinian content

As for electronic violations against Palestinian content, the administrations of social media sites and the Israeli occupation launched a digital campaign against the Palestinian news and narrative, where (20) cases were recorded.

The committee said: “The deletion of Palestinian content came after Benny Gantz's recent statements, in which he stressed the need to work more to prevent Palestinian content on social media platforms.”

The committee indicated that the violations consisted of restricting or banning more than (13) pages belonging to journalists or news and media sites by Facebook, including the Qastal news site. While Instagram restricted or banned (3) accounts, and WhatsApp deleted one account.

As for electronic violations against Palestinian content, the administrations of social media sites and the Israeli occupation launched a digital campaign against the Palestinian news and narrative, where (20) cases were recorded.

The committee said: "The deletion of Palestinian content came after Benny Gantz's recent statements, in which he stressed the need to work more on social media platforms to prevent Palestinian content."

The committee indicated that the violations consisted of restricting or banning the Facebook administration for more than (13) pages belonging to journalists or news and media sites, including the Qastal news site. While Instagram restricted or banned (3) accounts, WhatsApp deleted one account.

As for the incitement of the Israeli occupation against Palestinian journalists, two cases were recorded. The New York Times journalist stopped dealing with journalist Hossam Salem, at the instigation of the Israeli occupation. The Israeli occupation also conspired with the Thomson Reuters Foundation to withdraw the "Kurt Schork International Journalism Award" from Palestinian journalist Shatha Hammad, a few days after it was granted, on the grounds of anti-Semitism.

The Israeli occupation also continues to use electronic piracy, as a violation was recorded against one of the Palestinian news agencies, in which the Israeli occupation published racist symbols and slogans on the website of the agency.