Palestine: CFWIJ condemns the physical assault on journalists Najwan al-Sumari and Bara'a Abu Romouz

June 7, 2021, Jerusalem - Journalists Najwan al-Sumari and Bara'a Abu Romouz were assaulted by Israeli armed forces while covering the events unfolding in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood. This is only the latest example of the accelerated militarized effort of the Israeli state on the Palestinian civil society.

The incident took place on Sunday, June 6, when the Israeli forces continued their operations within the neighbourhood, which has received immense international coverage in recent months. It is, however, shocking that the impunity still continues. On the same day, residents of the neighbourhood, and renowned activists Muna El-Kurd and Mohammed El-Kurd were also detained by the Israeli forces for several hours. 

Najwan al-Sumari and Bara'a Abu Romouz are not the only ones who have been subjected to such violence by the Israeli armed forces. CFWIJ has extensively covered the violations committed towards Palestinian women journalists within the past few months.

On May 10, At least 10 journalists, two of whom were women, were injured during the Israeli attack on the Al-Aqsa mosque. Similarly, on May 19, Israeli forces bombed and damaged the offices of "Filastiniat" association and its affiliated news agency "Nawa" resulting in civilian casualties. In a separate incident, Palestinian photojournalists Latifeh Abdellatif was physically assaulted by armed Israeli officers for covering their actions on the ground. Palestinian news agencies are not the only ones being targeted by the Israeli military, offices of Al-Jazeera English and the Associated Press were also bombed and destroyed. On May 27, Wahbi Makiya and Zeina Al-Halawani were assaulted and arrested while they were covering the events in Sheikh Jarrah as well. 

The violations have not only impacted professional lives, but women journalists have also had to incur several personal losses because of this unrelenting violence. Journalist Reema Saad was killed in her apartment alongside her children and husband when Israeli forces attacked civilian residences in the city of Gaza. And Gaza-based photojournalist Samar Abu Elouf was forced to evacuate her family after an Israeli missile struck her neighbour’s home.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is horrified at the impunity with which the Israeli state is enacting violence in the region. Despite extensive coverage on digital platforms, the global community is yet to take any conclusive steps to halt the overreaches being carried out by the Israeli military. Israel’s actions are undemocratic and in violation of international law, and it is absolutely reprehensible that not only do international power turn their heads away, they actively enable Israel’s actions.