Palestine: CFWIJ condemns the state of Israel for detaining Palestinian journalists Wahbi Makiya and Zeina Al-Halawani

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May 28, 2021, Jerusalem - Israeli forces physically assaulted and arrested two Palestinian journalists in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood without charge and warrant. Wahbi Makiya and Zeina Al-Halawani were arrested while they were covering the predominantly Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem where the Israeli state intends to enact mass displacements. This is the latest in a series of examples of free press violations that Israeli forces have committed since the beginning of the recent cycle of violence in the region.

Palestinian journalists Wahbi Makiya and Zeina Al-Halawani were physically assaulted and detained by Israeli law enforcement agencies. The two are currently being held in custody without charge as the Israeli state extended their detention for a period of five days before initiating their trial. The detentions were met with public outcry on social media platforms as videos of institutional overreach by Israeli authorities came to light. 

This is not the first time Israeli law enforcement agencies have punished journalists for doing their job. Journalists Rama Yousef and Latifeh Abdellatif were attacked by Israeli forces while they were covering the violence in the region. Israeli air strikes have also targeted international and local news offices in Palestine. The offices of the Associated Press and AlJazeera English were destroyed by Israeli air force who claimed the buildings were acting as shelters for members of Hamas. They were, however, unable to verify this claim when formally questioned. Similarly, Israeli forces bombed and damaged the offices of "Filastiniat" association and its affiliated news agency "Nawa", a woman led organization based in Gaza. Israeli attacks have also directly affected the lives of the journalists in the region. Reema Saad, who was pregnant at the time of the bombardment, was murdered alongside her two children and husband during Israeli bombardment. Whereas, Gaza-based photojournalist Samar Abu Elouf was forced to evacuate her family after an Israeli missile struck her neighbor’s home. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the actions of the Israeli state in the strongest terms possible. Wahbi Makiya and Zeina Al-Halawani should be immediately released. These repeated attacks on Palestinian journalists as well as news organizations based in the region is a violation of free press, entirely opposed to democratic values that Israel’s allies claim to align themselves with. This is institutional violence that needs to be halted in order to ensure peace in the region.