Palestine: CFWIJ condemns the violent attack on women journalists by security forces

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July 1, 2021- Several Palestinian women journalists were brutally targeted while covering the demonstrations held in Ramallah on June 28. Protests turned violent as the crowd demanded an independent investigation into the killing of activist Nizar Banat. Reportedly,  security forces brutally assaulted several demonstrators, including several women journalists. Shaza Hammad, Najla Zaitoun, Fayhaa Khanfar, Saja A-Alami, and Fateh Alwan were chased and attacked along with several others. Plainclothes officials infiltrated the protests, attacked the journalists, and confiscated their phones.  The demonstration was peaceful until security forces inflicted chaos and violence at the Al-Manara roundabout. CFWIJ condemns the vicious attack on women journalists and demands immediate investigations against the involved security officials. We extend our support and solidarity to all the affected women journalists. 

Shaza Hammad was targeted by a tear gas canister while reporting the protest march. She shared the details of the violent attack, stating, “I have a deep wound on my face. God will recover it as the injury is very close to my eyes. We were covering the Al-Manara roundabout when another rally in support of President Mahmoud Abbas appeared at the same point, we took a side as the press did not want to be counted in any of the marches. Our phones were confiscated as soon as we started to film the scene.” She further emphasized that it cannot be seen as an isolated incident since it’s been common practice to target the free press for years.  

Najla Zaitoun, associated with the Al-Quds network, was also subjected to violent attacks. She fell to the ground as an assailant in civilian clothes attacked her with a stick. In another clip, Najla was attacked by a woman who started pulling her hair. She asserted that a security official took away her phone, and when she demanded its return, she was hit in the leg with a stone. “It was the first instance that I was assaulted in such a brutal way. We were present there as journalists, and most of us had our identity visible. We were wearing our helmets for protection and visibility as press, but this did not help. There were pro-government protesters, protected by the security officials, and they attacked us first, and the situation escalated,” Najla added while sharing details.

Fayhaa Khanfar, a correspondent for Al-Madina TV, is still suffering from shoulder pain after the attack. The medical examination showed that she had bruises inflicted by plainclothes security officials. The journalist was trying to get her phone back from a security official when she was hit by another young man and fell to the ground. 

Several other female journalists were also subjected to vicious physical assaults, including Saja Al-Alimi and Faten Alwan, a correspondent for Al-Hurra TV, and journalist Jihan Awad. A statement of condemnation was issued by The General Secretariat of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate. The Secretariat called this targeting of women journalists a new and dangerous development in the context of attacks on freedom of the press. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is appalled by the targeted attacks against women journalists. We demand an in-depth and immediate inquiry against all officials involved in the incursions on working journalists. We extend our support to the courageous women who, despite persistent threats, continue to do their job.