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The Palestinian Authority (PA) is facing widespread condemnation for its escalating crackdown on journalists and media outlets in the West Bank, with Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) among those voicing strong criticism.
This crackdown coincides with intensified violations by Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians' rights in the occupied territories.
WJWC has highlighted the January 19 detention of an Al Jazeera correspondent in Ramallah as emblematic of the Palestinian Authority’s systematic policy to stifle freedom of opinion and expression. This policy aims to intimidate journalists and activists, discouraging them from expressing their views or disseminating critical information.
Recent Violations
In January alone, Palestinian security services in the West Bank have committed numerous violations against journalists and media outlets, including:
- Summoning journalists for questioning.
- Assault and arbitrary detention.
- Preventing media crews from covering events.
- Issuing judicial rulings that contravene fundamental human rights and press freedom.
WJWC criticized the Palestinian Authority’s justification for these actions, labeling it as "shameful." The authority frequently employs vague charges such as “incitement” and “disturbing public security” to penalize journalists and activists documenting abuses.
Arrests Around Ofer Prison
On January 19, Palestinian security forces detained five journalists near Ofer prison in Beitunia, west of Ramallah, including Al Jazeera correspondent Jivara al-Budayri and two crew members. Earlier that day, Imad Aseed and Jalal Buaytel of the Associated Press were also detained.
Journalists had gathered outside Ofer prison to cover the release of Palestinian female detainees as part of a ceasefire agreement and exchange deal between the Palestinian resistance and the Israeli occupation. Despite this, the Palestinian Authority’s security services arrested them, alleging live broadcasts facilitated by Al Jazeera.
The detained Associated Press journalists were transferred to the Palestinian Investigations Department headquarters in Ramallah. They were accused of assisting Al Jazeera in broadcasting live images, but were released after about two hours of detention.
Not the First Time
This month alone, several journalists have been summoned for questioning on charges of incitement and disrupting public opinion. These journalists were coerced into making illegal commitments not to collaborate with certain media outlets, including Al Jazeera.
Targeting Media Professionals
On January 8, 2025, the Director of Programs at al-alm Radio, Salah Abu al-Hassan, was summoned by the Palestinian Preventive Security Service in Hebron to answer questions about the station’s operations and content. This is one of many instances illustrating a coordinated effort to undermine press freedom.
In mid-January, journalist Jarrah Khalaf was arrested and reportedly beaten while in custody. The Magistrate’s Court in Jenin extended his detention for 15 days under fabricated charges of possessing a weapon. Human rights activists revealed that his detention was likely linked to his coverage of press conferences in Jenin camp.
Similarly, journalist Mahmoud Matar faced extended detention under dubious charges brought by the PA’s security forces, echoing a pattern of arbitrary accusations aimed at silencing dissent.
Crackdown on Media Platforms
The Palestinian Authority escalated its suppression by taking administrative measures against journalists and citizens, holding them accountable under vague accusations such as incitement on social media, stirring strife, and disrupting public security.
On January 1, 2025, the PA decided to halt the broadcasting of Al Jazeera in the Palestinian territories, freezing its office operations and employees until “its legal status is corrected.” Four days later, the Magistrate’s Court in Ramallah issued an order to block four Al Jazeera-affiliated websites for four months, citing similar accusations.
Incitement Campaigns and Israeli Actions
The PA’s decision against Al Jazeera followed an incitement campaign launched by the Fatah movement, targeting the network and its journalists for their coverage of clashes between Palestinian security forces and resistance fighters in Jenin.
The suppression extended to actions by the Israeli occupation forces. On January 7, 2025, Israeli forces stormed Al Jazeera’s office in Ramallah, posting an order extending its closure by an additional 45 days. The office had been initially shut down in September 2024 following the Israeli Knesset’s passage of the Al Jazeera Law, submitted by Benjamin Netanyahu. This law grants the Prime Minister and the Minister of Communications the authority to ban foreign media outlets deemed harmful to "state security," with Al Jazeera as a primary target.
Condemnation of Press Suppression
Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) strongly condemned the Palestinian Authority’s use of the same justification employed by Israeli occupation authorities to suppress press freedom in the West Bank, describing this approach as shameful and counterproductive to the interests of Palestinian society and its just cause.
WJWC emphasized that gagging policies undermine the principles of democracy and freedom of expression, urging the Palestinian Authority to honor its commitments to uphold freedom of opinion and expression as guaranteed under international law.
Upholding International Standards
WJWC reminded the Palestinian Authority of its obligations under international legal frameworks, including:
- Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which imposes the protection of journalists' rights to freedom of expression.
- The Johannesburg Declaration on Freedom of Access to Information, which affirms access to information as a fundamental right essential for the enjoyment of freedom of opinion and expression.
