A wounded Palestinian falls to the ground during clashes with Israeli troops at a protest in the southern Gaza Strip on April 27, 2018. At least seven journalists were injured on April 27 while covering the protests, according to CPJ research. (Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)
A wounded Palestinian falls to the ground during clashes with Israeli troops at a protest in the southern Gaza Strip on April 27, 2018. At least seven journalists were injured on April 27 while covering the protests, according to CPJ research. (Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)

Seven Palestinian journalists injured as Gaza protests continue

At least seven Palestinian journalists were injured while covering protests in the Gaza Strip on April 27, 2018, as the Israel Defense Forces used tear gas and fired live rounds to try to disperse protesters, according to the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate, news reports, and three local journalists–Moneeb Saada, Saud Abu Ramadan, and Sami Eissa–with whom CPJ spoke.

For the fifth consecutive week, thousands of Palestinians joined protests over Israel’s refusal to allow Palestinian refugees to return to their pre-1948 homes, news reports said.

The following journalists were injured on April 27:

  • Abdulrahman al-Kahlout, a camera operator and photographer for the Hamas-affiliated Shehab News Agency, was injured in his right leg by a live round while covering protests east of Gaza City, according to the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate, news reports, and his employer. Pictures posted on social media showed al-Kahlout wearing a bulletproof vest marked “PRESS” and a helmet marked “TV” when he was hit by the live round.
  • Hashem Hamadeh, a freelance photographer, was hit in the head and face by gas canisters while covering protests east of Gaza City, according to news reports, the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate, and Saada.
  • Islam Ezzanoun, a reporter for the Palestinian Authority’s official broadcaster, Palestine TV, inhaled tear gas while covering protests east of Gaza City, according to news reports and local journalists.
  • Nabil Darabieh, a reporter for the local Palestinian news website Quds Media, was hit in the head and face by gas canisters while covering protests in the northern Gazan city of Jabalia, according to news reports, the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate, and Saada.
  • Mohammad al-Masry, a photographer and camera operator for the Shehab News Agency, inhaled tear gas while covering protests in eastern Jabalia, according to news reports and local journalists.
  • Lana Saheen, a reporter for the Beirut-based pan-Arab al-Mayadeen news channel, inhaled tear gas and fainted while covering protests east of Khan Younis, according to news reports, local journalists, and the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate. Saheen was treated by paramedics on site, according to the reports.
  • Hassan al-Jeddi, a photographer for the local pro-Hamas news website Shams News, inhaled tear gas while covering protests east of Al-Bureij, according to news reports and local journalists. A video on Facebook shows that al-Jeddi was treated by paramedics on site.

The Israel Defense Forces did not immediately reply to CPJ’s email requesting comment.

Since the protests began on March 30, 2018, CPJ has documented at least 14 journalists hit by live rounds fired by Israel Defense Forces two of whom– Yaser Murtaja and Ahmed Abu Hussein–later died from their injuries.