Journalist Ahmed al-Bitawi arrested while covering pro-Gaza march in the West Bank
New York, April 5, 2024—Palestinian authorities in the West Bank must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Ahmed al-Bitawi, who has been in detention since March 30, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On March 29, Palestinian General Intelligence Service agents arrested al-Bitawi, a reporter for Sanad News Agency, in the Palestinian West Bank city…
Gaza journalist Diaa Al-Kahlout describes 33 harrowing days in Israeli custody
Diaa Al-Kahlout, the veteran Gaza bureau chief for the Qatari-funded London-based newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, had been covering the Israel-Gaza war for two months when he became part of the news. On December 7, Al-Kahlout was detained along with members of his family by Israeli forces in a mass arrest in Beit Lahya in northern Gaza….
Gaza journalists struggle to report as they ‘expect to die daily’
New York-based Hoda Osman has spent the past six months helping Gaza journalists replace cameras, laptops, and phones lost or damaged in the Israel-Gaza war. More than 5,500 miles away, in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, Wafa’ Abdel Rahman coordinates humanitarian supplies and cash assistance for reporters under Israeli bombardment, while Rania Khayyat,…
CPJ urges Netanyahu government not to shut down Al-Jazeera in Israel
Washington, D.C., April 1, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists urgently calls on the Israeli government not to close the Jerusalem-based bureau of Qatari broadcaster Al-Jazeera and allow the media to report freely on news events in Israel and Gaza during the current conflict. On Monday, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, passed a law allowing the government…
‘Your credibility is on the line’: CPJ, 41 others urge MFC member states to act on Gaza
Editor’s note: This letter has been updated to reflect an increased number of signatories. The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 41 other media freedom organizations in calling out the “collective official silence” of the Media Freedom Coalition member states regarding the killings of journalists in Gaza and further warned that this silence seriously diminishes their…
CPJ calls for Israel to release journalists detained during Al-Shifa hospital raid
Beirut, March 22, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Israeli authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the journalists arrested at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City this week. On Monday, March 18, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a new offensive on the Al-Shifa hospital complex, arresting scores of Palestinians. An unspecified number of journalists, including…
Witnesses: IDF assaulted, detained Al-Jazeera journalist in hospital raid
Editor’s note: Journalist Ismail Al-Ghoul was released by Israeli forces on Monday night after being held for almost 12 hours. In an interview with Al-Jazeera, Al-Ghoul recounted how he and several other journalists were assaulted by IDF soldiers, whom he said destroyed the journalists’ tent and damaged their equipment and press vehicles. Al-Ghoul said the…
News outlets express solidarity with journalists in Gaza
New York, February 29, 2024—Leaders of more than 100 news organizations across the world, including the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters, have joined an open letter (full text below) affirming their solidarity with journalists reporting in Gaza. The letter, coordinated by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) with the support of the World Association…
CPJ urges protection for Israeli journalist threatened with death after accepting film award
Washington, D.C., February 29, 2024—Israeli authorities must ensure necessary protections for Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham and his family, who were repeatedly threatened following criticism from high-level Israeli and German government officials. Yuval Abraham, an Israeli film director and journalist with the independent news +972 Magazine, said on February 27 that he canceled his flight home…
Leading news outlets affirm support for journalists in Gaza
Leaders of more than 30 news organizations around the world, including the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters, have joined an open letter on Thursday affirming that they “stand united with Palestinian journalists in their call for safety, protection, and the freedom to report.” The letter, coordinated by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) with…