On March 24, during a right-wing march in Umm al-Fahm led by right-wing activists Itamar Ben-Gvi and Baruch Marzel, former head of the banned Kach party, a 2,500 strong contingent of the police used force and tear gas on Arabs protesting the march, including on Arab and foreign journalists that were present covering the event.
I’lam strongly condemns the police attack on journalists in Umm al-Fahm, towards whom police should take adequate care to protect so that they can effectively carry out their duties, cover the events and transfer facts to the public. I’lam Media Center affirms that such attacks on journalists at the hands of the Israeli security forces and police are on the increase, as evidenced most recently in I’lam’s documentation of attacks on Arab journalists covering the Gaza war.
Such deliberate attacks on journalists indicates explicit efforts to suppress the right to freedom of expression, specifically that of the Palestinian community.
Journalist struck with tear gas while covering events. All photos courtesy Wael Awad.
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