Ref: 81/2023

Date: 05 August 2023

Time: 16:00 GMT

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the assault on four journalists while they were covering a student sit-in in front of Hebron University on Thursday morning. PCHR emphasizes that freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, and the right to bodily integrity are rights that shall be respected and protected under the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights standards binding on the State of Palestine.

According to PCHR’s follow-up, at approximately 11:30 on Thursday, 03 August 2023, four journalists namely ‘Abed al-Muhsen al-Shalaldah, photographer at J Media Agency; Sari Jaradat, photographer at Watan and al-Quds News Agencies; Nedal al-Natsha, correspondent at Palestine Today TV; and Loay Mehbash ‘Amer, a freelance journalist, arrived at Hebron University in Hebron to cover up a sit-in organized in front of the university in protest against the Palestinian Security Services’ arrest of the university students. Moments after covering the sit-in, ten people in plainclothes arrived and ordered the journalists to show their press cards. When the journalists asked them to identify themselves, they answered: “This is chaotic… You must stop covering the sit-in, or we will break your cameras!”. One of those persons forcibly tried to take journalist Nedal al-Natsha’s cellphone, while another pepper-sprayed the three other journalists. They also assaulted al-Natsha by punching and kicking him inside a restaurant, took his camera and continued to beat him when he tried to escape. Meanwhile, a police force arrived, and al-Natsha sought their protection. The police force told him to go to the Police Station and file a complaint. Afterwards, al-Natsha headed in a private car to al-Ahli Hospital and underwent medical examinations, which showed that he sustained severe bruises in different parts of his body.

Moreover, many female students were assaulted by persons in plainclothes believed to be members in Fatah Youth Student Bloc while organizing the sit-in mentioned above in front of the university. ‘Ahed Hroub, a student, said that a person in plainclothes attacked her from behind while she was standing in front of the university, took her cell phone, and pushed her to the ground.

PCHR affirms that any assault on journalists and opinion-makers is a crime not subject to any statute of limitations according to Article (32) of the Palestinian Basic Law and constitutes a flagrant violation of Palestine’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Convention against Torture.

PCHR stresses that authorities, in accordance with international standards, shall provide protection for journalists and opinion-makers and ensure free practice of their rights.

PCHR also emphasizes the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed under the Palestinian Basic Law, the 1998 Public Meetings Law, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that Palestine acceded to and is part as well of national legislations as it was publishedin thePalestinian Official Gazette upon a presidential decree on 16 July 2023.

PCHR calls on the Public Prosecution in the West Bank to open an immediate investigation into these incidents and attacks, announce the results to the public, and bring the perpetrators to justice.