Saturday, 29 October 2011, a group of stone throwing settlers attacked four Palestinian journalists covering the weekly Beit Omar march near Hebron city. Of the journalists, French Agency photographer Hazem Bader, European Agency photographer Abdelhafiz Hashlamoun, Palestine TV cameraman Hussam Abu Alan, and Palestine TV correspondent Fida’ Nasir, Bader sustained the most serious injuries after a large stone struck his head causing substantial bleeding.
Bader told MADA that he and his colleagues were covering the weekly demonstration when settlers began throwing large stones at the crowd. Israeli Occupation Force personnel were witness to the attack but did not prevent the settlers from continuing and instead began also targeting the peaceful demonstrators with tear gas projectiles. During the confusion a large stone struck Bader, resulting in severe head contusions for which he had to receive medical treatment. Bader went to the nearby hospital and received five stitches.
Abdulhafiz Hashlamoun added: "During our coverage of the weekly march the settlers attacked us with stones, one hit my waist and caused bruising. Two of my other colleagues were also injured, Hussam Abu Allan was struck on his waist and Fina’ Nasir was hit on the leg, both were bruised."
Yesterday’s events recalls the attack last week of an Al-Jazeera crew by stone throwing settlers, which left cameraman Majdi Al Safadi mild injuries.
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) strongly condemns the new settlers attack against journalists warns of its dangerous, which is ongoing under protection of the IOF, which stand in direct contravention to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. MADA reiterates its demand that the international community intervene immediately to protect Palestinian journalists, whose lives are constantly threatened by Israeli occupation forces and settlers attacks.
