IFJ demands answers after Israeli attacks on leaders

Brussels, 17 November 2018- IFJ leaders came under a tear gas attack today after Israeli soldiers fired on a peaceful assembly demanding the right to freedom of movement for Palestinian journalists.

One member of the IFJ’s Executive Committee was injured after being hit on the shoulder and many others were left choking after the attack.

In an open letter to the Israeli Prime Minister, the IFJ – whose Executive Committee is meeting in Ramallah – has demanded an urgent response to the unprovoked attack on the peaceful demonstration in support of the rights of Palestinian journalists.

In the letter, copied to the United Nations and Unesco, the IFJ leadership said:

After having held a brief press conference the IFJ’s global leadership
and a number of Palestinian journalists walked peacefully a few
hundred metres along the main road towards the Qalandia checkpoint.

At about 100 metres from this important entry point to Jerusalem the
Israeli army, with no warning and no discussion, fired around 10 tear
gas grenades towards the group, injuring one of the members of the
IFJ’s Executive Committee on the shoulder and causing many others to
choke.

In a peaceful manner and still well within the Palestinian
Territiories the IFJ delegation turned and retraced their steps along
the road in a bid to escape the Israeli gas attack.

The IFJ urgently demands a response from the Israeli Prime Minister to
this unprovoked physical assault and to these violations of freedom of
expression and freedom of movement.

No democratic state worthy of the name can react in this way.

THe IFJ also called for the Israeli authorities to recognise the International Press Card which is recognised by 145 governments worldwide – but not in Israel.