The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the deliberate attack in the occupied territories on Palestinian journalists’ demonstration organised by its Palestinian affiliate, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) to mark World Press Freedom Day, in which the PJS President and 2 other colleagues were wounded.

The demonstration aimed at protesting against the Israeli restrictions on Palestinian journalists’ right to  free movement ( read about the campaign launched by PJS and IFJ to support the right of movement for Palestinian journalists https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Freedom_of_Movement_for_Palestinian_Journalists/)

The PJS said that security forces charged as demonstrators were marching on the Israeli military crossing point from Bethlehem to Jerusalem. Three journalists were injured, including PJS President and member of the IFJ executive committee Adbel Nasser Najjar who was hit by a stun grenade on both legs. 

“Press freedom celebrations are a unique occasion for journalists around the globe to unite and demonstrate their attachment to press freedom values. We cannot accept that such occasions are used by military forces to attack journalists and do just what Press freedom day celebrations denounce, that is, the targeting of journalists. We wish our colleague Abdel Nasser and his colleagues injured well,” said IFJ president Jim Boumelha.