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January 05, 2026 – Palestine –
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) has documented 99 distinct violations committed by Israeli forces and associated actors against Palestinian journalists and media personnel during December 2025, highlighting escalating hazards facing press workers across Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The monthly report, released on January 4, 2026, portrays a sustained pattern of repression and obstruction that undermines independent reporting and restricts the capacity of journalists to operate freely and safely.
According to the PJS, the documented incidents range from fatal attacks and serious injuries to detentions and physical assaults, reflecting what the syndicate describes as a systematic effort to prevent the transmission of images and factual reporting from conflict and protest zones. Among the violations, one journalist was killed while performing field duties in Gaza, and two others were seriously injured after being directly targeted and shelled. The report also noted the deaths of two relatives of journalists, indicating an extension of risks that include family members.
In the occupied West Bank, the syndicate recorded a variety of hostile actions: 48 cases of journalists being detained or prevented from covering events, 15 assaults involving tear gas and sound bombs used during active reporting, and two deliberate attempts to run down journalists with vehicles. There were also nine incidents in which weapons were brandished as threats and six instances of direct verbal intimidation. These data points are interpreted by the PJS as targeted efforts to restrict media coverage in areas such as Jerusalem, Hebron, Jenin, and Ramallah, where visibility of events on the ground is considered politically and socially sensitive.
Physical and material damage was also reported: the syndicate documented two cases of journalists being beaten, destruction of journalistic equipment during fieldwork, and damage to the homes of two journalists resulting from strikes. Additionally, there were incidents of detention and security summonses, and the syndicate highlighted organized incitement campaigns by Israeli media outlets and information centers that falsely alleged links between journalists and armed groups—tactics the PJS warns may precede or justify punitive measures against reporters.
The syndicate’s monthly report underscores a broader concern from Palestinian press freedom advocates that Israeli security policies and military operations are being executed in ways that systematically target journalists’ ability to work, with severe implications for freedom of expression and the public’s access to independent information in a conflict environment. The PJS has reiterated calls for international intervention and accountability measures to protect press freedoms and ensure journalists can operate without fear of repression, injury, or death.
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