Israeli occupation targets journalists and photographers

France Press photographer Musa al-Shaer Israeli occupation authorities targeted Friday, a number of Palestinian Journalists and photographers who were covering the demonstrations in various West Bank cities in protest of the Israeli attacks on al-Aqsa Mosque. Israeli forces injured four journalists: Musa al-Shaer, France Press photographer, who was shot in Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, photographer Hamzeh Burnat who was shot in Bil'in village and the two photographers Ibrahim al-Najjar and Mohammed al-Hajjar while they were reporting the events for Palestine News Network at the borders with the Gaza Strip.
Photographer Mussa al-Shaer told PNN that as he reached the main entrance of Aida camp, one of the soldiers deliberately fired live bullets toward him, injuring him in his hand and foot. Al-Shaer noted that he was wearing clothes to indicate he was a journalist and was holding his camera.
He said that a number of journalists who were also at the site transferred him to the Beit Jala Government Hospital for treatment.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) condemned the Israeli authorities' attacks on journalists, especially photographers, in the West Bank cities of Bethlehem and Ramallah and in Gaza Strip, stressing that such attacks come within Israel's systematic policy of targeting journalists.
The syndicate also condemned the attack on the journalist Mussa al-Shaer, Member of the administrative council of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate and France Press photographer, stressing that Israel deliberately continues to target journalists and shoot them.
The syndicate denounced the Israeli use of live ammunition, noting that the journalist Hamzeh Burnat in Ramallah village of Bil'in was shot with live bullets while covering the peaceful weekly demonstrations.
The Syndicate condemns these attacks and calls on international institutions to protect journalists and to open an investigation into Israeli attacks on journalists and photographers who work on field.
The syndicate confirmed that it will file complaints and lawsuits to human rights and media organizations against Israeli occupation, calling on the International Federation of Journalists to pressure Israel to stop its repressive practices against media and journalists.
Source: PNN