Targeting of Journalists During “Operation Summer Camps”

During “Operation Summer Camps,” journalists were targeted multiple times by Israeli forces, raising serious concerns about the safety of media professionals in conflict zones.

Ongoing Military Operation: • Israel has been conducting a large-scale military operation across the occupied West Bank for the sixth consecutive day, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 Palestinians. • As part of this operation, Israeli occupation forces invaded Kafr Dan village, west of Jenin, where they cordoned off and demolished a house. During the raid, they killed a 16-year-old Palestinian girl and fired live ammunition at journalists, injuring a reporter and a photojournalist.

Journalists Injured in Kafr Dan: • Ayman Nubani and Mohammad Mansour, photojournalists working for the WAFA Agency, were injured in Kafr Dan after being directly targeted by Israeli gunfire. The two journalists were traveling in a car near Jenin when Israeli forces opened fire on them. They were attempting to reach an area in the village where Israeli forces had besieged a house for several hours.

• Ayman Nubani, who was injured by fragments, recounted, "We miraculously survived death... If we didn’t drive quickly, they would have killed us all," as reported by female journalist Shuruq As'ad, Director of the Palestine Journalism Hub and MCD Radio Correspondent in Palestine.

• Wafa photographer Ayman Al-Nubani told The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate that Israeli forces “directly targeted” seven journalists with live fire, journalists who were riding in three press vehicles and wearing press protection vests “We narrowly escaped death,” Al-Nubani explained. “If we hadn’t sped up a bit in our car, they would have killed us. It was a direct assassination attempt.”

• The photographer said he and his colleagues – Wafa photographer Mohammed Mansour, Raneen Sawafta with the Reuters news agency and freelance journalist Yazan Hamayel – were injured during the incident. Another reported name of injured journalist during the raid is Mujahid Al-Saadi.

• Journalist Raneen Sawafta, a cameraman, was injured by an Israeli bullet, and three of his colleagues were injured by fragments during the raid in Kafr Dan, Jenin. • Al-Nubani added: “Ambulances arrived immediately, and we were transferred to Ibn Sina Governmental Hospital in Jenin, but Israeli forces intercepted us and obstructed the ambulances, … surrounding the hospital and ubjecting us to an investigation while we were injured.” • The incident has caused widespread outrage and concern among media professionals and human rights advocates worldwide.

Jenin Siege during "Operation Summer Camp":

• Launched on Aug. 28, 2024, by Israel, it is the largest military invasion in the northern West Bank in over two decades.

• The operation focuses on Jenin, with simultaneous actions in other cities like Tubas, Nablus, Ramallah, and Tulkarem.

• Israel justifies the operation as a fight against Palestinian resistance groups like the Jenin Brigades.

Civilian Infrastructure Destroyed:

Israeli forces heavily damaged civilian infrastructure in Jenin refugee camp, described as a form of collective punishment.Bulldozers and armored vehicles destroyed homes, streets, and markets. 70% of camp streets and surrounding areas were bulldozed. The refugee camp has been turned into a battlefield, forcing residents to stay indoors.

Siege on Jenin:

The siege blocked access to essential resources like water, food, and medicine. Civilians, including children, the elderly, and the chronically ill, have been trapped inside without help. Some women and children managed to escape at gunpoint, while men and boys were detained.

Mass Arrests and Human Rights Violations:

• Israeli forces carried out mass arrests of men and boys, including 72-year-old Khayriyeh Khrayneh’s family members. Her husband (a diabetic) and eldest son (a cancer patient) were arrested despite needing medical care.

• Eyewitnesses described brutal tactics: Palestinian detainees were used as human shields, and attack dogs were unleashed on families.

• Journalists and media correspondants are systematically threatened by Israeli vehicles or reckless shooting.

Blocking Medical Access:

• Ambulances were denied entry to the camp, and paramedics were shot at, preventing the retrieval of bodies.

• The main hospital in Jenin was put under lockdown by Israeli Border Police, turning the surrounding area into a "closed military zone."

• Even when ambulances were allowed through, they were stopped, and patients were forced to show ID before being admitted.

Deaths and Casualties:

• At least 19 Palestinians were killed in Jenin during the siege, including minors.

• An 83-year-old man, Tawfiq Qandeel, was shot by Israeli forces and left to die without medical help. His body was later run over by military vehicles.

• Three Palestinian children were killed when their vespa was bombed while delivering bread to the residents of Jenin.

• Since October 2023, nearly 700 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, with 185 in Jenin alone.

Brutality of Military Tactics:

• The operation in Jenin involved anti-tank rifle grenades destroying civilian infrastructure, sporadic gunfire, and drones flying overhead (likely for surveillance or attacks).

• Civilians described widespread fear and destruction, with Israeli soldiers using homes as military outposts and placing snipers on rooftops.

Worsening Humanitarian Crisis:

• The Israeli military siege left Jenin and nearby cities under curfew, with road closures and checkpoints stifling movement for both residents and journalists.

• Palestinians were unable to access basic necessities like flour and baby food due to the complete lockdown of the city.

• Medical staff, such as nurses, reported being unable to go home for days due to the danger posed by the military operation.

Israeli Justification:

Israeli military leadership stated their intention to target Palestinian armed resistance, stating they would move "from city to city, refugee camp to refugee camp." But despite their claims of targeting militants, the majority of the casualties were civilians, deepening resentment among the Palestinian population and increasing support for resistance groups.

Collective Punishment and Civilian Displacement:

Civilians in Jenin reported feeling that the military operations were designed to push them out of their homes. Jenin’s residents are increasingly describing the siege as an effort to depopulate the area. Residents drew comparisons between the treatment of Jenin and Gaza, seeing the same tactics of displacement and destruction being used in both regions.

Source : https://www.972mag.com/jenin-operation-summer-camps/