The Independent Commission for Human Rights - ICHR 37 1.1.9 Information To block the Palestinian narrative, the Israeli occupying authorities have persisted with abuses of Palestinian journalists and media freedoms. The Palestinian Ministry of Information highlighted Israeli encroachments on journalists, while they attempted to document events and expose consistent violations of Palestinian rights and freedoms. To this avail, the Ministry monitored 717 violations against Palestinian journalists and media outlets. The bulk of these infringements (128) concentrated in Jerusalem and its suburbs. The IOF targeted 295 male journalists, 50 female journalists, 56 press crews, 58 media agencies, and 12 print houses and book shops. Based on direct incitement, the IOF blocked over 126 news pages journalists’ accounts on social media platforms.42 Journalists were directly targeted, arrested, prevented from providing news coverage, and subjected to all types of gunfire. Israeli violations were particularly severe in May and June 2021, during and after the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. While covering events, media representatives were directly and deliberately. In addition to tear gas inhalation, physical assaults left 92 journalists with injuries, contusions, and bruises. Seventy six (76) journalists were hit with rubber-coated or sponge-tipped bullets. A total of 137 journalists were detained or had their detention extended. Media coverage was banned on 104 occasions. In 88 incidents, media offices or journalist homes were raided and ravaged. In addition to 24 incidents of equipment seizure or damage, the IOF used water cannons and pepper spray against journalists on 30 occasions. In the opinion of the Ministry of Information, while wearing Press vests in the field, the fact that this large number of journalists were targeted aimed at preventing media representatives from reporting persistent Israeli violations against the Palestinian people and their lives, freedoms, and properties. This requires that the UN Security Council Resolution 2222 on the protection of journalists be in force, reaffirming the need to prevent impunity for the Israeli occupying authorities. 1.1.9.1 Abuses of journalists and media freedoms during the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip During the military offensive on the Gaza Strip, Israeli attacks targeted the media sector and freedom of the press. More than 97 violations of media freedoms were monitored, affecting the lives, media offices, homes, and vehicles of journalists. Some breaches are characterised as grave violations, which amount to war crimes. Israeli air strikes resulted in the killing of Yousef Mohammed Abu Hussein, a 33-year-old journalist and broadcaster at the Sawt al-Aqsa radio station. More than 12 journalists also sustained various injuries. The offices of 45 media institutions were destroyed either completely or partially. Damage was caused to 11 advertising companies, art workshops, print houses, book shops, and publishers. In addition to six vehicles, partial or total damage was caused to the homes of 22 journalists and media workers. Israeli warplanes also deliberately fired a missile on a car belonging to journalist Abu Hussein outside his home.43 While they were on duty covering the Israeli aggression on Gaza, more than 12 journalists were directly targeted and sustained shrapnel wounds by air strikes. Some were hit when their homes were bombed, leaving them with bone fractures, burns, injuries, and contusions in various parts of their bodies. Destruction of tower blocks in Gaza caused complete or partial damage to the offices of 45 media and press institutions. Nine offices were partially damaged and lost equipment.44 42 43 44 Ministry of Information. Annual Report on the Israeli Violations against Palestinian Journalists and their Media Institutions in 2021, January 2022. Government Information Office, Monitoring Unit, Report on Violations of Media Freedoms in May 2021, Gaza 2021. The Al-Jala’ tower accommodated the Al-Jazeera and Al-Jazeera Live channels, Associated Press, Sawt al-Quds [Voice of Jerusalem], etc. Al-Jawharah tower housed the Palestine newspaper, Forum of the Palestinian Media Professionals, TRT TV, Al-Mamlakah al-Urdiniyyah [Jordanian Kingdom] TV, among others. Ash-Shurouq tower contained several radio stations and media companies, including the Russia Today Twenty Seventh Annual Report 2021