Ramallah /PNN / 

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said 84 violations were recorded against Palestinian journalists in August 2026, including the death of a journalist in Israeli custody, the shooting injury of another, as well as arrests and field assaults, describing it as a “systematic escalation” targeting press freedom.

The syndicate’s Freedoms Committee said in a report issued Tuesday that the violations included 30 cases of detaining and preventing media crews from working, 10 incidents of tear gas targeting, and seven arrests, in addition to six cases of physical assault and six incidents involving death threats and the use of firearms.

The committee also documented seven cases of confiscating or deleting journalistic material, three cases of confiscating and damaging equipment, and four raids on media institutions and journalists’ homes. It added that three journalists were brought before courts and three attacks were carried out by Israeli settlers.

The committee said the figures reflect a “continued targeting” of journalists, particularly during coverage of raids and field events, noting that detaining crews and preventing them from working accounted for the largest share of violations in an apparent attempt to obstruct media coverage.

It added that the death of a journalist and the shooting of another during the month represent a “direct threat” to journalists’ lives and come amid an ongoing escalation against media workers.

The committee said settler attacks often occur “under the protection or presence of Israeli forces,” increasing the risks faced by journalists in the field.

Separately, it noted that more than 30 journalists from the Gaza Strip, including patients and wounded individuals, continue to be denied travel through the Rafah crossing for medical treatment abroad despite having official medical referrals and approvals, citing Israeli measures.

The syndicate called for independent investigations into the violations and for those responsible to be held accountable, stressing that targeting journalists constitutes “an attack on the public’s right to know and on press freedom.”

It also urged international media, rights and professional organizations to document these violations and work to ensure a safe environment for journalistic work, in line with international law and the protection of journalists.