JournalismPakistan.com | Published December 11, 2018
Join our WhatsApp channel
WASHINGTON D.C - The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed concern at a raid on the offices of the Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA) by Israeli forces in the West Bank city of Ramallah and the detention of Al-Quds News Network writer and Quds Radio Tulkarm Correspondent Sameh Manasra by Israeli authorities.
Beginning late last night, raids by Israeli troops, border police, and other Israeli security forces in several Palestinian cities have led to at least 28 arrests, according to news reports and a Facebook post by the Palestinian Ministry of Information.
Israeli forces are searching for the perpetrator of a shooting yesterday in the West Bank of a group of Israelis standing at a bus stop near a Jewish settlement that injured seven Israeli civilians, according to news reports.
The Israel Defense Forces today raided WAFA's offices in Ramallah, according to multiple news reports. In a statement published today on WAFA's website, the Palestinian Ministry of Information said Israeli troops detained an unspecified number of WAFA's employees at the office and fired tear gas at the photographers at the office to prevent them from taking pictures of the operation. The soldiers left the agency's office after they took copies of the security camera footage, according to employees of the news agency, Reuters reported.
"Israeli authorities must halt their attacks against Palestinian media and publicly disclose information about WAFA's raid and journalist Sameh Manasra's detention," said Sherif Mansour, CPJ's Middle East and North Africa program coordinator. "Those who threaten and scare journalists who are doing merely their job must be held accountable."
The Israel Defense Forces did not reply to CPJ's email requesting comment. An unidentified spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces was cited by The Times of Israel as saying she could not comment on the raid of WAFA's offices in Ramallah, including whether it was part of the hunt for the gunmen from Sunday night's shooting. An Israeli military spokeswoman declined to comment to Reuters on the raid, according to the Reuters report.
Manasra was arrested by Israeli authorities early this morning from his home in Izbat al-Jarad village in Tulkarm, in northern West Bank, according to the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate, a tweet by the local press freedom group Journalists' Support Committee, and local news reports.
Photos and videos posted on social media show Manasar's arrest and its aftermath. According to a tweet by WAFA Correspondent Ali Obaidaat, Manasra was taken to an investigation center in Petah Tikva east of Tel Aviv.
Manasra was briefly detained and interrogated three times in March 2017 by Palestinian intelligence authorities because of his work with Quds News Network, local and regional news reported. He wrote for Quds News in 2017 about the conditions of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. – A CPJ News Alert/Photo: AFP
May 15, 2025: Dawn faces backlash for publishing ex-CJ Qazi Faez Isa's op-ed, accused of undermining democracy and aiding election rigging. Politicians and journalists condemn the move.
May 12, 2025: PFUJ pays tribute to journalists flogged under General Zia’s martial law in 1978, vowing to resist modern censorship and uphold press freedom in Pakistan.
May 09, 2025: In a bizarre media meltdown, Indian TV channels declared war on Pakistan, claimed imaginary victories and pushed fake narratives—leaving even Indian viewers stunned and apologetic.
May 05, 2025: India has banned prominent Pakistani journalist Rana Mubashir’s YouTube channel, expanding its crackdown on 16 other Pakistani media outlets. The move follows accusations of "false narratives" against India.
May 03, 2025: Pakistan's press freedom under severe threat as PFUJ condemns repressive laws and systematic journalist harassment on World Press Freedom Day. Union reports journalist killings, financial targeting, and government failure to implement safety measures.
May 02, 2025: Dawn has strongly denied publishing any report claiming that TTP stole a PAF F-16 fighter jet, labeling the viral screenshot as fake and digitally manipulated.
April 30, 2025: Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.
April 30, 2025: Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?