Tulkarm:Palestine The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian Journalists is being observed today, commemorating 30 years since it was established by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in 1996. This day was initiated following the Tunnel Uprising when Palestinians protested Israel's opening of a tunnel beneath Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency , this year's observance occurs amid a significant increase in attacks and violations against Palestinian journalists. Since the beginning of Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in October 2023, Palestinian journalists have faced unprecedented threats.
The Freedoms Committee of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate reports that since October 7, 2023, 262 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed, with 261 of these deaths occurring in Gaza and one in the West Bank city of Tulkarm. The syndicate also documented around 300 crimes, violations, and attacks against journalists since the beginning of 2026, including six killings, 10 direct injuries, 22 detentions, and 120 instances of brief detention or prevention from covering events.
Journalists have been subjected to direct gunfire, tear gas, and stun grenades, as well as travel restrictions, equipment destruction and confiscation, fines, and reporting limitations, particularly in occupied Jerusalem and around Al-Aqsa Mosque. Additionally, there have been 139 colonist attacks on journalists and 713 fatalities among the families of Palestinian journalists.
The syndicate recorded 240 incidents of gunfire directed at media crews and 352 incidents involving tear gas or stun grenades. Other reported abuses include beatings, attempted vehicle attacks, home raids, confiscation of professional equipment and personal belongings, and travel bans.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported on September 24 that, using its own methodology, at least 247 journalists and media workers have been killed across Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Israel, and Iran since October 7, 2023.
The IFJ established the September 26 solidarity day in 1996 to highlight the dangers Palestinian journalists face and their crucial role in documenting events in the occupied Palestinian territories.