Israel: Ghufran Harun Warasneh, Second Palestinian Woman Journalist Killed In West Bank In A Month
Location: Israel, Hebron
Date: June 2, 2022
Ghufran Harun Warasneh, 31, was headed to work at a local news network in Hebron, when she was fatally shot dead near Arroub refugee camp in Israeli-occupied West Bank on June 1. She is the second Palestinian Woman Journalist to be killed by Israeli fire in less than a month. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is appalled at the impunity with which Israeli forces operate against Palestinian journalists. We are yet recovering from the atrocious killing of Shireen Abu Akleh around three weeks ago on May 11. We demand accountability for these killings and extend our deepest condolences to the bereft families and colleagues.
According to her family, Ghufran was on her way to a new job at a local news agency, Dream. It was her third day at work. As she crossed an Israeli checkpoint near Arroub refugee camp at around 8AM, an Israeli soldier opened fire at her.
An eyewitness told Palestinian news agency, Wafa, that the journalist was walking towards the main road when two soldiers of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), manning a military checkpoint beckoned her towards them. One of the IDF soldiers then shot her.
In a statement issued shortly after the killing, the Israeli army said “an assailant armed with a knife advanced toward an IDF soldier who was conducting routine security activity".
However, witnesses told Al Jazeera that Ghufran had posed little threat to the soldiers.
Ghufran was shifted to al-Ahli hospital in Hebron, where she was pronounced dead.
Doctors at the hospital said the bullet she was shot with had pierced her heart, according to Al Jazeera and The New Arab.
The Palestinian Red Crescent also said Israeli forces of obstructing their ability to reach the journalist and took 20 minutes to allow paramedics to treat her.
Ghufran had worked at various news outlets after graduating from journalism school at Hebron University. She had just joined the newsroom at Dream and June 1, 2022, was to be her third day on the job.
كانت معكم غفران وراسنة من فلسطين 🇵🇸#TheGlocal #غفران_وراسنة pic.twitter.com/RbjOaNdYNb
— The Glocal (@TheGlocal) June 1, 2022
She was reportedly jailed for three months for her coverage of a pro-Palestine rally in January this year and her camera equipment was destroyed, her mother told Wafa news agency. The journalist had been released last April.
Israeli forces also obstructed mourners attending the journalist’s funeral, a couple of hours after her killing, according to The New Arab. Ghufran's cousin, Abdel Rahman Warsaneh said that Israeli forces prevented mourners from entering the refugee camp. He added IDF soldiers used tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the crowd.
Israeli occupation forces attack Palestinian mourners and fired tear gas and sound grenades toward them while taking part in the funeral of Palestinian journalist Ghufran Warasna who was murdered by the Israeli occupation forces in Hebron. pic.twitter.com/9UhkvziyNA
— DAYS OF PALESTINEᅠ (@DaysOfPal) June 1, 2022
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is appalled at the impunity with which Israel has been allowed to operate against Palestinian journalists. We mourn Ghufran’s loss and extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends and colleagues. Less than three weeks ago, we documented the brutal killing of veteran journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Despite strong evidence and eyewitness accounts as well as findings of independent investigations suggesting that Shireen was targeted and killed by IDF forces while she was clearly marked as press, Israel has said it will not be carrying out a criminal probe. The Israeli state at first claimed that she may have been shot by a Palestinian fighter's weapon. It later conceded it was possible she was killed by Israeli fire but maintained it was an "active combative situation". The CFWIJ condemns both killings. We call on the international community to hold Israel to account for its violations against the press and attacks on journalists. The perpetrators of these killings must be brought to justice! Know more about the Israeli state's hostilities and violations against the press, especially Palestinian journalists, in our quarterly report here.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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