Israel: Group Harasses and Threatens Almudena Ariza, Interrupting Live Broadcast
Spanish correspondent has reported the incident to Israeli police
Location: Israel, JerusalemDate: April 10, 2024
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the recent harassment and intimidation of Almudena Ariza, a Spanish journalist, while she was reporting live from Jerusalem for Telediario. The incident occurred when a man, along with others, obstructed the broadcast by positioning himself in front of the camera and issuing threats, leading to the abrupt termination of the report. This aggression is unacceptable and reflects a broader pattern of hostility toward the press, significantly intensified by the conflict following a Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent Israeli military actions in Gaza. Journalists covering the conflict have faced numerous violations while carrying out their work. We call upon the Israeli police to promptly investigate and hold those responsible for harassing and threatening Ariza accountable. Journalists reporting from Israel must be able to do so without fear of intimidation or violence.
Spanish foreign correspondent Almudena Ariza faced obstruction and intimidation while reporting live for La 1's Telediario from Jerusalem, Israel, on April 10, 2024.
Ariza attempted to reason with the man who was blocking the camera, but the interference persisted as more men joined in.
The obstruction led to the abrupt termination of the report as Ariza's colleagues from their studio in Torrespaña, Spain, intervened, eventually regaining control of the broadcast.
The harassment of Ariza continued even after the initial disruption. The reporter says the men threatened to do "something bad" to her. She and her team decided to report the incident to Israeli police in Jerusalem.
Later, addressing the interruption on Twitter, Ariza said that such harassment is unfortunately “frequent” for press working in the country.
Ariza explained the daily challenges faced by journalists in Jerusalem, where harassment and intimidation from citizens are alarmingly common. She mentioned instances where journalists are insulted, accused of lying, and even threatened, making their work environment increasingly hostile and dangerous.
Ariza linked the incident to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which escalated in October 2023 following a Hamas attack on Israeli territory. The response by the Netanyahu government led to significant casualties in Gaza, sparking international concern and media scrutiny.
Since the conflict escalated last year, Women Press Freedom has documented the killing of eighteen women journalists, of which fifteen Palestinian journalists were killed in Israeli shelling in Gaza, two Israeli journalists were killed in Hamas’ attack on Israel, and a Lebanese journalist was killed as the result of Israeli shelling in southern Lebanon. The conflict has increased tensions and press violations globally; both Muslim and Jewish journalists have received online hate and harassment for reporting or commenting on the war. Foreign correspondents reporting in Israel and the West Bank, like Almudena Ariza, have also experienced intimidation and obstruction while trying to report.
Women Press Freedom denounces the threats against Almudena Ariza and threats against her. Journalists must be free to report without harassment. We call on Israeli authorities to conduct a swift investigation into the men targeting the journalist. Those guilty of targeting journalists and intimidating them for doing their jobs must be held accountable.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
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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