Location:  Palestine, Jerusalem
Date: April 18, 2022

IDF officers shot journalist Nasreen Salem in the head with a rubber bullet while she was covering the violence that unfolded at the Al-Aqsa mosque on Friday, April 15. Her employer organization, Al Qastal took to Twitter to announce that their reporter was injured on the field due to IDF violence. At least 152 Palestinians were injured when the Israeli riot police raided the Al Aqsa mosque compound.

In a tweet shared on their official Twitter account, Jerusalem based news organization Al Qastal announced of the severe attack on their reporter Nasreen Salem who was in the field covering the IDF overreach.

News soon started circulating of Nasreen having succumbed to her wounds, however, it was later clarified that she was in recovery. Over 150 people were injured during the attack on the mosque. While Palestinian Red Cross reports that at least three people were transferred to the hospital after being hit by rubber-coated bullets.

This is not the first time such an incident has taken place in the region. From November 2020 to June 7, 2021, CFWIJ has recorded 12 cases of threats and violence against women— 11 were recorded in May and June alone. One of the most unfortunate incidents was the killing of Palestinian journalist Reema Saad. On the night of May 11, she was killed in a targeted airstrike by Israeli forces on a 10-floor building in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City. Reema was four months pregnant at the time of her death. Sources on the ground confirmed that she, along with her husband and two children, was killed in the attack. The frequency of the attacks against women journalists by Israeli forces has increased significantly. In addition to arrests and detentions, there have been several reports of physical assaults, attacks with rubber bullets, and tear gas bombs. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the attack of the press in Jerusalem. The overreaches of the Israel Defense Forces received widespread condemnation last year in May when the Israeli state attacked the Gaza strip, however, the international community did little to come to the aid of the suffering community. It should not be forgotten that women journalists are among the most vulnerable groups in areas of conflict and global apathy on the issue remain reprehensible.

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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