Palestinian journalists rally to mark World Press Freedom Day

Dozens of Palestinian journalists demonstrated in the West Bank on Saturday near the city of Bethlehem to mark the World Press Freedom Day and to protest against Israeli violations to the freedom of speech in Palestine.

Witnesses and journalists said Israeli army forces used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse dozens of Palestinian journalists, who rallied near an Israeli army roadblock in Bethlehem to mark the day.

They said that Nasser Najjar, chairman of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, and his deputy were lightly injured after a percussion bombs fell under their foot, while others suffered suffocation after inhaling tear gas.

Najjar told reporters that the rally was arranged on Saturday to mark the World Press Freedom Day and protest the endless Israeli measures practiced against the freedom of the Palestinian press.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian corporation for prisoners' affairs said that in addition to restricting the free movement of journalists, Israel holds in its jails 14 local Palestinian journalists and reporters.

In a press statement to mark the day, the group called on the international community and all the institutions that advocate the rights of journalists to pressure on Israel to end restrictions on Palestinian journalists.