Israel: Israeli Palestinian journalist shot dead in unknown circumstances

Israeli Palestinian journalist Nidal Ighbariya, who specialised in covering violent crime, was shot dead by an unidentified gunman on September 4 as he drove home in the Arab town of Umm al-Fahm in the district of Haifa, Israel. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the murder and urges the Israeli authorities to launch an investigation and hold the perpetrators to account.

Journalists and residents protest crime and violence following the murder of Israeli Palestinian journalist Nidal Ighbariya, at the Arab town of Umm Al-Fahm, on September 5, 2022. Credit: Ahmad Gharabli / AFP

Ighbariya was known for reporting on organised crime in Arab towns, and for being a fierce critic of the Israeli police due to its failure in dealing with the increase of violent crime within the Israeli-Palestinian community. 

In June 2021, the journalist was targeted in an assassination attempt. He shared several pictures on Facebook and Instagram, documenting an attack on his house with a hail of bullets.

Speaking to the media, his family held the Israeli authorities responsible for the incident as a result of their failure to protect him, despite him filing complaints about receiving death threats.

The Arab Center for Media Freedom, Development and Research (Ilam Center) declared that: “this assassination spreads fear among journalists, who are very worried that they could suffer from similar fate. Several journalists have admitted they are receiving death threats from organised crime and fearing they will be the next target.”

IFJ Secretary General Anthony Bellanger said: “We mourn the loss of our colleague and call on the Israeli authorities to investigate the case. Further action must be taken to protect Israeli Palestinian journalists and end the climate of impunity in Israel.”

For more information, please contact IFJ on +32 2 235 22 16

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 146 countries

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