A journalist was threatened by an Israeli security officer who demanded he tell the truth during a live broadcast.
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The shocking video shows the security officer confronting journalist Ahamad Darwasheh, a Qatar-based news station Araby TV reporter. Dawarsheh was broadcasting live in the city of Ashdod, less than 31 miles from the border of Gaza, on Sunday. During the broadcast, the officer enters the camera view, begins questioning Darwasheh, and asks him where he came from. The journalist responds that he’s from Nazareth, to which the security officer quickly replies, ‘What are you saying?’
Darwasheh tells the officer to wait while he finishes the broadcast since they are on live television, and the officer yells at him. “I don’t care if you are on live; what are you saying?” he exclaims. The journalist explains that he only reports what the Israeli military is doing. Seconds later, the officer screams: ‘You better be saying good things. Understood? And all these Hamas should be slaughtered! Am I clear?! Because if you don’t report the truth, woe is you!’
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The news team asked their colleague what the officer said to him, and Darwasheh explained that the Israeli police were monitoring what he was reporting and ‘he came to me screaming and threatening me.’ Seconds later, the officer returns and looks directly into the camera before screaming again.
‘Destestable! We’ll turn Gaza into dust! Dust!’
The video was originally uploaded on Reddit by Palestinian reporter Younis Tirawi who said his colleague was ‘threatened and assaulted’ and users had varying opinions about the soldier screaming at the camera.
One user wrote, “Omg, if this is what there like on live tv, imagine what it’s like behind closed doors.” Another wrote, “The thing is that if he were harassing a Jewish reporter, the reporter would have legal recourse. But he’s Palestinian, so he doesn’t. The Israeli constitution is very robust in its protection of Israeli Jews’ civil liberties. This cop knows there’s nothing the reporter can do about the harassment because of his ethnicity.”
“Is it just me that immediately can’t take anyone seriously who walks round with a single airpod just there probably not even doing anything?”
It’s unfortunate to hear about the threats made towards AhmadDarawsheh. Freedom of the press and unbiased reporting are crucial for a fair and balanced understanding of any situation. It’s important that journalists are allowed to do their job without intimidation
