GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Palestinian Ministry of Information issued a statement May 27 describing the Israeli Knesset deliberations on a bill that would ban the filming of Israeli soldiers in action as the height of discrimination. The statement said the proposed law encourages Israeli soldiers to continue killing and called it an attempt to protect them from international legal pursuit. The proposal to ban the filming of Israel Defense Forces soldiers stems from concern that documentation would affect the soldiers’ work.

The bill states, “Anyone who films, photographs and/or records soldiers in the course of their duties with the intention of undermining the spirit of IDF soldiers and residents of Israel shall be liable to five years imprisonment. Anyone intending to harm state security will be sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.” The bill also would prohibit the publication of such photo or video content on social media.

Haaretz' May 27 editorial condemned the bill as dangerous, saying its aim is to ban criticicism of the Israeli army and the documentation of its behavior and to forbid human rights’ organizations from doing their work, a clear violation of journalism and the people’s right to access information.

Fayez Abu Atia, undersecretary of the Palestinian Ministry of Information, told Al-Monitor that the whole point of the bill is to halt supervision of soldiers to avoid publicizing their crimes and violations against the Palestinian people. The bill coincides with the rise in violations against peaceful protesters at the border fence separating the Gaza Strip and Israel. Since the Great March of Return protests began March 30, the soldiers have killed 115 citizens and wounded thousands.