TAHER SHRITEH
PALESTINIAN JOURNALIST & BIOGRAPHER
BIOGRAPHY
Taher Shriteh is an award-winning former Palestinian journalist whose courageous reporting from the Gaza Strip in the late 1980s and 1990s helped international media understand the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from inside Gaza. Best known for his work with Reuters, The New York Times, BBC, CBS News, and Voice of America, Shriteh left journalism in the early 2000s and now resides in the United States, where he has since established himself as a successful entrepreneur.
Born in Gaza in 1960, Shriteh graduated with honors from Cairo University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Mechanization. In 1984, he was accepted into a master’s program in mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, but returned to Gaza in 1986 due to financial constraints.
Shortly after returning, Shriteh met Reuters correspondent Paul Taylor and began contributing reports from Gaza, which was then virtually unreported by the foreign press. When the First Intifada erupted in December 1987, he was one of the only journalists reporting daily from within the territory. Over the years, he developed a reputation for professional, balanced reporting that earned the trust of both international outlets and local sources.
His work came at a significant personal cost. Between 1987 and 1993, Shriteh was repeatedly arrested by Israeli military forces, held in solitary confinement, and subjected to mistreatment by Shin Bet officers. He was accused of possessing a fax machine, using it without a permit, writing a book without a license, and failing to report information to Israeli authorities—allegations widely condemned by human rights organizations and international media as retaliatory. All charges were eventually dropped, and his bail was refunded.
Despite this harassment, Shriteh continued to cover every major development in Gaza. He survived multiple attacks while reporting from active conflict zones and was nearly deported alongside hundreds of Palestinian activists before international pressure led to his release. In 1995, Israeli authorities imposed a travel ban preventing him from leaving Gaza or reporting from the West Bank and Jerusalem, severely limiting his professional and personal freedom. Although he successfully petitioned to travel internationally in 1998, restrictions on regional movement remained in place.
In recognition of his journalistic courage, Shriteh was awarded the John R. Aubuchon Freedom of the Press Award by the National Press Club in 1993. His selection drew attempted interference from Israeli diplomats, but the committee stood firm, honoring him for continuing to report under extraordinary pressure and risk. Shriteh was widely regarded as the first journalist to consistently bring firsthand reporting from Gaza to major Western news outlets.
In 2000, he moved to the United States, where he now operates several retail businesses in Florida.
Most of the time I was in solitary confinement. The one by one-and-a-half yard cell was windowless, wet and cold. There were no blankets. It was January and I could not sleep in the cold. I could only use the toilet once a day, when the Shin Bet officer allowed me to. Sometimes, I was forced to sit on a baby chair with my hands and my feet cuffed and my head covered by a sack made of thick fabric. I was isolated from the outside world for 26 consecutive days. I lost track of the time and the date. I also lost 28 pounds.
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Taher Shriteh
TIMELINE
1960
Born in Gaza, Palestine.
1983
Graduated with honors from Cairo University with a B.S. in Agricultural Mechanization.
1984
Accepted into a master’s program in mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
1986
Returned to Gaza due to financial constraints. Began reporting after meeting Reuters correspondent Paul Taylor.
1987
Began reporting daily from Gaza during the First Intifada. Arrested by the Israeli military, detained for two days in solitary confinement, and beaten.
1989
Israeli military raided his home, seizing notebooks and reporting materials under accusations of incitement.
1991
Arrested again and placed in administrative detention by Shin Bet. Accused of aiding an enemy organization due to reporting on Hamas.
1992–1993
Arrested again and considered for inclusion in the mass deportation to Lebanon. International pressure prevented his expulsion.
1993
Awarded the John R. Aubuchon Freedom of the Press Award by the National Press Club for journalistic courage under threat and harassment.
1995
Israeli authorities imposed a travel ban, barring him from leaving Gaza. His wife, a Jerusalem resident, had to apply continuously for permits to remain in Gaza with him.
1998
Successfully petitioned for limited international travel, though local movement restrictions remained in effect.
2000
Relocated to the United States. Left journalism and began a new chapter as an entrepreneur.
Present Day
Resides in Florida, where he owns and operates several successful retail businesses.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Taher Shriteh was honored with the John R. Aubuchon Freedom of the Press Award by the National Press Club Journalism Institute for his brave and unyielding coverage from Gaza. The recognition highlighted his commitment to press freedom despite facing repeated arrests and official pressure.
VIDEOS
Episode 1: I Like America But I Love ...:
Episode 2 - How I Became a Journalist:
Episode 3 - Humiliation:
Memories of Palestine - Interview with Taher Shriteh (Video)
Gaza - First Issue Of 'Palestine' Newspaper
Gaza - Daily Diplomatic Report
PUBLICATIONS
John R. Aubuchon Award honors Press Freedom
Publisher of “Filastin” Taher Shriteh’s home raided in Gaza View Article
Attacks on the Press 2000: Israel and the Occupied Territories View Article
CPJ Dangerous Assignments: Unsafe Passage
Arab journalist trapped in Gaza
Reuters' Gaza Correspondent Enters Fifth Week in Investigative Detention View Article
REPORTER CHARGES ISRAEL WITH ABUSE
Israeli Court Extends Gaza Journalist's Detention Without Charges View Article
Israelis jail reported for doing his job
GALLERY
TESTIMONIALS
I have had the honor of knowing Taher Shriteh for decades and feel compelled to speak about the man I know—someone whose integrity, resilience, and commitment to truth have long stood out.
Before creating a successful business, Taher was a widely respected journalist. He reported for The New York Times, Reuters, and CBS News during some of the most challenging periods in Gaza and was recognized by the National Press Club for his courageous work.
He also collaborated with my parents, Israeli scholars Haim and Rivca Gordon, on Beyond Intifada, an oral history documenting Palestinians' lived experiences during the conflict. His work was grounded in empathy and an unwavering belief in preserving human stories—especially those too often overlooked.
Taher is someone who leads with decency. He has endured hardship with quiet strength, including being wrongfully imprisoned and mistreated, all without ever being charged or accused of any wrongdoing. Through all the challenges he has faced in his life, he has remained guided by a clear moral compass and a deep sense of justice.
Taher is a principled, compassionate, and honorable man who has devoted his life to telling the truth, helping others, and building bridges where others might seek to divide.
Neve Gordon
Professor of International Law and Human Rights