WEST BANK, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The number of Palestinian journalists currently held in Israeli prisons has risen to 39 following the arrest of journalist Alaa al-Rimawi in Ramallah early on Thursday, amid an ongoing escalation in Israeli measures targeting Palestinian journalists and obstructing their work in documenting events and violations.
The Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) said in a statement that all journalists currently imprisoned have been arrested since the beginning of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
Of the 39 journalists, 21 are being held under administrative detention, including journalists Muath Amarneh and Sabri Jibrin, whom Israeli occupation authorities recently ordered to be held in administrative detention for four months.
Journalist Naqaa Hamed’s detention extended
Israeli authorities have also extended the detention of Ramallah-based journalist Naqaa Hamed, who was arrested on September 15, until September 23.
Five female journalists are currently being held in Israeli prisons. Israeli authorities also continue to hold journalist Bushra al-Tawil in isolation after transferring her from Damon Prison to solitary confinement at Ramla Prison, with little information available about the conditions of her detention.
Arrest, isolation and abuse
The PPS said Israeli measures targeting Palestinian journalists extend beyond arrest to administrative detention, isolation, abuse and torture, as well as harsh detention conditions and denial of medical treatment. Journalists have also been targeted while carrying out their professional duties, according to the group.
The organization said these practices undermine Palestinian journalists’ ability to perform their professional duties, report developments on the ground and document violations for the public.
Calls to protect Palestinian journalists
The PPS called on international human rights organizations to fulfill their responsibilities to protect Palestinian journalists and safeguard their right to work without persecution or arrest. It also urged action to end administrative detention, isolation and abuse against detained journalists.
The rising number of imprisoned journalists comes amid continued restrictions and persecution of Palestinian media workers, raising growing concerns about their ability to access information, document events and violations, and report developments on the ground to the world.
