Palestinian Journalists Detained by Israel Reach 39, Rights Group Reports

The number of Palestinian journalists held in Israeli prisons has risen to 39, according to the Palestinian Prisoners' Club, which reported the increase on Thursday. The group stated that Israel has intensified its pursuit of Palestinian journalists in the occupied West Bank, detaining a male and female journalist within a 24-hour period.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Club detailed that Israeli authorities are escalating their targeting of journalists through arrest, pursuit, administrative detention, and isolation, in addition to hindering their professional work. The group noted that the current total of 39 detained journalists includes Alaa Al-Rimawi, arrested early Thursday near Ramallah.

Since the start of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023, all 39 currently detained journalists have been arrested. Of these, 21 are being held under administrative detention, a measure allowing detention without charge based on alleged secret evidence, with possibilities for repeated extensions. The group highlighted the administrative detention of journalists Moath Amarneh and Sabri Jubreen from Bethlehem for four months, and the continued detention of Nabaa Hamed from Ramallah until September 23.

The report also indicated an increase in the targeting of female journalists, with five currently detained. Prisoner Bushra Al-Taweel was recently transferred from Damoun Prison to isolation at Ramle Prison without clear information on her conditions.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Club described a "continuous system of policies" against journalists that extends beyond arrest to include isolation, abuse, torture, harsh detention conditions, and denial of medical care, alongside targeting them while they perform their duties. The group urged international human rights organizations to uphold their responsibility to protect Palestinian journalists and ensure their right to work freely, calling for an end to the detention and pursuit policies.