Gaza: The international media rights organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has released a report based on the testimonies of five Palestinian journalists from Gaza who were released from Israeli detention. The organization says that the journalists’ accounts depict alleged physical and psychological abuse during detention, harsh interrogations, and the targeting of their journalistic activities.
The journalists featured in the report said that after their arrest, they were subjected to interrogation sessions that focused primarily on their reporting, media activities, and professional contacts. According to RSF, these testimonies reinforce concerns that Palestinian journalists were directly targeted because of their professional work.
The journalists featured in the report include Alaa Al-Sarraj, Diaa Al-Kahlout, Shadi Abu Sido, and Imad Al-Ifranji. All of them said they experienced harsh treatment, repeated interrogations, and severe physical and psychological effects during their detention.
Shadi Abu Sido said that he was arrested on March 18, 2024, while reporting inside the Al-Shifa Medical Complex. According to him, he spent a total of 572 days in detention and was held at various detention facilities, including Sde Teiman, Ofer, and Ketziot. Following his release, he has been struggling with several serious health problems, including loss of vision in one eye, scabies, seizures, insomnia, and loss of appetite.
According to the RSF report, none of the five journalists released from detention have yet been able to return to their professional work. The organization says this is due to the profound physical and psychological effects they suffered during their detention.
Alaa Al-Sarraj, who spent 692 days in Israeli prisons, said that during this period he lost his home, vehicle, media equipment, and the entire archive of his media organization.
The journalists said that at the time of their arrest, they had clearly identified themselves as members of the press. Despite this, they were taken into custody and transferred to various detention centers across Israel.
Interrogations Focused on Journalism and Media Coverage
According to the testimonies documented in the report, journalists were questioned primarily about their reporting activities, field coverage, and their contacts within the media industry during interrogations.
Shadi Abu Sido said that an Israeli military intelligence officer questioned him about media coverage in northern Gaza and about journalists who covered the events of October 7. Meanwhile, Alaa Al-Sarraj said that he was subjected to detailed questioning regarding his professional activities and his connections within Gaza.
According to the report, Imad Al-Ifranji and Diaa Al-Kahlout were also subjected to multiple rounds of interrogation by Israeli security agencies.
Detention Extended Under the ‘Unlawful Combatant’ Law
RSF stated in its report that Israeli authorities detained these journalists under the ‘Unlawful Combatant’ law. According to the organization, their detention was repeatedly extended through brief court hearings under this law, while lawyers were not present during those proceedings.
The report claims that the journalists informed the courts that they were journalists protected under international law. Despite this, orders continued to be issued extending their detention for indefinite periods.
RSF has once again called on Israeli authorities to immediately release all detained Palestinian journalists. According to the organization, 19 Palestinian journalists are currently being held in Israeli prisons, including two journalists from Gaza who were detained after October 7, 2023.