GAZA, (PIC)
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has documented testimonies from five Palestinian journalists from Gaza who were detained by Israeli occupation forces after Oct. 7, 2023, saying their accounts reveal abuse, interrogation and violations directly linked to their journalistic work.
The journalists, including Alaa al-Sarraj, Diaa al-Kahlout, Shadi Abu Sido and Imad al-Ifranji, said they were subjected to harsh treatment, repeated interrogations about their media activity, and serious physical and psychological abuse during detention.
Abu Sido said he was arrested while reporting inside Al-Shifa Medical Complex on March 18, 2024, and spent 572 days in detention, moving between Sde Teiman, Ofer and Ketziot. He was released suffering from severe health problems, including loss of sight in one eye, scabies, seizures, insomnia and loss of appetite.
The report said none of the five journalists has been able to return to work after release because of the physical and psychological impact of detention. Sarraj, who spent 692 days in Israeli prisons, said he lost his home, vehicle, media equipment and the archive of his media institution.
The journalists said they clearly identified themselves as members of the press when detained in Gaza, but were still arrested and transferred to Israeli detention facilities.
RSF said the testimonies point to the direct targeting of Palestinian journalists because of their work, describing the interrogations and abuses as part of a pattern of systematic persecution.
Interrogations focused on journalistic work
The detainees’ testimonies shed light on the nature of the interrogations they underwent, with investigators focusing their questions on their media activity, field reporting and professional relationships.
Shadi Abu Sido said an Israeli military intelligence interrogator questioned him about media coverage in northern Gaza and asked about journalists who had covered the events of Oct. 7.
Alaa al-Sarraj also said the interrogation sessions focused on details related to his professional career and relationships inside Gaza, while Imad al-Ifranji and Diaa al-Kahlout underwent multiple interrogation sessions by Israeli security agencies.
Detention under the “unlawful combatant” law
The report said Israeli authorities kept the journalists in detention under the “unlawful combatants” law, which was used to extend their detention through brief court hearings held without lawyers present.
It added that the detainees faced repeated decisions extending their detention for indefinite periods, despite telling the courts that they were journalists protected under international law.
The organization renewed its call for the immediate release of all Palestinian journalists held by Israeli authorities, saying 19 Palestinian journalists remain imprisoned, including two detained in Gaza after Oct. 7.