Israeli Forces Detain and Assault Journalists During West Bank Protest

Israeli army units detained and assaulted a group of journalists covering a protest in Khirbet Ibziq, east of Tubas in the occupied West Bank, local sources reported on 5 February 2026. The demonstration was held to protest an earlier Israeli raid on Al-Tahadi School, which activists said included vandalism and the confiscation of educational materials. Witnesses said journalists and activists participating in the march were seized by soldiers and settlers.

According to eyewitness accounts cited by the Yemen News Agency (SABA), more than 20 activists and media workers from various outlets — including crews from Palestine TV and the Palestinian Red Crescent — were taken into custody during the event. Among those reported attacked was Zaid Abu Ara, a correspondent for Al-Kufiya TV, who was reportedly beaten and denied immediate medical attention after being detained.

The protest was organised by local national action groups, the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, and the Ibziq Village Council in response to the school raid two days earlier. Participants sought to condemn what they described as ongoing Israeli aggression affecting civilian infrastructure and education in the area.

Rights observers and press freedom advocates have highlighted the broader context of media repression in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) documented dozens of violations against journalists and media crews in January 2026, including physical assaults, arrests, and obstruction of coverage. The organisation said recorded incidents represented an increase compared to the previous month, with reported attacks and restrictions affecting journalists across multiple governorates.

In addition to physical assaults, the MADA report noted that at least three journalists were killed in Gaza by military aircraft while on assignment, and that numerous media teams were prevented from carrying out field reporting throughout the West Bank and Gaza during January.

The ongoing tensions and attacks on press workers have drawn criticism from regional and international press freedom organisations, which warn that the safety and operational freedom of journalists in occupied territories are increasingly under threat. Critics argue that such incidents undermine journalists’ ability to document events and keep the public informed, particularly in areas affected by conflict and settlement expansions.

The developments in Tubas add to a pattern of hostile encounters between security forces and media personnel in Palestine, raising concerns about the protection of journalists and respect for international standards governing the safety of civilian reporters.

Reference –

https://www.saba.ye/en/news3641399.htm