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February 22, 2026 – Palestine –
The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate has raised serious concerns about the deteriorating health of journalist Mujahed Bani Mufleh following his release from Israeli detention, saying his condition worsened rapidly after he was freed and subsequently hospitalised in Ramallah. The syndicate has placed responsibility for his health crisis on Israeli authorities and urged international action.
Bani Mufleh, 36, and a father of three, had spent seven months in Israeli custody before being released about one month ago. According to the syndicate’s statement, he was transferred to Istishari Hospital shortly after his release, after suffering a cerebral haemorrhage, and his condition quickly declined. Those close to his case say that during his detention, he endured systematic torture, inadequate medical care, starvation, and the administration of inappropriate medications, leaving him in critical condition in intensive care. The journalists’ group asserted that the deliberate denial of proper health care in detention contributed significantly to his current state, which they described as “grave.”
The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate has called for urgent investigations by international institutions into the treatment Bani Mufleh received while detained, warning that his case reflects broader patterns of mistreatment faced by Palestinian media professionals in custody. The syndicate said it plans to alert global organisations, including the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), to coordinate efforts to protect journalists and ensure accountability in such cases.
Bani Mufleh’s prolonged detention and subsequent health crisis highlight ongoing tensions over press freedoms and conditions for detainees in Israeli prisons. Palestinian reporters and media rights advocates have repeatedly cited cases of journalists being detained, injured, or otherwise targeted in connection with their reporting on conflict and occupation-related issues. These concerns are part of larger debates about how journalists are treated in contexts of political unrest and military operations.
The syndicate’s appeal follows longstanding criticism from Palestinian and international press freedom groups regarding violations against journalists, including injuries, detentions, and fatalities occurring during reporting assignments in conflict zones. These documented assaults on media professionals underscore ongoing risks to independent reporting and the need for protective measures and judicial oversight. (Context from reporting violations in late 2025).
As Bani Mufleh remains under medical care, the syndicate and allied organisations are pushing for transparency and accountability in his treatment and broader safeguards for journalists detained under politically sensitive conditions.
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