Israeli Forces Detain Journalist Ahmad Jalajel Twice in Jerusalem
March 8, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Ahmad Jalajel Detained Twice by Israeli Forces in Jerusalem
March 8, 2025
Israeli army vehicles surround an ambulance at the entrance of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, during a raid on June 13, 2024. - Jenin has long been a stronghold for Palestinian militant groups, and the Israeli army routinely carries out raids in the city and the adjacent camp. (Photo by Zain JAAFAR / AFP)
March 08, 2025 – Palestine/Israel –
Israeli occupation forces detained several Palestinian journalists in Jenin and Jerusalem, intensifying concerns over press freedom in the occupied territories.
On March 8, Israeli forces briefly detained several journalists near the Jenin Government Hospital while they were covering the military’s siege around the hospital and its attempts to storm the hospital’s yard. Earlier that day, military vehicles were deployed in front of the hospital’s gate, and toxic gas canisters were fired towards people present in its main courtyard. This marked the 47th day of Israeli aggression against Jenin city and its refugee camp, resulting in 30 fatalities, dozens of injuries, and mass displacement of almost the entire population of the Jenin refugee camp.
In a separate incident, Israeli forces detained Palestinian journalist Ahmad Jalajel twice in March. On March 5, he was arrested from his home in the Silwan neighborhood during Iftar time and was later released after several hours of interrogation. On March 8, Jalajel was again arrested, this time from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, and was released after several hours of detention.
These detentions are part of a broader pattern of Israeli forces targeting Palestinian journalists. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 79 journalists have been arrested in the West Bank and Gaza since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned these actions as attempts to suppress independent reporting and intimidate media personnel.
The ongoing arrests and detentions of journalists underscore the challenges faced by media workers in conflict zones and highlight the importance of safeguarding press freedom to ensure accurate and independent reporting.
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