Palestinian Journalist Held as Premature Baby Suffers Without Breastfeeding

Israeli authorities have refused to release Palestinian journalist Rula Hassanein, despite urgent appeals highlighting her newborn baby’s critical dependence on breastfeeding. The case has drawn international condemnation, as human rights organizations argue that Israel’s continued detention of Hassanein violates both press freedom and child welfare standards.

Hassanein, a freelance journalist affiliated with Al Jazeera Arabic, was arrested on March 19, 2024, during a wave of Israeli detentions targeting Palestinian reporters in the occupied West Bank. She was charged with “incitement” based on her social media posts—an accusation frequently leveled against Palestinian journalists under Israel’s broad anti-terrorism laws. According to legal observers, her online content consisted of commentary and reporting that Israeli authorities deemed politically sensitive.

While incarcerated, Hassanein gave birth to a premature baby girl who, according to medical experts, requires exclusive breastfeeding for survival. Her family and legal team filed multiple appeals for humanitarian release, arguing that no substitute formula or otherwise could meet the nutritional and immunological needs of the child at this stage. However, Israeli courts rejected these pleas, citing ongoing security concerns and affirming the legitimacy of her detention.

Press freedom advocates, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, have condemned the court’s decision. They argue that denying a mother access to her infant—especially when breastfeeding is medically essential—amounts to inhumane treatment and violates the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Israel is a signatory.

This case underscores a growing pattern of repression against Palestinian journalists amid the war in Gaza and escalating tensions in the West Bank. Hassanein is one of over 80 journalists detained by Israel since October 2023, many under vague allegations related to “incitement” or “support for terrorism.”

Critics warn that such detentions, especially when they extend to nursing mothers, reflect a deep erosion of humanitarian norms and basic legal protections. As the baby’s health continues to deteriorate, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene—not just for Hassanein’s release, but to defend the rights of journalists and children caught in the crossfire of military occupation.