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March 06, 2025 – Palestine/Israel –
Palestinian sports journalist Mohammad Al-Astal remains detained by Israeli forces, despite the military reportedly acknowledging a lack of concrete evidence against him. Al-Astal, who works for Al-Kofiya TV and is known for his coverage of Palestinian sports, was arrested after giving a televised interview in Rafah, southern Gaza. His case has since become emblematic of the broader Israeli clampdown on Palestinian journalists amid the war on Gaza.
Al-Astal was apprehended during a military raid in early March 2024, shortly after appearing on television to discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis and local conditions. According to his family, he was taken without explanation and has been held in administrative detention—an Israeli policy that allows imprisonment without formal charges or trial. Reports from legal advocates indicate that even Israeli military prosecutors concede there is insufficient evidence to formally charge him, yet his detention has been extended.
The continued imprisonment has sparked outrage from international press freedom organizations and human rights groups. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have condemned Israel’s use of administrative detention against media workers, calling it an abuse of power and a threat to the already fragile state of press freedom in the occupied territories.
Al-Astal’s arrest fits into a broader pattern of journalist detentions since the escalation of hostilities in Gaza. Palestinian media workers, particularly those reporting on the war’s civilian toll, have become frequent targets. Many are accused of “incitement” or “affiliation with terrorist organizations,” often without trial or public evidence. As of May 2025, dozens of Palestinian journalists are believed to be detained by Israeli forces, many of them without formal charges.
Advocates argue that Israel is increasingly using these detentions to silence dissent and control narratives emerging from Gaza. Al-Astal’s case, especially due to the lack of legal grounds and his status as a sports reporter rather than a political correspondent, underscores the indiscriminate nature of the crackdown.
Calls are mounting for his immediate release, with legal experts stressing that journalism—even critical journalism—cannot be equated with criminality in a democracy.
Reference –
https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-arrests-palestinian-sports-journalist-over-tv-interview
