ICE Agents Pepper-Spray Protesters and Detain One in San Francisco
August 21, 2025
Immigration Reporter Mario Guevara Alleges Retaliatory Detention by ICE
August 21, 2025
August 21, 2025 – Palestine –
Israeli special forces carried out raids across the occupied West Bank that culminated in the arrest of veteran journalist Muath Amarna and left several others injured. Amarna, who had previously lost an eye while covering earlier hostilities in 2019, was detained while traveling on the road between Bethlehem and Hebron and taken to an undisclosed location.
During these operations, Israeli forces aggressively used rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas in Qusra town, south of Nablus. Clashes erupted, resulting in injuries to multiple Palestinians—one young man was treated at a medical facility, and others suffered from tear gas inhalation. Reports indicate that security forces fired these munitions at youths and residential buildings while also imposing checkpoints that restricted civilian movement.
These developments are part of a broader escalation in military incursions throughout the West Bank following the launch of Israel’s “Al‑Aqsa Flood” operation on October 7, 2023. Since then, Palestinian health services report hundreds of civilians have been killed or wounded across the territory.
The use of force amid these raids raises serious concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists in conflict zones. Muath Amarna is among an increasing number of Palestinian reporters who have been targeted, detained, or injured—in many cases under opaque circumstances and without due process. Indeed, broader data reveal a sharp rise in journalist detentions since October 2023, including many held under administrative detention without formal charges, often tied to vague accusations of “incitement.”
These incidents underline the intensifying militarization of the West Bank and the growing threats to journalists attempting to report on developments in the occupied Palestinian territories. The targeting of media professionals like Amarna, particularly in the absence of transparent legal justification, signals a troubling trend of repression amid ongoing conflict.
Reference –
Related posts
A Palestinian youth takes pictures with his telephone during an anti-Hamas protest, calling for an end to the war with Israel, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on March 26, 2025. Demonstrators carrying banners were seen marching in Gaza City and the town of Beit Lahia in the north of the territory, more than a week after the Israeli army resumed its bombing campaign following nearly two months of a truce. (Photo by AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by - has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [on March 26, 2025] instead of [on April 26, 2025]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.
