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November 18, 2025 – Palestine –
An Israeli broadcaster is facing mounting threats and harassment following his investigative coverage of the alleged sexual abuse of a Palestinian detainee in 2024. The case underscores growing tensions between independent media and far-right actors in Israel.
Guy Peleg of Channel 12 came under attack after airing leaked footage of an incident at the Sde Teiman Detention Centre in August 2024. The material, obtained via the Military Advocate General’s Corps, showed the detainee being led away while covered by riot shields, then allegedly assaulted, including what the report described as a stabbing to the rectum.
After the broadcast, Peleg was subjected to sustained pressure by right-wing activists, media figures, and elected officials. The Israeli Heritage Minister, Amichay Eliyahu, publicly called for the journalist to be jailed for distributing the footage. The director-general of the media watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) described the campaign against Peleg as “deploring,” emphasising that authorities should protect journalists rather than foster retaliation.
The exposé prompted national-level political fallout. The Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, dismissed the footage as “cooked up” and claimed it inflicted “unspeakable damage” to Israel and the Israel Defense Forces. The scandal culminated in the resignation of the military advocate general, Yifat Tomer‑Yerushalmi, who oversaw prosecutions of soldiers accused in the case.
Peleg’s experience exposes broader risks facing journalists who challenge official narratives and report on alleged violations by security forces. The threats he faces reflect a charged media environment where independent inquiry is met with organised backlash. Press-freedom monitors warn that such intimidation undermines accountability and stifles reporting crucial to democratic oversight.
The case calls attention to the essential role journalists play in exposing abuses, and the mounting dangers they face when doing so. It also raises urgent questions about the state’s responsibility to safeguard media professionals, protect sources, and strengthen legal protections against harassment for those seeking to uncover the truth.
Reference –
Israeli journalist faces threats after reporting alleged sexual abuse of prisoner
