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July 28, 2025 – Palestine –
Veteran Palestinian journalist Nasser al-Laham, editor-in-chief of Ma’an News Agency, has come forward with harrowing details of abuse during a recent detention by Israeli forces. Arrested on July 7 in the West Bank on unsubstantiated accusations of “incitement” and alleged affiliation with a banned organisation, al-Laham was held for nine days at Ofer Prison before being released without charges on July 16.
In a statement published following his release, al-Laham revealed that Israeli prison guards beat him, blindfolded him, and filmed him naked during interrogations. He described the abuse as deliberate humiliation and psychological torture. His account aligns with multiple reports from Palestinian detainees who have described patterns of mistreatment, including strip searches, physical violence, and sexualized intimidation in Israeli military facilities.
Al-Laham, a widely respected journalist with decades of experience reporting on Israeli-Palestinian affairs, said the worst moment was being forced to stand naked while guards filmed him. “It was not about extracting information. It was about breaking the human spirit,” he said.
Human rights organisations and press freedom groups have condemned the reported abuse. Legal experts stress that al-Laham’s detention without charge and his treatment in custody violate international humanitarian law and protections afforded to civilians and journalists under the Geneva Conventions.
This incident adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting systemic mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners, including journalists, by Israeli forces. According to rights monitors, dozens of Palestinian media workers have been arbitrarily detained since the beginning of the Gaza war in 2023, with many reporting severe abuse.
Calls are growing for independent investigations and international pressure on Israeli authorities to uphold human rights obligations and ensure accountability for violations.
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