Recently released Palestinian journalists, freed as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Gaza, have provided shocking testimonies revealing the systematic torture they endured during their detention by Israeli forces.
Journalist Mohammed Al-Sultan, who was arrested from Jabalia Refugee Camp on 24 September 2023, described enduring eight brutal interrogation sessions, during which he suffered severe physical and verbal abuse, leaving him in a constant state of torment.
He stated that the methods of torture inflicted upon him resulted in both physical and psychological trauma, exacerbated by the complete lack of accountability for the occupation’s repressive practices.
Similarly, journalist Mahmoud Ailwa, who was abducted from Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza on 18 March 2024, revealed that he was subjected to severe beatings and brutal torture the moment Israeli forces discovered his profession.
One interrogator explicitly told him, “Because you’re a journalist, we will double your torture,” a chilling admission that underscores Israel’s deliberate targeting of Palestinian journalists for their role in exposing its violations.
Despite being detained for a year, Ailwa was never charged with any formal offence, highlighting Israel’s policy of arbitrary detention against Palestinian journalists.
Meanwhile, journalist Khader Abdel Aal, arrested on 18 March 2024, recounted his grueling ordeal in Israeli prisons, where he spent ten months in torture chambers, deprived of basic necessities, including food, medical care, and religious rights.
He described Ofer Prison as a “living hell for journalists,” where detainees are subjected to systematic repression aimed at breaking their will and preventing them from resuming their journalistic work upon release.
Israel’s violations against Palestinian journalists extend beyond prison torture—they also face direct arrests, physical assaults, and deadly force while reporting on events, all part of a deliberate effort to silence the press and conceal the occupation’s crimes against Palestinians.
Given these ongoing atrocities, the United Nations and international human rights organisations must take urgent action to hold Israel accountable for its grave violations against Palestinian journalists. The systematic torture and arbitrary detention of media workers constitute clear breaches of international law and necessitate immediate international intervention to ensure their protection and prosecute those responsible before international courts.
Remaining silent in the face of these violations grants Israel a green light to continue suppressing press freedom, endangering not only Palestinian journalists but also the public’s right to access the truth.
