The Israeli occupation has issued a six-month administrative detention order against Palestinian journalist Ali Al-Samoudi, 58, from Jenin, as part of a systematic escalation policy targeting Palestinian journalists.
This decision raises the number of journalists held under administrative detention to 20, out of about 50 journalists currently imprisoned by the occupation since the outbreak of the genocidal war on Gaza and the West Bank on 7 October 2023.
Al-Samoudi was arrested on 29 April and has since been subjected to a series of violations and ill-treatment from the moment of his arrest. He was initially detained in a military barracks in Jenin before being transferred to Al-Jalama interrogation centre, and later to Megiddo prison, where he is currently held under harsh conditions that lack the minimum international standards for human rights.
The occupation has expanded its use of administrative detention against journalists, relying on so-called “secret files” which neither the detainees nor their lawyers are allowed to access, in a clear violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This practice is classified as a form of arbitrary detention prohibited under the principles of international humanitarian law.
The occupation continues to target journalists using vague charges, most notably “incitement”, to justify arrests and restrict media freedom. These practices constitute a flagrant violation of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression and access to information without restriction.
The deteriorating health condition of journalist Al-Samoudi, who suffers from chronic illnesses and previous injuries, has been deliberately ignored by the occupation. He remains detained in Megiddo prison, which is famous for its poor health environment and lack of adequate medical care. This poses a direct threat to his life and contravenes the detaining state’s obligations under the Geneva Conventions.
In this current phase, the occupation has intensified its crackdown on Palestinian media voices, using exceptional legal tools to suppress press freedom and silence dissent in an effort to impose its narrative and obscure the truth. These policies represent a grave threat and demand genuine international accountability to halt the targeting of journalists and bring those responsible for such violations to justice.
