West Bank: Palestinian Journalist and Activist Lama Khater Threatened with Rape in Prison

Husband and lawyer say the journalist was strip-searched, threatened with rape, harm to her children, and deportation to Gaza

Location: West Bank, Hebron
Date: October 26, 2023
Updated: November  9, 2023

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is concerned for the welfare of journalist Lama Khater following her detention by Israeli Defense Forces and subsequent mistreatment while behind bars. The reasons for her detention are unknown. Violence, incarcerations, and assaults against Palestinian journalists in the occupied West Bank have escalated since conflict erupted on October 7. We demand answers from Israeli authorities surrounding Lama Khater’s detention and treatment, and call for her immediate release. 

On October 26, in the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian journalist Lama Khater was detained by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Hazam Fakhoury, Khater's husband, Hazam Fakhoury, says dozens of IDF soldiers stormed the family home at around 2 A.M., raided the house, and then detained his wife.

"They were very violent,” says Fakhoury. “They insulted us all the time and terrorized our children. They made me sit on the ground and start screaming. The officer in charge of them said, 'We are here to take revenge on you. Our goal is revenge.'" 

On November 9, 2023, Fakhoury, informed the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) about soldiers threatening Khater with sexual violence and harm to her children. Her lawyer, Hassan Abbadi, confirmed these allegations after visiting Khater in prison and shared the details on Facebook. Abbadi also revealed to CPJ that Khater was strip-searched and threatened with deportation to Gaza, intensifying concerns about her treatment and raising significant human rights issues. The reasons for her detention are unknown. 

In mid-2018, Khatar - who collaborates with Middle East Monitor and Felesteen - was detained for over a year for her reporting, which Israeli authorities described as inflammatory.

It is anticipated that Khater will be transferred to administrative detention, which allows for the imprisonment of people without trial or formal charges based on the suspicion of potential future criminal activities. This practice, which lacks a specific time frame and relies on undisclosed evidence, is frequently utilized by Israel and has been employed to detain numerous Palestinians for extended durations. Although these detention orders undergo formal review, the process provides only a semblance of judicial oversight, as detainees are unable to defend themselves against unrevealed accusations effectively. Despite this, the courts consistently uphold most of these orders.

The escalation of conflict between Israel and Palestine that began with Hamas’ attack on October 7 has resulted in a significant increase in the number of detainees held by Israel in the West Bank. Detainee numbers have surged from 5,200 to over 10,000 Palestinians due to intensified actions by Israeli forces, including nightly raids on Palestinian homes, villages, and cities in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

CFWIJ has documented numerous violations against women journalists reporting on the tensions in the West Bank. On October 19, Palestinian photojournalist Latifa Abdel Latif and the Italian network Channel 4 crew were attacked by Israeli settlers from Beit El. These journalists were injured, and their equipment was damaged during the assault. On October 16, reporter Dalia Al-Nimri, affiliated with Russia Today, was threatened at gunpoint by Israeli border guards in Al-Quds.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism denounces Lama Khater’s arrest and detention. The escalation of arbitrary arrests and detentions of Palestinian journalists by Israeli forces in the West Bank is deeply troubling. We urge Israeli authorities to provide immediate clarification on the grounds for Lama Khater's arrest, and we call for her swift release, safeguarding her rights and those of all journalists working in the region.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.