West Bank: Israeli Forces Detain Rula Hassanein
Three women journalists behind bars in West Bank
Location: West Bank, BethlehemDate: March 19, 2024
Women Press Freedom firmly condemns the ongoing detention of Palestinian journalists in the West Bank by Israeli occupying forces. The arrest of Rula Hassanein, a respected journalist known for her reporting on the Israeli occupation and human rights violations, in a pre-dawn raid at her home in Bethlehem on March 19, 2024, is a stark illustration of the dangers facing journalists in the region. Hassanein, a mother forced to leave her nine-month-old child behind, is one of over 40 journalists currently held in detention. Women Press Freedom demands an end to the targeted detentions of Palestinian journalists by Israeli forces. These night raids and arbitrary detentions of journalists create a climate of fear for those reporting, stifling press freedom in the West Bank. All those unjustly detained, including Rusla Hassanein, must be immediately and unconditionally released.
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On March 19, 2024, at 2:30 AM, the Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) conducted a raid on the home of Rula Hassanein, a Palestinian journalist based in Bethlehem. Known for her reporting on the Israeli occupation and human rights violations, Hassanein was forcibly taken into custody by the IOF. Her personal belongings, including her phone and laptop, were confiscated during the raid. According to Al-Jazeera, Hassanein was separated from her nine-month-old baby, whom she is still nursing, leaving the infant in the care of her husband.
Targeting of Journalists in the West Bank
The targeting of journalists in the West Bank has intensified since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, 2023. Numerous Palestinian journalists have faced detention, assault, and harassment by Israeli forces. At least 40 journalists remain behind bars, including three women journalists.
Earlier this month, journalist Bushra Al-Taweel was detained and assaulted by Israeli soldiers in Ramallah, West Bank, marking her fifth arrest in three years.
On October 26, 2023, in Hebron, Palestinian journalist Lama Khater was detained by the Israeli Occupying Forces. According to her husband Hazam Fakhoury, IDF soldiers raided their home at 2 A.M., subjected them to violence, insults, and terrorized their children before detaining Khater. Fakhoury reported to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on November 9, 2023, that soldiers threatened Khater with sexual violence and harm to her children. Khater's lawyer, Hassan Abbadi, confirmed these allegations and revealed that she was strip-searched and threatened with deportation to Gaza. The reasons for her detention remain unknown
Somaya Jawabra, a pregnant Palestinian journalist, was detained by Israeli forces in Nablus on November 5, 2023, allegedly for social media "incitement." After eight days, she was released on bail but placed under house arrest with stringent conditions, including a ban on internet use and restricted movements.
Many Palestinian journalists detained in the West Bank are held under administrative detention, a practice that allows for imprisonment without trial or formal charges based on suspicion of potential future criminal activities. This system lacks transparency and due process, often relying on undisclosed evidence. Israel frequently utilizes it and has been employed to detain numerous Palestinians for extended durations. Although these detention orders undergo a 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.
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the detention of Rula Hassanein and her journalist colleagues in the West Bank. Such actions by the Israeli Occupying Forces represent a blatant violation of journalistic freedom and human rights. The use of terrorizing raids on journalists' homes, arbitrary detention, and intimidation tactics must be denounced by the international community. We urge the Israeli authorities to respect press freedom, uphold human rights standards, and release Hassanein and all journalists in detention.
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