RSF documents violations against Palestinian journalists in Israeli prisons

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has documented testimonies from five Palestinian journalists from the Gaza Strip who were detained by Israeli forces after October 7, 2023, detailing violations and interrogations that focused directly on their journalistic work.

According to Palestinian media reports on Friday, the organization said the journalists were subjected to harsh treatment and transferred between several Israeli detention centers and prisons. They reported being questioned about their reporting activities, field coverage and professional contacts, while also being denied adequate healthcare and held in difficult detention conditions.

RSF said many of the journalists who were later released continue to suffer serious physical and psychological effects that have prevented them from returning to work. They also reported significant professional and personal losses, including damage to their homes, equipment and media institutions.

The organization said the testimonies it collected indicate that Palestinian journalists were targeted because of their media work, renewing its call for the immediate release of all journalists detained by Israeli authorities.

RSF added that 19 Palestinian journalists remain in Israeli prisons, including two journalists arrested in the Gaza Strip after October 7, 2023.

The organization also noted that it has documented the deaths of 67 journalists worldwide this year while carrying out their duties or because of their work, with nearly half of them killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces.

F.J./R.K.