Journalists are still being detained by Israeli occupation authorities

The Palestinian Committee to Protect Journalists has revealed that Israel is now holding 17 journalists in prison following the detention on Sunday of Jerusalemite Samah Dweik of Quds News Network. Four are being held without charge or trial.

Dweik was arrested when security forces broke into her family home in the town of Ras Al-Amud, near Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. Family members confirmed that the house was searched before the 25 year-old journalist was taken away. Mobile phones and a computer were confiscated.

The family pointed out that the Israeli police had previously issued a decree banning Samah Dweik from entering the Noble Sanctuary of Al-Aqsa. Her name is on an official “black list” of those with such a ban placed on them arbitrarily by the Israelis.

The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Arab and international human rights organisations to intervene and put pressure on the Israeli occupation to stop its aggression against Palestinian journalists. In a statement, it stressed that the arrests are being made as part of Israel’s efforts to prevent Palestinian journalists from doing their job and having the freedom to report events without interference.

Within the context of the Jerusalem uprising, said the committee, Israel is trying to gag journalists and prevent them from exposing its crimes and violations of human rights, especially in the occupied city.