Gaza stands in solidarity with detained journalists

Mohammed Asad

4 years ago

Solidarity event in Gaza demanding the release of journalist Alaa Al-Rimawi who was detained by Israeli forces from his home in the West Bank [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

The Palestinian Journalists Forum held a solidarity event outside the Red Cross headquarters in Gaza demanding the release of Alaa Al-Rimawi who was detained by occupation forces from his home in the occupied West Bank yesterday.

Occupation forces detained Al-Rimawi, from the city of Ramallah in the central West Bank, after raiding his home.

His wife said he launched a hunger strike from the moment of his arrest, and called on human rights organisations to intervene and release him.

Forum Chairman, Khadr Al-Jamali, said: “The occupation’s violations against the media continue, ignoring all international and humanitarian obligations and norms affirming the protection of journalists and the freedom of media work.”

With Al-Rimawi’s arrest, the number of journalists detained in the occupation’s prisons rose to 26.

Al-Rimawi works as a reporter for Al Jazeera Mubasher and runs a media company. He has previously spent ten years in the occupation’s jails.

Activists believe his detention is an effort to disrupt the upcoming Palestinian elections as he presented a programme called ‘Palestine Votes’ which discussed the ballot process and the obstacles it faces.

READ: Journalist arrested after exposing the plight of Palestinians in Israeli prisons: