Ramallah, 08 July 2025 – The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) expresses its deep concern over the ongoing and escalating policy of arrests carried out by Israeli occupation authorities against Palestinian journalists. The latest incident occurred at dawn on Monday with the arrest of journalist NASSER LAHAM following a raid on his home in the town of Doha, in the Bethlehem Governorate.
During the raid, Israeli forces arrested LAHAM after vandalizing his home and confiscating all seven mobile phones found inside, citing charges of “incitement” on social media. Authorities have extended his detention and referred him to the Ofer military court until Thursday.
This arrest adds to a pattern of systematic violations targeting Palestinian media professionals. With this latest incident, the number of journalists currently held in Israeli prisons has risen to 56, including 22 held under administrative detention without formal charges, in harsh conditions that contravene international standards. Among the most recent detainees is freelance photojournalist AHMAD AL-KHATIB, who in June was placed under a six-month administrative detention order.
MADA stresses that the targeting of journalist NASSER LAHAM and his colleagues represents a dangerous escalation in efforts to silence voices and suppress freedom of expression. These actions are part of a broader strategy aimed at marginalizing the Palestinian narrative and obstructing efforts to convey the reality of ongoing violations on the ground.
Such practices constitute a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and of international treaties and conventions that guarantee the protection of journalists—most notably Article 79 of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, which affirms the protection of civilian journalists in times of conflict.
MADA condemns the arrest of journalist NASSER LAHAM and calls for his immediate and unconditional release, along with all other detained journalists. The Center urges international organizations concerned with press freedom, foremost among them Reporters Without Borders, to intervene to put an end to this systematic campaign.
MADA also renews its call for urgent international protection for Palestinian journalists and for ensuring their ability to carry out their work free from threats and intimidation. The continued targeting of journalists will not succeed in silencing the truth; rather, it will only strengthen the resolve to expose the crimes and violations committed against the Palestinian people.
