Ramallah – 01/08/2025 The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) expresses its deep concern over the continued detention of independent journalist IHAB ALALAMI, who has been held since Monday, 28 July, by the Palestinian General Intelligence Service in the city of Hebron.
According to reports, a vehicle belonging to the General Intelligence Service arrested the journalist from his home in the town of Beit Ummar, following a physical assault by members of the security force. ALALAMI was struck on the head with open hands before being forcibly placed into the vehicle transporting the officers.
MADA’s Legal Unit, which is closely monitoring the case, confirmed that the journalist was detained for investigation by the Halhul Prosecutor’s Office in Hebron. He was charged with “possession of a weapon”—a fabricated and baseless accusation, clearly intended to justify his arrest, which stems from his journalistic work and political views.
The prosecution initially extended ALALAMI’s detention by 48 hours and subsequently referred the case to the Halhul Magistrate Court, seeking an additional 15-day extension to pursue the same charge.
During the court session held at noon on Thursday, 31 July 2025, MR. FIRAS KARAJAH, the attorney from MADA representing journalist IHAB ALALAMI, objected to the extension request. He emphasized that the charge lacks any factual basis and appears to be a thinly veiled attempt to undermine press freedom and suppress free expression. Despite this, the court ruled to extend ALALAMI’s detention by another 15 days.
MADA firmly condemns the arrest of journalist IHAB ALALAMI and affirms that he was never questioned regarding any matter related to weapons possession. Rather, all interrogation sessions focused solely on his journalistic activities and political opinions. This clearly indicates that his detention is part of a systematic campaign targeting Palestinian journalists and aimed at intimidating independent voices.
MADA demands the immediate and unconditional release of journalist IHAB ALALAMI and the dropping of all spurious charges against him. The center also calls for an end to all forms of arbitrary detention and harassment of journalists on the basis of their professional duties or political beliefs. It urges respect for press freedoms as enshrined in the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights conventions.
MADA warns that the continued persecution of Palestinian journalists poses a serious threat to the journalistic environment and undermines the overall climate of public freedoms in Palestine. Such repeated violations constitute a repressive tool designed to obstruct the transmission of truth—an approach broadly rejected by Palestinian journalists and media professionals.
