Ramallah – September 11, 2025 The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) strongly condemns the arrest of independent journalist MUSAB KHAMEES QAFISHEH, which took place on the evening of Wednesday, September 10, 2025. A large force from the Palestinian Intelligence Service raided his home in the city of Hebron, confiscated his mobile phone, and took him to the Intelligence Headquarters.

According to testimony from his family, approximately twenty armed officers in military uniform participated in the raid. They searched the house, seized the journalist’s phone, and arrested him pursuant to a summons issued by the General Intelligence Service, despite the family’s objections and in the absence of sufficient legal justification.

It is worth noting that journalist QAFISHEH suffers from diabetes and requires regular medication and medical care. Since the moment of his arrest, he has reportedly declared an open-ended hunger strike in protest against this violation.

At MADA, we firmly condemn this arrest, which we regard as a blatant violation of media freedoms and freedom of expression, and a clear breach of both national and international obligations that guarantee journalists the right to work freely and safely.

We call for the immediate and unconditional release of journalist MUSAB QAFISHEH, the provision of necessary medical care, and the accountability of those responsible for this violation.

We further urge all local and international human rights and media organizations to act swiftly to pressure for an end to such violations and to ensure a safe and free environment for journalists to carry out their work in Palestine.