Ramallah - 28/12/2011: Israeli occupation forces this morning arrested Palestine News Agency (PNN) and Al-Khaleej Emirates newspaper reporter, Amin Abu Wardeh, from his home in the city of Nablus, West Bank.

His brother, Samir Abu Wardeh, said a large unit of occupation forces came to the building where his brother lives at approximately 1:15 am, when soldiers broke the main doors and raided the building from two sides. Abu Wardeh added: "They entered directly into my brother's apartment and ordered him to show his identity card, then they arrested him immediately, without giving any reasons. He is now detained in Hawara detention camp."

The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) strongly condemns the arrest of Abu Wardeh and calls upon the international community to intervene immediately for his release, as his arrest stands in direct contravention to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to freedom of opinion and expression.