Detentions hit women journalists like Hassanein especially hard, disrupting not only their work but also often their caregiver roles

Location: West Bank, Bethlehem

Date: March 19, 2024

Update: April 3, 2024

Women Press Freedom firmly condemns the ongoing detention of Palestinian journalists in the West Bank by Israeli occupying forces. The arrest of Rula Hassanein, a respected journalist known for her reporting on the Israeli occupation and human rights violations, in a pre-dawn raid at her home in Bethlehem on March 19, 2024, is a stark illustration of the dangers facing journalists in the region. Hassanein, a mother forced to leave her nursing and ill nine-month-old child behind, is one of over 40 journalists currently held in detention. Women Press Freedom demands an end to the targeted detentions of Palestinian journalists by Israeli forces. These night raids and arbitrary detentions of journalists create a climate of fear for those reporting, stifling press freedom in the West Bank. All those unjustly detained, including Rula Hassanein, must be immediately and unconditionally released.

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Rula Hassanein, a Palestinian journalist, appeared before Judea military court at Ofer Prison on March 25, facing charges of incitement on social media and supporting a banned organization, Women Press Freedom reports.

On April 3, the Judea military court postponed Hassanein’s hearing for the third time, denied her bail, and rejected her lawyer’s request for her release to care for her daughter.

Since her arrest following a raid by the Israeli Occupying Forces on March 19, 2024, Hassanein’s prematurely born daughter, Elia, has experienced a significant decline in health. Elia, who suffers from a weak immune system and ulcers on her palms, feet, and mouth, has been struggling without her mother’s exclusive breastfeeding. Hassanein had given birth to twins, Elia and Youssef, two months prematurely last year due to health complications. Tragically, Youssef passed away three hours after birth.

The court documents reveal that Hassanein was charged with incitement based on her social media activities, including retweets on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, between August 2022 and December 2023. Her posts, which included commentary on the Israel-Gaza conflict and the plight of Palestinians, were scrutinized. Additionally, she commented on events in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, such as the shooting of two Israelis in Hawara in August 2023 and the killing of an Israeli soldier at a checkpoint in East Jerusalem in October 2022.

Targeting of Journalists in the West Bank

The targeting of journalists in the West Bank has intensified since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, 2023. Numerous Palestinian journalists have faced detention, assault, and harassment by Israeli forces. At least 40 journalists remain behind bars, including three women journalists.

Earlier this month, journalist Bushra Al-Taweel was detained and assaulted by Israeli soldiers in Ramallah, West Bank, marking her fifth arrest in three years. 

On October 26, 2023, in Hebron, Palestinian journalist Lama Khater was detained by the Israeli Occupying Forces. According to her husband Hazam Fakhoury, IDF soldiers raided their home at 2 A.M., subjected them to violence, insults, and terrorized their children before detaining Khater. Fakhoury reported to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on November 9, 2023, that soldiers threatened Khater with sexual violence and harm to her children. Khater's lawyer, Hassan Abbadi, confirmed these allegations and revealed that she was strip-searched and threatened with deportation to Gaza. The reasons for her detention remain unknown

Somaya Jawabra, a pregnant Palestinian journalist, was detained by Israeli forces in Nablus on November 5, 2023, allegedly for social media "incitement." After eight days, she was released on bail but placed under house arrest with stringent conditions, including a ban on internet use and restricted movements.

Many Palestinian journalists detained in the West Bank are held under administrative detention, a practice that allows for imprisonment without trial or formal charges based on suspicion of potential future criminal activities. This system lacks transparency and due process, often relying on undisclosed evidence. Israel frequently utilizes it and has been employed to detain numerous Palestinians for extended durations. Although these detention orders undergo a formal review, the process provides only a semblance of judicial oversight, as detainees are unable to defend themselves against unrevealed accusations effectively. Despite this, the courts consistently uphold most of these orders.

Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the detention of Rula Hassanein and her journalist colleagues in the West Bank. Such actions by the Israeli Occupying Forces represent a blatant violation of journalistic freedom and human rights. The use of terrorizing raids on journalists' homes, arbitrary detention, and intimidation tactics must be denounced by the international community. We urge the Israeli authorities to respect press freedom, uphold human rights standards, and release Hassanein and all journalists in detention.

Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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