News Center- 80 Palestinian journalists have been detained in the Gaza Strip and West Bank by Israeli forces since October 7, 2023, the Palestinian Prisoners Society said in a statement on Sunday, emphasizing that Israeli forces have escalated its policy of arresting journalists, alongside threats, physical assaults, and ongoing legal proceedings.

Some 49 journalists remain in Israeli custody, according to the statement.  On 29 May, freelance photojournalist Bilal Al Tawil was arrested by the Israeli army from his home in Hebron, the occupied West Bank and Mahmoud Fatafta, a Palestinian columnist and political commentator, was arrested on the same day at an Israel Defense Forces checkpoint, near the West Bank village of Abu Dis.

Their detention period has been extended until June 9 on the ground of “completion of the investigation”, the statement said.

Four women journalists

Four Palestinian women journalists named Ikhlas Sawalha, Bushra al-Tawil, Asmaa Heresh and Rola Hasanein are among 49 journalists in Israeli custody. Ikhlas Sawalha, Bushra al-Tawil and Asmaa Heresh are under administrative detention without a trial and Rola Hasanein is held in custody on charges of “provocation” while journalist Somayya Jawabreh is under “house arrest”, the Palestinian Prisoners Society reported in the statement.

12 journalists transferred to unknown locations

According to the statement, 12 Palestinian journalists were detained and transferred to unknown locations in Gaza, most of them were detained in an Israeli raid on Gaza's al-Shifa Hospital on November 16.

‘The detained journalists are subjected to punitive measures

“The detained journalists are subjected to retaliatory and punitive measures, including torture, humiliation, starvation, and systematic medical negligence,” the society said, calling on all international organizations, especially the United Nations, to take urgent steps the journalists detained by Israeli forces.

At least 147 journalists and media professionals have been killed by Israeli forces since October 7, 2023, according to Palestinian figures.