🔴 Palestinian Prisoner’s Society: Israeli Occupation Escalates its war on Palestinian Journalists

🔴37 Journalists Held Behind Bars, More Than Half Without Trial or Charge

September 13, 2026 

Ramallah, occupied Palestine — The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society said that the number of Palestinian journalists currently detained in Israeli occupation prisons stands at 37 journalists, all of whom were arrested since the beginning of the genocide. This comes amid the continued targeting of Palestinian journalists by the occupation authorities through arrests, unjust sentences, isolation, and persecution on the basis of journalistic work and freedom of opinion and expression.

The PPS explained that among the most recent journalists to be arrested are Muath Amarneh and Sabri Jabarin, noting that Amarneh is considered one of the most prominent Palestinian journalists to have faced repeated targeting by the occupation. He is being arrested for the third time, as part of an ongoing campaign against him because of his journalistic work.

In the context of escalating sentences against journalists on charges related to what is described as “incitement,” the PPS highlighted the case of journalist and writer Mahmoud Fattata, who was sentenced to 48 months in prison. This is among the harshest sentences issued in “incitement” cases and reflects the escalating use of this charge against journalists. Administrative detention is also being used against them without charge or trial, under the pretext of the existence of a so-called “secret file.”

The number of journalists from the West Bank, including Jerusalem, who are being held under administrative detention is 19 journalists, representing 51% of the total number of journalists currently detained.

In a related context, the PPS highlighted the case of imprisoned journalist Bushra al-Taweel, 33, who was transferred by the occupation authorities from Damon Prison to solitary confinement in Ramleh Prison, amid an escalation of isolation and repressive policies against female prisoners, alongside starvation, denial of medicaltreatment, and poor detention conditions, amid thespread of scabies and the absence of adequate hygiene and healthcare.

The PPS noted that detained journalists face the same system of crimes and policiesimposed on Palestinian prisoners, including starvation, medical abuses, torture, mistreatment, harsh detention conditions, isolation, and deprivation of basic rights.

The PPS affirmed that the targeting of Palestinian journalists continues through arrest, sentencing, isolation, torture, killing, enforced disappearance, and direct targeting while they are carrying out their work. It said this forms part of a systematic policy aimed at limiting their ability to convey the truth and document crimes and violations.

The PPS held the occupation authorities fully responsible for the fate of al-Taweel and all female prisoners, stressing that solitary confinement, starvation, denial of medical treatment, harsh detention conditions, and sexual assaults have become tools within systematic policies of repression against them.

The PPS renewed its call for the international humanrights system to assume its responsibilities and work to ensure the protection of Palestinian journalists and their right to carry out their work, and to put an end to the occupation’s policies targeting them, including arrest, persecution, sentencing, and isolation.

The PPS affirmed that the targeting of Palestinian journalists is part of a systematic policy aimed at erasing the truth and suppressing the Palestinian narrative.