(RSF/IFEX) – On 30 July 2002, RSF again called on the Israeli government to free five imprisoned Palestinian journalists. One of the detained journalists, Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer Hussam Abu Alan, had his “administrative detention” extended for five months on 23 July. He is accused of supporting “terrorists”. “The arrest of these five journalists was […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 30 July 2002, RSF again called on the Israeli government to free five imprisoned Palestinian journalists. One of the detained journalists, Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer Hussam Abu Alan, had his “administrative detention” extended for five months on 23 July. He is accused of supporting “terrorists”.
“The arrest of these five journalists was completely arbitrary,” RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard said in a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. “The authorities say two of them helped terrorist organisations, but they have offered no proof of this. The three others have not even been told why they are being held. Some of the five have now been imprisoned for more than three months in very bad conditions,” Ménard noted.
More than 20 Palestinian journalists have been arrested since the Israeli occupation of Palestinian towns and cities began on 29 March, and some have been ill-treated.
Photographer Abu Alan was arrested on 24 April at the Beit Anun checkpoint, near Hebron, while on his way to cover the funeral of two Palestinians in Bani Naim. Soldiers blindfolded and handcuffed him. The Israeli army told AFP in writing on 3 May that he was suspected of “helping the Tanzim terrorist organisation,” which is considers to be the armed wing of Fatah.
On 22 May, Abu Alan was placed in administrative detention for three months. His detention was extended on 23 July by a military court. His lawyer, Mohammed Burghal, has appealed the decision to the Israeli Supreme Court. Abu Alan has been transferred from the Ofer Detention Centre near Ramallah, reputed for its very bad conditions, to Ketzion Prison, in the Negev desert.
Reuters sound man Yusri el-Jamal, who is also suspected of “helping a terrorist organisation”, was arrested by soldiers on 30 April in front of Hebron hospital, where he was filming wounded people with a crew. Reuters cameraman Mazen Dana was also arrested. They were blindfolded, handcuffed and taken to the district coordination office, where they were forced to lie on the ground for several hours without food or drink. After being interrogated the next morning, Dana received apologies and was released.
However, el-Jamal was detained, and the army told Reuters of their suspicions about him though, as with Alan, without offering any proof. He was placed in administrative detention for three months on 22 May. On 18 June, a military court rejected his application for release, and on 11 July his detention was extended for three months. He is currently detained at Ketzion Prison.
Three other journalists are still being held without explanation. They include Khalid Ali Mohammed Zwawi, of the weekly “El Istiqlal”, who was arrested in the middle of the night at his home in Nablus by Israeli soldiers. The soldiers searched the house and seized material. He was first taken to the Askalan Detention Centre and was recently transferred to Majedo prison.
Kamel Ali Jbeil, of the daily newspaper “Al-Quds”, was arrested by Israeli soldiers in Ramallah on 18 April and placed in administrative detention for three months on 5 May. His detention was extended for another three months on 1 July. He is being held at the Ofer Detention Centre.
Nizar Ramadan, a correspondent for the newspaper “Qater”, was arrested in Hebron on 28 June, while he and his family were visiting neighbours, and taken to the Ofer Detention Centre. The same day, soldiers went to his office and seized and destroyed material there. On 6 July, the Israeli authorities extended his detention by 18 days without explanation. His lawyer has not been allowed to visit him.
