Gaza Journalists Recount Abuse Interrogations in Israeli Detention

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has published testimonies from five Palestinian journalists in Gaza, who were abducted by Israeli occupation forces after October 7, including instances of abuse, interrogation, and violations that are directly associated with their journalistic activities.

The journalists, who include Alaa al-Sarraj, Diaa al-Kahlout, Shadi Abu Sido, and Imad al-Ifranji, reported experiencing severe mistreatment, frequent interrogations regarding their media work, and significant physical and psychological abuse during their detention.

Abu Sido recounted that he was taken into custody while covering a story at al-Shifa Medical Complex on March 18, 2024, and endured 572 days in detention, being transferred between Sde Teiman, Ofer, and Ketziot prisons. Upon his release, he faced serious health issues, such as vision loss in one eye, scabies, seizures, insomnia, and a lack of appetite.

The report revealed that none of the five journalists have been able to resume their work after their release due to the physical and psychological repercussions of their detention. Sarraj, who spent 692 days in Israeli prisons, said that he lost his home, vehicle, media equipment, and the archive of his media organization.

The journalists explained that they clearly identified themselves as members of the press at the time of their detention in Gaza, yet they were still abducted and taken to Israeli detention facilities.