Zionist Forces Detain al-Mayadeen’s Palestine Bureau Chief, Transfer to Ofer Prison
Two organizations advocating for Palestinian prisoners' rights have verified that Israeli authorities have moved the detained chief of al-Mayadeen's Palestine bureau to the infamous Ofer Prison located in the occupied West Bank.
The Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, alongside the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS), released a statement confirming that Nasser al-Lahham has been transferred from the Maskoubiye detention center to another incarceration facility. His trial is scheduled for this coming Thursday.
Omar Nazzal, a representative of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, reported that the Israeli questioning of Lahham is predominantly centered around his collaboration with al-Mayadeen TV.
Two Palestinian prisoners’ advocacy groups have reported that Israeli forces detained Lahham from his residence in Bethlehem, a city in the southern West Bank, early Monday. This action is part of an intensified and unprecedented campaign by Israel targeting journalists, coinciding with the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Lahham, a seasoned journalist operating out of Palestine, serves as the editor-in-chief of Ma’an News Agency and holds the position of director at al-Mayadeen TV’s bureau in Palestine.
The Commission and the Public Prosecution Service reported that since the onset of the genocide in early October 2023, a total of 193 journalists have been detained, with 50 of those reporters still being held in custody.
Palestinian prisoners’ rights organizations have reported that a significant number of detained journalists are being charged with “incitement” through social media and news outlets. Additionally, some journalists are being held under administrative detention.
Al-Mayadeen TV has strongly condemned the arrest of its bureau chief in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The channel reported that the arrest was executed with “brutality and repression,” calling for the immediate release of Lahham.
Al-Mayadeen TV characterized Lahham’s arrest as a component of a broader campaign of suppression executed by Israeli authorities targeting Palestinian journalists.
The news channel expressed that it was unsurprised by the occupation’s brutal practices and ongoing antagonism toward journalism, journalists, and the freedom to report the truth.
The news channel emphasized that Nasser is regarded as more than just a bureau chief; he is seen as a prominent figure in Palestinian journalism, a representation of dedicated reporting, and an unwavering advocate for the rights of his people.
