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// DOSSIER — israeli-forces-detain-palestinian-american-journalists-west-bank
Israeli Forces Detain Palestinian and Palestinian-American Journalists in West Bank Raids
REL_TIME: 20 Sep 2026 08:12Z · LANG: EN
In mid-September 2026, Israeli forces intensified operations in the occupied West Bank, arresting dozens of Palestinians, including two prominent journalists. On September 15, 2026, Naqaa Hamed, a 38-year-old Palestinian-American freelance journalist who has reported on settler violence for Press TV, TRT, and Drop Site News, was detained at a checkpoint near Bethlehem and subsequently accused of espionage. Two days later, on September 17, Israeli forces raided Ramallah and arrested Alaa Hassan Al-Rimawi, a former Al Jazeera correspondent who had been released from administrative detention less than a year prior. These arrests bring the total number of Palestinian journalists currently held in Israeli prisons to 39, amid rising concerns from human rights organizations and international observers over the targeting of media workers.
// Background
Since the escalation of the conflict in October 2023, Israeli forces have intensified military raids, arrests, and settlement expansions in the occupied West Bank. According to human rights groups, Palestinian journalists have faced systematic harassment, including physical attacks, cyber smear campaigns, and administrative detention without charge. In the first half of 2026 alone, Israeli settlers carried out nearly 3,500 attacks against Palestinians. The Palestinian Prisoner Society reports that all 39 journalists currently held in Israeli prisons were arrested after October 2023, with over half being held under administrative detention based on 'secret files'.
// Key Developments
- Palestinian-American journalist Naqaa Hamed was detained on September 15, 2026, at a checkpoint near Bethlehem after covering settler violence in Qusra.
- Israeli military sources accused Hamed of espionage and cooperating with an enemy entity due to her work with Iranian-affiliated Press TV.
- On September 17, 2026, Israeli forces arrested journalist Alaa Hassan Al-Rimawi during a raid on his home in Ramallah.
- The arrest of Al-Rimawi raised the total number of Palestinian journalists held in Israeli prisons to 39, with 21 under administrative detention.
- US Senator Chris Van Hollen condemned Hamed's detention, calling the espionage allegations 'bogus' and demanding her immediate release.
- The arrests occurred alongside wider West Bank raids resulting in the detention of at least 30 Palestinians and settler attacks in Burqa village.
// Timeline
-
Alaa Hassan Al-Rimawi is arrested by Israeli forces and placed under administrative detention, later released after a hunger strike.
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Naqaa Hamed is struck by rubber bullets fired by Israeli forces during live reporting from the Qalandia camp.
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Hamed is injured by stun grenades and tear gas, and subsequently targeted by a social media smear campaign labeling her an agent of Iranian propaganda.
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Hamed is detained by Israeli forces at the Tuqu' checkpoint near Bethlehem while returning from a reporting assignment on settler violence.
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Israeli forces raid Ramallah, arresting Alaa Hassan Al-Rimawi at his home. An Israeli court extends Hamed's detention until September 23, 2026.
// Perspectives
[Press TV]
Condemned the arrest of Naqaa Hamed as an 'organized, illegal, and aggressive terrorist operation' designed to silence reporting on Israeli military and settler actions.
[Israeli Military / Media (Ynet)]
Claimed that Hamed is suspected of cooperating with an enemy entity and espionage, pointing to her reporting for the Iranian-affiliated Press TV.
[Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS)]
Denounced the systematic targeting, administrative detention, and abuse of Palestinian journalists, noting that 39 media workers are currently imprisoned.
[US Senator Chris Van Hollen]
Demanded the immediate release of Hamed, calling her detention wrongful and the espionage allegations 'bogus'.
// Quotes
“Another American citizen wrongfully detained by the Israeli govt. Naqaa Hamed, an American journalist, was stopped by the IDF, interrogated about her work, & now faces bogus espionage allegations. The Israeli govt should immediately release Naqaa, NOW.”
“Unsubstantiated espionage allegations must not be used to criminalize journalism, and the systematic harassment and intimidation targeting her work in the occupied West Bank must end.”
“Press TV strongly and vehemently condemns the organized, illegal, and aggressive abduction of its prominent and courageous field correspondent, Ms. Naqaa Hamed, in the West Bank by the occupying forces of the Zionist regime.”
