19 Palestinian journalists in Israel jails

Israeli occupation forces yesterday detained Al Mayadeen Channel, 69, in the occupied West Bank, raising the number of Palestinian journalists and writers inside the occupation’s jails to 19, the Journalists Support Committee (JSC) said.

The JSC said in a statement that Israeli occupation forces raided Qatamesh’s house in the West Bank city of Al-Bireh and detained him.

There are currently 14 reporters, correspondents, producers, photographers and cameramen held in Israel’s jails in addition to five writers and thinkers, the JSC said.

Qatamesh, the JSC said, had been detained several times in the past and has spent a total of 14years inside the occupation’s jails.

“Israel continues hunting Palestinian journalists, writers, academics, thinkers and media teams on the grounds of the work they do in addition to their opinion posted on social media,” the JSC said.

It called on the international community and international rights groups to put pressure on the Israeli occupation in order to release the Palestinian journalists and respect Palestinians’freedom of speech and expression.

Report: 26 Israeli violations against journalists in September