Jerusalem
CNN
–
Israeli forces attacked the occupied West Bank son’s house early in the morning to detain prominent Palestinian journalist Ali Samoudi.
The attack occurred in Jenin city, where Samdi’s son told CNN that Israeli forces had come at 5am and brought the 58-year-old journalist to a private location.
For 30 minutes “examined the outdoors” by Israeli forces, Mohammad Samoudi told CNN they searched the house and destroyed some of its contents.
In addition to writing the Palestinian Al-Kud newspaper, Samudi routinely worked with international press agencies, including CNN, Al-Jazeera, Reuters and others.
In May 2022, Samdi was working near the entrance to the Jenin refugee camp when Israeli forces shot and killed Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akure. Samoudi was shot dead and wounded in a gunshot.
The syndicate of Palestinian journalists condemned the attack and Samoudi’s arrest.
The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) said Samoudi was “identified with Islamic jihadist terrorist organizations” and that although he was suspected of transferring funds to the group, it did not provide evidence to support the claim.
One of the most well-known Palestinian journalists in the West Bank, Samoudi has worked with international news organizations for decades as a local producer and fixer. During his long journalist career, he had never faced such accusations before, including when he became a witness to the famous murder of his colleague Abu Akure.
The IDF said Samoudi had been transferred to Israeli security forces “for further treatment.”
Samoudi is the latest of dozens of Palestinian journalists arrested by Israeli forces in the past 18 months. Israel has arrested at least 84 journalists in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem since its meeting in Gaza in October 2023, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
