Jenin: Israeli forces on Saturday conducted a raid on the home of Palestinian journalist Ali al-Samoudi in the northern occupied West Bank, assaulting his son and issuing an ultimatum for al-Samoudi to surrender within one hour, according to local sources.

According to Anadolu Agency, during the raid, al-Samoudi, aged 59, was not present at his home in Jenin. It remains uncertain whether he plans to adhere to the demand to turn himself in. Al-Samoudi was recently released on April 30 after enduring a year under Israeli administrative detention. During this detention, he experienced significant weight loss attributed to food deprivation, and he has accused Israeli prison authorities of committing acts of abuse, torture, and denying basic rights.

The situation for Palestinian journalists has been increasingly precarious, as evidenced by the recent detentions of journalists Sabri Mousa Jibril and Muath Ammarna in Bethlehem. These detentions are part of a broader pattern of actions against media personnel. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate reported 84 incidents involving violations against journalists by Israeli forces and occupiers in August alone, including the death of one journalist in custody and the shooting of another. These violations encompass assaults on media teams, obstruction of journalistic work, arrests, detentions, and destruction of journalistic equipment.

Since October 7, 2023, with the intensification of military actions in the Gaza Strip, Israel has stepped up its raids and arrests in the West Bank. This escalation is accompanied by increased attacks from occupiers and demolitions of Palestinian homes and structures. Currently, more than 9,400 Palestinians are incarcerated in Israeli prisons, including 370 children and 92 women, as reported by the Palestinian Prisoners Society. Rights groups have raised concerns about instances of torture and medical neglect faced by some of these prisoners.