Palestinian Journalist Held in PA Prisons Subjected to Torture: Lawyers for Justice

Occupied West Bank (Quds News Network)- Palestinian journalist Jarah Khalaf, who is being held in Palestinian Authority (PA) prisons, was tortured and beaten for three days. His detention has now been extended for another 48 hours due to his coverage of the PA’s operation in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
The PA’s security forces have continued to detain Jarah for a fourth consecutive day, after abducting him from a public vehicle he was traveling in at a security checkpoint near the entrances to the Jenin refugee camp.
Jarah told the public prosecutor in Jenin that he was severely beaten by ten PA officers and was also subjected to “shabah” (shackling and hanging) for three days, according to Lawyers for Justice.
The group said that Jarah is being tortured in PA prisons as a result of his coverage of the PA’s operation in Jenin.
In an exclusive interview with Quds News Network, his brother and lawyer, Mohammad Khalaf, also confirmed that Jarah was tortured and subjected to “shabah” for three days.
However, the prosecutor has decided to extend his detention for another 48 hours.
His family had issued appeals to learn about his fate and the location of his detention, stating: “We have made multiple attempts to inquire about his condition and whereabouts, but have not received any clear response.”
They further appealed: “We urge the relevant authorities and international human rights organizations to assist in determining his situation.”
Meanwhile, the PA’s security forces have continued their operations against resistance groups in Jenin camp for the 37th consecutive day. On Sunday, renewed armed clashes broke out between the resistance fighters and PA security forces, during which several young people were injured. The PA security forces also fired an RPG shell at a house in the camp.
During the ongoing operation, the PA forces killed journalist Shatha Al-Sabbagh, resistance leader in Jenin Brigade Yazeed Jaa’isa, and seven Palestinians, including three children.
Additionally, dozens of Palestinians from Jenin city were arrested, including nurses for providing medical treatment to the victims of the PA’s operation, and dozens of homes in the camp were set on fire.
According to Lawyers for Justice, Jarah was interrogated about his journalistic coverage of press conferences held by the resistance in Jenin, which he did not deny, as he was simply reporting on the events. The PA accused him of “possession of a weapon” and questioned him about his reporting on the PA’s actions in the camp and the resistance’s press conferences. However, he was not questioned about the alleged charge of “possession of a weapon.”
According to media sources, the authority often places the charge of “possession of a weapon” on individuals who have no actual charges against them, using this false accusation against other journalists in the past, who were later acquitted. Similar to the case of photographer Jarah, journalists are interrogated about other matters, such as their journalistic coverage, rather than the alleged “possession of a weapon.”
This charge appears to be fabricated, particularly against journalists who report on resistance conferences or politically opposing events. It is important to note that their coverage of these events is both legal and part of professional journalism, sources added.