West Bank: Pregnant Palestinian Journalist Somaya Jawabra Detained by Israeli Forces
Journalist released and placed under house arrest
Location: West Bank, Nablus
Date: November 5, 2023
*Updated on November 12, 2023
Israeli authorities detain Palestinian journalist Somaya Jawabra in Nablus. The reporter was released on bail after 8 days and placed under house arrest. Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, Israeli forces have detained thousands of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Many are being held in detention centers without knowing what charges are being brought against them. The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands that Israeli forces cease arbitrarily detaining citizens and journalists. All charges against Somaya Jawabra must be dropped immediately.
Israeli occupation authorities detained journalist Somaya Jawabra on November 5 for alleged social media "incitement." after summoning her for an interview at the Huwara camp, Nablus, in the occupied West Bank. Jawabra, who works for the Palestinian Information Centre's monitoring team, is seven months pregnant, prompting concerns about her well-being and health.
The journalist’s husband and fellow journalist, Tariq Youssef Al-Sarkaji, says that in the afternoon before Jawabra’s detention, he received a call from an Israeli intelligence officer requesting them both for questioning. After he was questioned and let go, Al-Sarkaji asked an Israeli officer where his wife was, and the officer replied "I don't know."
On November 12, after a court decision, Jawabra was released under stringent and punitive conditions. The journalist is under indefinite house arrest and is banned from using the internet. Her movements are restricted, alongside her husband and mother-in-law, who are also under house supervision.
Sawabra was also required to post bail of NIS10,000 (around $2,500) and another third-party bail of NIS50,000 (approximately $12,900) to secure her release from detention. Third-party bail means another person or organization, separate from Jawabra or her immediate family, must provide a financial guarantee to ensure her release. This third party essentially acts as a guarantor, assuring the court that Jawabra will adhere to the conditions of her release. If she fails to comply, this third party could be held responsible for the forfeited bail amount or face legal repercussions.
Jawabra’s detention occurred just over a week after Israeli forces took another woman journalist Laram Khatar into custody. Khater was detained by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on October 26 in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank. Dozens of IDF soldiers stormed her family home in the early hours, subjected her family to violence and intimidation, and arrested her. The reasons for her detention remain unknown.
The conflict escalation between Israel and Palestine, triggered by Hamas' attack on October 7, has led to a significant rise in the number of Palestinians detained by Israel in the West Bank. The detainee population has doubled, going from 5,200 to over 10,000. This increase can be attributed to intensified actions by Israeli forces, including nightly raids on Palestinian homes, villages, and cities in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
CFWIJ has documented multiple violations against women journalists covering the tensions in the West Bank. On October 19, Palestinian photojournalist Latifa Abdel Latif and the Italian network Channel 4 crew were assaulted by Israeli settlers from Beit El, resulting in injuries and damage to their equipment. On October 16, reporter Dalia Al-Nimri, who works with Russia Today, was held at gunpoint by Israeli border guards in Al-Quds.
The detention and arrest of journalist Somaya Jawabra, the second woman journalist detained in the West Bank in recent weeks, highlights a concerning trend of arbitrary detentions by Israeli authorities. The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly condemns these actions and demands that Israeli forces immediately drop all charges against Jawabra and release all detained journalists in the West Bank.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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