The Israeli military has decided to detain Ibrahim Hamad, a soundman employed by the Palestinian news agency Ramattan, for six months without bringing charges and without taking him before any court, according to Reporters sans Frontières (RSF). Israeli soldiers arrested him at his home in Qalandiyah, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, on July 15.
"The Israeli military may not under any circumstances arrest journalists or media assistants without giving a reason," Paris-based RSF said. "If they think a journalist has done something wrong, they must say what it is and they must explain why they are arresting him. We call for Hamad's immediate release."
When reached by RSF, Ramattan management firmly condemned his arrest and called for his release. They also called on the Israeli authorities to explain why they are holding him. "This is not the first time that one of our employees has been arrested by the Israeli military," the agency said.
