Gaza: An Israeli military court at Ofer Prison has extended the detention of Palestinian journalist Nasser Al-Lahham until the coming Sunday, citing the need for continued interrogation. Al-Lahham, a significant figure in Palestinian journalism, was detained from his residence on July 7 as part of a broader Israeli campaign aimed at Palestinian media workers since the onset of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the detention of Al-Lahham is part of a wider crackdown on journalists, with the Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission reporting an intensified and unprecedented targeting of media personnel. Since the conflict began, 193 media workers have been arrested or detained, with 50 still held in Israeli custody, including Al-Lahham.
The detained journalists predominantly face charges of so-called "incitement" on social media and other platforms. Additionally, some are held under administrative detention without formal charges, allegedly based on "secret files." The Commission also noted that Israel has labeled journalists from Gaza as "unlawful combatants," with two journalists remaining forcibly disappeared since the conflict began.