Israeli Military Arrests Palestinian Ma'an Editor in West Bank

Israeli forces arrested Dr. Nasser Laham, the editor-in-chief of the Palestinian Ma'an news agency and West Bank director of the Lebanese Al-Mayadeen TV, during a pre-dawn raid on his home in the village of Al-Duha near Bethlehem. The raid involved ransacking his home, destroying personal belongings, and confiscating electronic devices, reflecting a harsh approach toward Palestinian journalists. Al-Mayadeen, affiliated with Hezbollah and banned in Israel, condemned the arrest and called for Laham's immediate release, highlighting ongoing tensions around press freedom. Israeli authorities extended Laham's detention and scheduled a hearing at Ofer Military Court, while the Palestinian Commission of Detainees noted this arrest fits a broader pattern of targeting Palestinian journalists, many held under controversial administrative detention without formal charges. Reports emphasize the systemic abuse faced by detained Palestinian journalists, including torture and medical neglect. This incident occurs amid Israel's recent actions to block Al-Mayadeen's operations within its territory.