Beirut, October 26, 2026 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply alarmed by the violations committed against journalists during the Israel Defense Forces’ raid on the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, including detaining reporters, firing tear gas, and pointing lasers at journalists.
Israeli troops launched a major raid on Hebron on Friday, October 23, following an attack that killed two Israeli soldiers, imposing sweeping closures and restrictions on the area.
Two Hebron-based journalists, freelancer Musab Qafesha and head of Radio Fourth, Riad Khamiss, were detained by Israeli troops for several hours on Saturday. Qafesha was previously detained by Israeli forces in October 2023, and released a year later. During his imprisonment, he lost 45kg (22 pounds). He was previously detained in 2022 and 2021.
In at least one incident local journalist Sohaib Ewiwe filmed tear gas being fired at journalists covering the raid. Israeli troops also raided the offices of Al-Ghad TV in Hebron on Saturday, with the channel accusing the army of turning the offices into military barracks. Two days later, on Monday, Israeli forces intercepted the channel’s news crew.
Soldiers were also seen using lasers against journalists, and on Monday Al-Araby TV journalist Fadi al-Assa showed an Israeli drone hovering over him and his colleagues as they worked.
Media reports also quoted anonymous Israeli army sources saying that Agence France-Presse photographer Hazem Bader had prior knowledge of the attack on Israeli troops in the West Bank. Israeli police denied the report, and the Foreign Press Association called the accusation “completely untrue”, adding that the accusation “puts journalists working to keep the world informed at risk”.
Elsewhere in the West Bank near Jenin, Israeli settlers vandalized a memorial dedicated to Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian journalist killed by Israeli troops while covering a raid on the area in 2022.
The latest incidents follow a string of violations against Palestinian and foreign journalists in the West Bank, particularly during the olive harvest season, by the hands of both Israeli soldiers and settlers.
They also come ahead of Israel’s October 27 general election. Several foreign journalists have reportedly been barred from entering Israel to cover the elections due to their views or past reporting on the country.
“Israeli forces are escalating their attacks on journalists across the West Bank, detaining reporters, firing tear gas at media covering their operations, and intercepting news crews, among other actions,” said Sara Qudah, CPJ Regional Director. “Israeli authorities must immediately end these attacks, and ensure journalists can report freely and safely. Continued international silence only emboldens perpetrators, and further endangers the press.”
CPJ emailed the Israel Defense Forces international press office for comment but did not receive an immediate reply.