On March 18, 2024, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) arrested freelance journalist Ahmed Abdel Aal, who collaborated with Al Jazeera the pro-Hamas Shehab News Agency, as well as his brother Khader Abdel Aal of the local newspaper Felesteen Palestine, during an offensive at Gaza City’s Al-Shifa hospital complex, according to the Beirut-based regional press freedom group SKeyes. Other journalists were also arrested in the raid.
Abdel Aal told CPJ that he was held in several detention facilities during his imprisonment, including Sde Teiman Detention Camp, Ashkelon Prison, Ofer Prison, and Ktz’iot Prison. He told CPJ that he was kept blindfolded and handcuffed for extended periods, subjected to repeated beatings, and interrogated about his journalistic work. Abdel Aal said he lost approximately 33 kilograms during his detention, dropping from 90 kilograms to 57 kilograms, which he attributed to severe food shortages and poor detention conditions.
Abdel Aal also said he was brought before court five times via video conference but was not allowed to present a defense or speak directly with the judge. According to his account, Israeli authorities accused him of being a terrorist. He was never sentenced and was released on October 13, 2025 as part of the ceasefire deal after approximately 19 months in detention.
Abdel Aal told CPJ he was subjected to sensory deprivation in what detainees term the “disco room”. He described this treatment in testimony included in the CPJ special report “We returned from hell,” published in February 2026, which compiles accounts from 58 journalists who reported patterns of abuse, torture and mistreatment against Palestinian journalists inside Israeli prisoners.
The Israeli military did not respond to CPJ’s repeated requests for comment on specific allegations by journalists, instead requesting ID numbers and geographic coordinates that CPJ does not collect or provide. When asked about allegations of physical, sexual abuse and starvation, and the investigation and accountability process, an army spokesperson said “individuals detained are treated in accordance with international law,” adding that the armed forces “have never, and will never, deliberately target journalists,” and that any violations of protocol “will be looked into.”
CPJ also emailed the Israel Prison Service (IPS) regarding the allegations. In response, the IPS said “all prisoners are detained according to the law” and that “all basic rights are fully upheld by professionally trained prison guards.” The service said it was unaware of the claims described, and that to its knowledge “no such events. have occurred,” but noted that the “prisoners and detainees have the right to file a complaint that will be fully examined and addressed by official authorities.”