Palestinian journalist Alaa al-Rimawi, 47, director and editor-in-chief of the local J-Media news agency, was arrested by Israeli forces on October 19, 2023, and released nearly two years later, on October 6, 2025, after enduring repeated extensions of administrative detention without charge or trial.
Israeli troops raided Rimawi’s home in Ramallah at dawn while he was in the hospital, detaining his eldest son to pressure him to surrender. He subsequently turned himself in at Ofer Prison, where he was taken into custody.
On October 16, three days prior to Rimawi’s arrest, the IDF ordered J-Media to shut down.
On November 20, 2023, his wife, Maymona Hussam Eldin, told CPJ that Israeli authorities had placed him under six months’ of administrative detention, though the exact start date was unclear. His family told CPJ they believed the journalist’s detention was linked to his social media posts, without specifying which ones.
On September 23, 2024, Eldin told CPJ that authorities had extended her husband’s detention for six months on May 7, saying he “posed a threat to security in the area.” The court order, reviewed by CPJ, showed that the detention expired on October 17. On that date, Eldin told CPJ that authorities extended her husband’s detention for another six months.
On April 16, 2025, an Israeli court renewed Rimawi’s detention for four more months, his son, Mohamed al-Rimawi, told CPJ.
“Since his arrest, the occupation authorities have repeatedly renewed his detention — initially for six months and most recently for four — all without any charges or trial,” Mohamed al-Rimawi told CPJ. “He is currently being held in Nafha prison, where he suffers from seasonal asthma, mistreatment, and severe weight loss of about 30 kilograms. He has been physically assaulted 18 times, suffered two rib fractures, and contracted scabies twice without receiving p roper medical care.”
On August 15, 2025, an Israeli court renewed Rimawi’s detention for two months, his son Mohamed told CPJ. He said that on August 29 the court reduced the period by one week, so that it was due to expire on October 7, 2025.
Speaking after his release on October 6, 2025 in a statement to CPJ, Rimawi recounted being transferred through several prisons — Nafha, Ramon, Ofer, and Etzion — where he said he endured repeated mistreatment and degrading conditions.
“I was moved from one prison to another and subjected to physical assaults, collective punishment, and psychological pressure. My ribs were broken several times, and I lost more than 30 kilograms because of starvation and poor nutrition,” he said.
Rimawi said that the conditions of detention were extremely difficult and intended to break prisoners’ morale. He said that “there were times when we were left without mattresses or blankets for days. They tied our hands behind our backs and forced us to lie on the ground for long hours. Every week there was a raid, beating, or gas attack — it became part of the routine.”
“For two years, I was denied any family visits. I saw my lawyer only twice. I appeared before the court eight times through a video screen, but I was never formally charged. The only accusation they gave me was that I am a journalist who influences international public opinion about Israel.”
“More than once, they forced me to take off all my clothes. The soldiers tried to insert batons into my anus, waved their genitals at us as if they were erect, and piled several prisoners on top of each other while naked. Then a female soldier would come and throw herself on top of us, threatening us with gang rape.”
On his health, Rimawi said: “I suffered from malnutrition, asthma, and severe weakness. My weight dropped from 98 kilograms to 57. I developed skin clots, chest pain, and constant dizziness. It was a slow form of torture — physically and mentally.”
Despite the abuse, Rimawi emphasized his resolve to continue his work and defend press freedom: “They warned me before my release not to return to analytical or political journalism. But my answer is clear — I will not stop. My commitment to journalism and to telling the truth is stronger than ever.”