On August 3, 2024, Palestinian freelance journalist and camera operator Assem Shonar was arrested by Israeli soldiers during a raid on his home in the Nablus town of Asira ash-Shamaliya in the occupied West Bank, according to media reports. Shonar was released on April 16, 2026, after almost 20 months of administrative detention.
Shonar’s friend, journalist Abdul Mohsen Shalaldeh, told CPJ via messaging app that the journalist had previously worked with him at J-Media for a year, until Israeli authorities shuttered the outlet in October 2023, and he had been freelancing with other outlets since.
Shonar’s father, Mustafa Shonar, told CPJ via messaging app that his son was working on a documentary film. He added that the journalist was held at Ofer prison and put under administrative detention for four months.
In March 2026, a source close to Shonar told CPJ on condition of anonymity, that the journalist was being held at Ktz’iot/Negev prison, and his administrative detention order has been renewed at least four times for periods ranging between six months to twenty days. The last extension expired on April 14, 2026.
The source told CPJ that Shonar contracted scabies in detention, and that he has only been allowed two lawyer visits throughout his detention.
Upon his release, Shonar described to CPJ the first moments of his arrest; he said that he was subjected to severe beatings with batons on his genitals. As a result, he said that urinated blood for months.
On places of detention, Shonar said that he stayed in Hawara detention camp for 28 days, then was transferred to Ofer prison, then to the Ktzi’ot/Negev, from there to Megiddo, and most recently back to the Ktzi’ot/Negev until his release.
Shonar said that he was shot with a rubber bullet at point-blank range during one of the crackdowns inside the detention facilities, which caused a wound about four centimeters wide. He also reported sexual assault through beatings and touching of genitals in Israeli custody.
He confirmed that he had contracted scabies but did not receive proper care. He said he entered detention weighing 94 kilograms (207 pounds) and was released at 70 kilograms (154 pounds) due to medical and psychological neglect by the prison administration.
Shonar told CPJ that police questioning focused on his work as a journalist. His phone was searched, and he was also questioned about three earlier arrests dating back to his teenage years. He said he was then accused of affiliation with banned groups and incitement. Despite this, a judge ordered his release on the eighth day, citing insufficient evidence.
However, he was later told in prison that a new court session had been scheduled and that he would remain detained under administrative detention.
Shonar said he was initially placed in administrative detention for four months starting from the day of his arrest, which was later extended by six more months twice and four months once. Although he had been due for release on March 19, his detention was prolonged by a month because of the Iran war, and he was ultimately released on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
CPJ emailed the Israel Prison Service for comment on the condition of Shonar’s detention and injury but did not receive comment.