On February 9, 2024, Israeli security forces stormed into Palestinian freelance journalist Hamza al-Safi’s house in the West Bank city of Tulkarem and arrested him, according to news reports, the Beirut-based press freedom organization SKeyes.
Israeli soldiers broke into the house after midnight, searched it, and seized al-Safi’s photography equipment, two computers, several electronic devices and five cell phones, according to a source close to Al-Safi, who requested anonymity due to fear of reprisal.
Al-Safi, who contributed to the Quds News Network and the news website Al-Jarmaq News, among others, was held in Al-Jalama detention center, according to the Palestinian Commission of Detainee Affairs and the source, who spoke to CPJ via phone and messaging app on April 9, 2024. Al-Safi was later held in Megiddo prison in northern Israel, the source told CPJ in October 2024, and his court hearings were repeatedly postponed. CPJ was unable to determine the status of his health in custody.
In response to an email requesting comment from CPJ, the Israel Defense Forces said it was not aware of al-Safi’s case. CPJ also emailed Israel’s Security Agency, known as Shin Bet, and the Israeli Prison Service in late 2024 for comment on the cases of imprisoned Palestinian journalists but received no response.
Al-Safi was released on October 13, 2025, video and news reports show. He was released as part of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, signed that day.