On August 12, 2026, Israeli forces arrested Palestinian freelance video journalist Mohammed Awad, a contributor to news wire Agence France-Presse (AFP) and independent news site Drop Site, from his home in the village of Beitunia, near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, according to his wife Eman Shalash, and news reports.
Shalash told CPJ via messaging app that Israeli forces blindfolded Awad in the early hours of the morning and took him to an unknown location. She later learned that he was being held at Ofer Prison in the West Bank.
The Palestinian Journalist Syndicate and the International Federation of Journalists condemned Awad’s arrest, describing it as part of the systematic targeting of Palestinian journalists reporting from the Israeli-occupied territory and calling for his immediate release.
In response to CPJ’s email requesting comment on Awad’s arrest, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accused him of “advancing terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers,” having “operated for Hamas,” and being in contact with members of the group.
Shalash categorically denied the IDF’s allegations, telling CPJ that her husband has no military or political affiliation. She said Awad is a professional journalist who has worked continuously in the field covering news for international media outlets.