Abduction of the proeminent Palestinian journalist Nasser AL-Lahham

Home invasion and arrest

On July 7, 2025, in a pre-dawn incursion, the Israeli forces raided the house iof the Palestinian journalist Nasser AL-Lahham and arrested him in Doha town in Bethlehem southern West Bank, after destroying his home furniture, and confiscating 7 family mobile phones which were in the house.

Nasser al-Lahham, veteran Palestinian journalist, was the AlMayadeen’s bureau chief in occupied Palestine until November 2023 and now appears only as commentator, and now editor-in-chief of Ma’an News.

According to AlMayadeen, the Israeli security service, Shin Bet, was directly responsible for the detention, which specifically targeted al-Lahham’s personal broadcasting studio in search of electronic equipment and media devices linked to his journalistic work.

Furthermore, his detention has been extended until Thursday, with the case referred to the Ofer military court, raising concerns of a prolonged legal progress against one of Palestine’s leading journalists.

Context of threats and attacks on freedom of expression:

His arrest is part of a broader Israeli crackdown on Palestinian media: 22 journalists are currently held in administrative detention, and 49 remain imprisoned overall.

Ambassadeur Abdal Karim Ewaida @KarimEwaida statement

"J'ai été choqué d'apprendre que le journaliste Nasser al-Lahham, que je connais très bien, s'est fait arrêté à son domicile à Bethléem hier soir par les israéliens qui continuent à s'attaquer aux journalistes palestiniens pendant qu'ils prétendent être une grande démocratie. Ce journaliste est très connu en Palestine pour ses analyses et editoriaux sur la question palestinienne. Il est en détention provisoire aux dernières nouvelles jusqu'à jeudi, mais tout le monde sait ce que ça signifie chez les israéliens. J'espère qu'il sera libéré très vite comme tous ceux qu'Israël arrête pour délit d'opinion"

Al Mayadeen statement:

On Monday morning, July 7, Israeli occupation forces arrested our colleague Nasser Al-Lahham, Al Mayadeen’s Bureau Chief in #Palestine. The arrest was executed brutally and oppressively. The arresting unit, consisting of Shin Bet officers and personnel, ransacked al-Lahham’s home, creating chaos, tampering with his personal and family belongings, damaging electronic devices, and confiscating his personal phones. While #AlMayadeen Media Network is not surprised by the occupation’s sadistic practices and its hostility toward the media, journalists, and the freedom to report the truth, it affirms the following:

• Al Mayadeen strongly condemns the occupation’s crime in arresting its Bureau Chief in Palestine, Nasser al-Lahham, and demands his immediate release, emphasizing his status as a #Palestinian journalist with 30 years of professional experience.

• Al Mayadeen urges the Palestinian and #Arab journalistic community to raise their voices in solidarity with al-Lahham and demand his immediate release. As a dedicated and professional Palestinian journalist, he upholds media laws and standards, faithfully fulfilling his duty to report the truth and reality as it is.

• Al Mayadeen calls on regional and international journalistic organizations to strongly condemn the Israeli occupation’s ongoing violations, including the silencing of journalists through arrests and bans, as well as its deliberate and systematic killing of journalists in the #Gaza Strip

• Al Mayadeen calls on the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah to follow up on the case of Nasser al-Lahham’s arrest, as he is a Palestinian citizen working as a journalist within the framework of the law

Al Mayadeen expresses its sincere gratitude to everyone who has shown solidarity with Nasser al-Lahham, whether through statements, acts of support, or public outcry, including Palestinian leaders and factions, Arab and Palestinian political movements and parties, media outlets, writers, journalists, and all defenders of truth and justice. He is considered a prominent Palestinian and Arab media figure, and not merely Al Mayadeen's bureau chief in Palestine. The network will spare no effort in defending Nasser al-Lahham and advocating for his cause before all relevant authorities and public opinion forums. For Al Mayadeen, al-Lahham represents a committed media voice, a major influencer, and a prominent Palestinian figure dedicated to defending his people.

Detention extented

On July 13, 2025, the Israeli military court at Ofer Camp extended the detention of Nasser al-Laham, a prominent Palestinian journalist and editor-in-chief of Ma'an News Agency, for three additional days. Al-Laham is suspected of incitement, affiliation with a terrorist organization, and providing services to it, due to his past leadership role at Al-Mayadeen, a Lebanese media outlet linked to Hezbollah.

While the judge acknowledged a basis for his detention, he criticized the Israeli police for not progressing with the investigation efficiently. Police cited the vast amount of online content involving al-Laham as a reason for delay.

During the hearing, the police admitted that Al-Mayadeen is not banned in the West Bank and that Al-Laham was neither warned nor questioned before his arrest.

Al-Laham’s lawyer argued he had ceased his role at Al-Mayadeen in November 2023, and now only appears as a commentator. The court rejected requests to hold the session behind closed doors and to prohibit photographing the suspect, citing lack of legal justification.

Al-Laham at the hearing to extend his detention today. The police representative admitted that Al-Mayadeen's activities were not banned in the West Bank. Photo: Hagar Shizaf

On July 15: end of detention

The police have released Al-Laham unconditionally and sent him home after eight days in detention.