The court action against al-Samoudi brings to 20 the number of journalists administratively detained in Israeli prisons.
Israeli authorities have issued an administrative detention order against journalist Ali al-Samoudi for a period of six months, the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) confirmed on Thursday.
This brings the number of journalists administratively detained in Israeli prisons to 20.
Al-Samoudi, 58, was detained on April 29 in Jenin and subjected to continuous torture for 72 hours, Al-Quds reported.
The Palestinian Prisoners Club stated that Israeli intelligence has issued an administrative detention order against journalist Ali al-Samoudi (58 years) for a period of six months, raising the number of journalists held under administrative detention in Israeli prisons to 20. pic.twitter.com/eVqBbqRAvW
— Al-Jarmaq News (@Aljarmaqnetnews) May 8, 2025
A joint statement issued by the Detainees and Ex-Detainees Commission and the Palestine Prisoners Society (PPS) on Thursday confirmed that al-Samoudi was subjected to abuse following his detention, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.
He was initially detained in a military barracks in Jenin, then transferred to the Jalameh detention center and later to Megiddo prison, where he is currently being held, the report noted.
Mohammad Samoudi, son of prominent Palestinian journalist Ali Samoudi, speaks out following his father’s arrest by Israel in the occupied West Bank on April 29.
With no information on his father’s whereabouts, Mohammad is pleading for international help to find him pic.twitter.com/Wgmmx4wX9o
— TRT World (@trtworld) May 6, 2025
The Commission and the PPS hold Israel responsible for the life and fate of al-Samoudi, the report added, who suffers from numerous health problems, including diabetes, and previous injuries, especially with his continued detention in the notorious Megiddo Prison.
Shot in the Back
With over 30 years of reporting for major local and international media, al-Samoudi has reported extensively on the situation in Jenin. Al-Samoudi was present at the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed by Israeli army gunfire in May 2022 at the entrance to the Jenin refugee camp. Al-Samoudi was also shot and wounded in the back.
Ali Samoudi is an incredible journalist based in Jenin, where he has worked for decades. He was with Shireen Abu Akleh on 5/11/22, when she was shot and killed by an Israeli sniper. Ali was shot in the shoulder. The Israelis have now disappeared Ali into their detention labryinth https://t.co/3jVIzBjH6u
— Sharif Kouddous شريف عبد القدوس (@sharifkouddous) April 29, 2025
Al-Samoudi was also a regular contributor to the Palestine Chronicle, focusing mostly on Israeli military raids in Jenin and human rights violations in the Jenin governorate. He also co-edited the book ‘Searching Jenin’ with Palestine Chronicle Editor Ramzy Baroud, which documents the Israeli massacre in Jenin in 2002.
Ali Samoudi among Scores of Detained Journalists, Doctors and Activists in the West Bank
The Commission and PPS said the 20 journalists held under administrative detention are among the 50 journalists Israel continues to detain since the beginning of Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza, WAFA reported. Six journalists were detained before October 7, 2023, the report added.
Abu Akleh’s Killer Identified
A new investigative documentary film, Who Killed Shireen?, produced by Zeteo, identifies the Israeli soldier responsible for Abu Akleh’s killing as Alon Skagio—marking the first time his name has been made public.
New Film Exposes Identity of Israeli Sniper Who Killed Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
The 40-minute film, directed by veteran journalist Dion Nissenbaum, is the result of a months-long investigation. The documentary film premiered in New York City this week.
(The Palestine Chronicle)
