The testimony of detained journalist Farah Abu Ayash has drawn renewed attention to the conditions faced by Palestinian journalists held in Israeli prisons. Farah, 25, from Beit Ummar near Hebron, has been in detention for more than 100 days, including an extended period in solitary confinement at the Moskobiya interrogation centre. She previously worked with the Tasneem News Agency and is described by colleagues as a young reporter focused largely on social issues.

According to her lawyer, Hasan Abbadi from Haifa, Farah’s arrest followed a night raid on her home, after which she was taken to a nearby settlement for initial questioning. She later passed through several detention sites, including Etzion and Moskobiya, where she says her professional work was targeted and she was pressured to grant access to her personal devices. Her lawyer reports that she was subjected to repeated interrogations and harsh treatment throughout her transfer to other facilities, including Damon and Ramla prisons.

In her meetings with legal counsel, Farah described poor detention conditions, extended periods of isolation, and practices she considered degrading. Her lawyer states that these conditions have had visible effects on her physical and psychological well-being. He argues that she has been singled out because of her work as a journalist and has begun appealing to international organisations in the hope that external pressure may secure improved treatment or a review of her case.

Farah’s family say they remain deeply worried. Her mother, Maram Abu Ayash, explains that she has only seen her daughter briefly through a live courtroom video feed and was not permitted to speak to her. She expressed concern about her daughter’s appearance and criticised what she views as insufficient action from organisations meant to defend journalists, noting that Farah received no legal visits during the early weeks of her detention.

Palestinian rights groups report that the detention of journalists has risen sharply since the start of the war in Gaza. The Palestinian Prisoner’s Club notes that around 200 journalists have been arrested, many on accusations of “incitement” or under administrative detention orders based on undisclosed evidence. The organisation also reports that journalists from Gaza have experienced cases of enforced disappearance, with little transparency surrounding their whereabouts.

Recently released journalist Amer Abu Arafa said that reporters are often treated more harshly than other detainees because their work is viewed as influential. He noted an increase in prison sentences against journalists, with new rulings reaching up to 30 months, and criticised the limited capacity of the Journalists’ Syndicate to provide legal support.

In response, the deputy head of the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate, Omar Nazzal, said the organisation is doing what it can despite significant restrictions, including repeated bans on visits to detainees. He explained that the syndicate has coordinated with legal institutions to appoint lawyers, sent appeals to international bodies and held public events to highlight the situation. However, he acknowledged that these efforts have yet to produce meaningful change on the ground.