The Lawyers for Justice group reported that Palestinian journalist Jarrah Khalaf, currently detained by the Palestinian Authority’s investigation department, attended a court session today. During the session, he testified that he was subjected to torture and beatings over three consecutive days. The court subsequently extended his detention for an additional 48 hours.
According to the group, Khalaf was interrogated about his journalistic coverage of press conferences held by the resistance in Jenin, which he acknowledged documenting as part of his professional duties. Al-Jazeera also reported that the investigation focuses on his filming of news conferences held by the Jenin Brigade in the occupied West Bank.
The PA has charged Khalaf with “weapon possession,” though his questioning revolved around his coverage of the PA’s aggression on the Jenin camp and resistance press conferences, not the alleged charge.
Local journalists have highlighted that the PA frequently employs “weapon possession” charges against individuals with no basis for other accusations. Similar fabricated charges have been used in the past against other journalists, who were later acquitted. These cases often reveal that the investigations primarily target their journalistic activities, particularly coverage of resistance events or politically oppositional activities.
It is worth noting that such journalistic coverage is both lawful and professionally conducted, despite the recurring baseless accusations from the PA.
