Al Jazeera journalist Ismail al-Ghoul, who was recently released after being detained and beaten by Israeli forces for 12 hours in northern Gaza, has spoken out about his arrest. He and other members of the media were covering an attack by Israeli forces on al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, alleging that Hamas militants were using the medical facility as a hideout.
According to eyewitnesses and the Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli troops targeted part of the hospital where specialized surgeries were conducted, trapping tens of thousands of Palestinians, including civilians, medical staff, and injured patients.
Al-Ghoul recounted his harrowing experience, stating that journalists at al-Shifa were detained, stripped, handcuffed, blindfolded, and forced to lie on their stomachs for hours inside the hospital complex.
Israeli soldiers reportedly fired shots as a scare tactic, intimidating the journalists. After about 12 hours, the soldiers began interrogating each person. Al-Ghoul managed to leave the compound by assisting an elderly man who was being released from the hospital.
The Israeli military claimed to have arrested 200 people during the raid on al-Shifa and reported killing 20 Palestinian fighters. The United Nations expressed concern over the harassment of journalists during the incident, with spokesperson Farhan Haq condemning any violence against journalists.
Al-Ghoul later revealed on social media that Israeli forces had also released “a number of journalists” who were detained with him, although their specific status remained unclear.
This incident is not an isolated case, as it reflects a broader pattern of attacks on journalists working for Al Jazeera by Israeli authorities.
The network cited previous instances of aggression, including the assassination of journalists, the bombing of its office in Gaza, and the deliberate targeting of its journalists and their family members. Palestinian journalists covering attacks in Gaza have also faced danger, with numerous casualties reported by press freedom groups.
Despite the release of some journalists, concerns persist about the denial of press freedom rights during major military operations. The Committee to Protect Journalists and other press freedom groups have called for the release of all detained journalists and for their voices to be heard.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza underscores the challenges faced by journalists in reporting on the ground as they navigate risks to bring attention to the human toll of the violence.