On Sunday, Latifeh Abdellatif, a well-known Palestinian journalist, was arrested in Jerusalem by Israeli police on charges of “incitement” and “support of terrorism.” Despite an Israeli judge ordering her release the following day, police are seeking to keep her in detention.
Abdellatif is a freelance photojournalist whose work has been featured in various media outlets including Reuters, ABC News, BBC, Al Jazeera, and TRT. Israeli police stated that she was taken into custody at her home in the Old City, while her lawyer and mother claim she was arrested on the street while returning home. Abdellatif denies the accusations against her.
During a court appearance via video link on Monday, the judge denied the police’s request to detain her for further interrogation, citing her profession as a journalist and the age of the posts in question. The judge ordered her release under restrictive conditions, including posting bail and providing a guarantee she would appear for investigation when summoned.
However, Israeli police immediately appealed the decision, halting her release. Abdellatif had been interrogated for three hours on Sunday regarding her social media posts, which are considered part of her journalistic work.
Abdellatif, a single mother to a 7-year-old son, has been targeted by Israeli security forces in the past while reporting on tensions in Jerusalem. Colleagues describe her as professional, dedicated, kind, and respectful. Supporters believe she is being unfairly targeted for her work as a journalist.
Some journalists are hesitant and fearful to report on Palestinian issues due to concerns about facing incitement charges. Reporters in Jerusalem feel targeted by Israeli security forces following recent incidents, leading to a climate of fear among media professionals. The Committee to Protect Journalists has highlighted a significant increase in the arrests of journalists and media workers since the conflict in Gaza began. As of March 13, 2025, CPJ had recorded 75 journalist arrests in the West Bank, Gaza, and Jerusalem, with Israel accounting for 70 of them. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate criticized the arrest of journalist Abdellatif, stating that Israeli authorities have targeted and expelled multiple journalists in recent weeks. CNN’s Kara Fox provided additional reporting on this issue. For more CNN news and updates, sign up for an account on CNN.com.
