IDF arrests Iran's Press TV journalist in West Bank, hands her to police, source confirms to 'Post'
The IDF confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that the journalist, identified by the Iranian state broadcaster as Palestinian-American Naqqa Hamad, was transferred to the Israel Police.
On Tuesday, an Iranian state-owned media organization reported that one of its journalists, Naqqa Hamed, was arrested by Israeli forces near Bethlehem in the West Bank. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the arrest of the Press TV correspondent to The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday. According to Iran’s English-language news website, Press TV, Hamed and her camera crew were stopped at a checkpoint in the region by Israeli authorities, who conducted a search before apprehending Hamed. While her cameraman was released, Hamed was taken into custody.
Despite Iran's claims that she was held by Israel's Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), the IDF source clarified to the Post that Hamed was instead handed over to Israel Police. Press TV alleged that Hamed's arrest was triggered by an online "smear campaign" targeting her, where she was repeatedly questioned about her ability to continue working for the Iranian outlet while operating in Area B of the West Bank without being arrested.
The outlet accused those who questioned her online of attempting to exert "psychological and media pressure" in an effort to impede Press TV's reporting.
Furthermore, Press TV claimed that Hamed had previously encountered confrontations with Israeli forces while covering events in Kalandiya.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
