ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY: PALESTINIAN JOURNALISTS FORCIBLY DISAPPEARED

Dear Brig. Gen. Itai Ofir,

I am concerned about the enforced disappearance of Haitham Abdelwahed, (25) and Nidal al-Waheidi (31), two journalists from the occupied Gaza Strip whose whereabouts have remained unknown since October 7, 2023. The detention of the two journalists was widely documented on that day as they were reporting from Beit Hanoun/Erez crossing. Since the two went missing while on duty, their families, colleagues and friends have received no information about them from the Israeli authorities, not even confirmation that they are still alive.

The families’ fears have been exacerbated by the Israeli army’s confirmation in November that two workers from the Gaza Strip had died while in the custody of the Israeli military. As recently as December 18, the Israeli army told Israeli daily, Haaretz that a “number of” detainees from the Gaza Strip died in custody at the military detention facilities in the Beersheba Airfield, also known as Sdeh Teyman, where hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza are held in conditions that violate the prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment.

We urge you to immediately disclose the whereabouts of Nidal al-Waheidi and Haitham Abdelwahed, detail the legal grounds for their detention, ensure their humane treatment, including access to medical services and protection from torture and other ill-treatment, and grant them access to the lawyers appointed by their families. Unless they are charged promptly with a recognizable criminal offense and granted a fair trial in accordance with international standards, they must be immediately released.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]