/ / ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY: PALESTINIAN JOURNALISTS FORCIBLY DISAPPEARED

ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY: PALESTINIAN JOURNALISTS FORCIBLY DISAPPEARED

UA: 119.23

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Nidal al-Waheidi and Haitham Abdelwahed are journalists from the occupied Gaza Strip. Both were detained by Israeli forces on October 7 while they were reporting the Hamas-led attack and are held in conditions constituting enforced disappearance. Since then, Israeli authorities have refused to disclose their whereabouts or the legal grounds and reasons for their arrest. Since their disappearance, no information has been shared about their fate or whereabouts.

Call on the Israeli authorities must immediately disclose their whereabouts and the legal grounds for their arrest, grant them access to legal representation and ensure their humane treatment. Unless charged with an internationally recognized criminal offense, they must be immediately released.

It is crucial to continue campaigning, as there have been no updates to this urgent situation. Therefore, we are extending the deadline for this urgent action from June 30, 2026 to February 6, 2027.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: February 6, 2027

Here is how you can take action:

Send an email to Military Advocate General, Maj. Gen. Itai Ofir using our email writing tool
Send a letter to the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC
Send an email to the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC

Scroll down to Step 1 and Step 2 to access the full Urgent Action appeal, email to the IOPT authorities, and sample letter

Take action

Step 1

Write your letter

Enter your email address and zip code to get the sample letter to send to government officials

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You can now write a letter in your own words or download the sample below as a guide.

Remember to send your letter by February 6, 2027.

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Sample Letter

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]

Sample Social Post

I am concerned about the enforced disappearance of Haitham Abdelwahed and Nidal al-Waheidi, journalists from the occupied Gaza Strip whose whereabouts have been unknown since October 7, 2023. Their whereabouts must be disclosed immediately @yechielleiter #UrgentActionNetwork

Send a Tweet to the Israeli Ambassador in Washington DC

Step 2

Send your letter

Mail your letter to the government officials listed below. You can also email, fax, call, or post about them on social media.

Send your letter to:

Military Advocate General, Maj. Gen. Itai Ofir

Fax: +972(0)35694526

[email protected] [email protected]

and

CC: Embassy of Israel in the United States, Ambassador Dr. Yechiel (Michael) Leiter

Send a copy of your letter to the address below

3514 International Drive, NW,

Washington DC 20008

@yechielleiter

When writing your letter, don’t forget to be factual, brief, and show respect. See more letter writing tips and emails, or organize and host a letter writing party.

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