Mohammed Awad detained as Israel alleges Hamas role

Israeli forces detained Palestinian journalist Mohammed Awad at his home near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, and the Israeli military later said he was suspected of advancing terror attacks and operating on behalf of Hamas, without providing evidence or further details.

Awad, 38, has shot videos for news outlets including AFP. His wife, Iman Shalash, said soldiers took him from the house at about 6:00 a.m., blindfolded and handcuffed him, and put him in a military vehicle. She denied the allegation that he worked for Hamas. Awad was not reachable.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Society, a non-governmental group that advocates for detained Palestinians, said Awad's detention brought to 40 the number of Palestinian journalists held by Israel.

The Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate called the arrest an extension of what it described as a systematic Israeli policy of targeting Palestinian journalists and an attempt to silence the press. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967.