Israeli forces detain journalist Mohammed Awad, family says

Israeli forces detained Palestinian journalist Mohammed Awad at his home near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, his family and witnesses said.

Awad, 38, has shot videos for news outlets including AFP. His wife, Iman Shalash, said soldiers took him away at about 6:00 a.m. after blindfolding and handcuffing him.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the reason for Awad's detention. 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 part of what it described as a systematic Israeli policy of targeting Palestinian journalists.