American journalist Jeremy Loffredo was detained by Israeli authorities in the West Bank for four days before being released on Friday. While he was granted release from custody, he was ordered to remain in the country until October 20 for further investigation. The allegations against him stemmed from his reporting for The Grayzone, showing the locations of Iranian missiles launched at Israeli military targets. Despite similar reports by other media outlets, Israeli authorities claimed Loffredo’s reporting allowed Iran to study future targets.
Loffredo’s detention is part of a larger trend of Israel targeting journalists covering its conflicts, with over 126 journalists killed by Israeli forces since October 7. Local Israeli media also faced censorship over coverage of the Iranian missile attack. The Grayzone stood by Loffredo’s reporting, stating that they represent no enemy in wartime.
Israeli judges overseeing Loffredo’s case were skeptical of keeping him jailed, with one judge ordering his release due to lack of evidence and no perceived threat. The Grayzone called on the U.S. State Department to defend Loffredo, emphasizing the importance of protecting journalists abroad. Loffredo was detained alongside other journalists at a checkpoint in the West Bank by Israel Defense Forces soldiers.
As a citizen and member of the press, Andrey shared his credentials on X, recounting the harrowing experience of being detained by Israeli soldiers. One journalist was physically assaulted when he refused to hand over his equipment, enduring hits and threats from the soldiers.
“They were yelling horrific things … like how we should’ve been raped on October 7th and that it was our fault.”
The journalists were forced to sit in the sun for over an hour during their arrest, with one member needing protection due to a medical condition. The soldiers taunted and mocked them, displaying a lack of regard for their well-being. Despite the distressing treatment, the group was eventually released without charge, except for one member who was placed in a holding cell.
The IDF’s actions towards the journalists were described as unprecedented, highlighting the stark difference in treatment between internationals, Israelis, and Palestinians. Palestinians face numerous challenges in their daily lives, including restrictions on movement and arbitrary detention without charge.
The IDF’s use of excessive force has resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians, including American peace activists and journalists. The intentional killing of individuals like Ayşenur Eygi and Shireen Abu Akleh underscores the dangerous environment faced by those seeking to report on or support Palestinian causes.
Despite these injustices, investigations and accountability for such actions remain elusive, leaving many unanswered questions and unresolved cases.
Update: October 11, 2024, 3:11 p.m. ET
The story has been updated with more details on how the group of journalists were detained by the Israeli military. One quote was mistranscribed; the IDF soldiers did not say that the journalists should be “erased” but that they should be “raped.”
