Israeli soldiers arrest Al Jazeera journalist Montaser Nassar in Hebron

Israeli soldiers blindfolded, handcuffed and arrested Al Jazeera correspondent Montaser Nassar during a raid on his home in Dura, a town south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, on Tuesday. The soldiers entered the house early in the morning, seized Nassar’s equipment and took him to a nearby military checkpoint. He was detained without charge and his whereabouts were not disclosed by the army. The operation was part of a broader sweep that also saw several Palestinian residents taken into custody.

The arrest comes as Israel intensifies security operations in the West Bank after a spate of attacks that killed Israeli civilians in the past month. Israeli forces have increased raids on suspected militants and have also targeted journalists they say are “inciting violence” or have links to extremist groups. Press groups have warned that the move threatens media freedom in a territory already under tight control. Earlier this year, other journalists from foreign outlets were detained or denied access, prompting concerns that the crackdown is expanding beyond security suspects to anyone reporting on the conflict.

Al Jazeera condemned the detention, calling it “a blatant violation of press freedom and international law.” The network said it would seek urgent consular assistance and legal representation for Nassar. Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists also issued statements demanding his immediate release. The Israeli military has not commented on the specific reasons for Nassar’s arrest, only that the operation was part of a lawful security effort. Legal experts say the journalist could face a military detention order that lasts up to 15 days, after which a court will decide whether to keep him in custody. International pressure may grow if the case is not resolved quickly, and the incident could further strain Israel’s relations with the media and with countries that host Al Jazeera’s bureaus.