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American journalist arrested, barred from leaving occupied territories by Israeli authorities
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American journalist arrested, barred from leaving occupied territories by Israeli authorities
An American journalist was arrested and detained earlier in October by the Israeli authorities for allegedly "endangering national security and aiding and sharing information with the enemy." He was said to have reported where the missiles landed in Iran's recent missile barrage, including the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Nevatim Air Base and an intelligence base in central Israel.
Jeremy Loffredo, 28, a Jewish journalist who works for the independent news outlet The Grayzone, was detained alongside four other journalists at a West Bank checkpoint on Oct. 8 and released three days later. Now, he is on a travel ban and barred from leaving the occupied territories until Oct. 20 while Israeli authorities continue to withhold his phone and passport.
A few days after the attack, Loffredo released a video report showing how Israeli authorities largely concealed the true extent of the damage inflicted on the regime's bases following Operation True Promise II, Iran's much-talked-about missile barrage on key Israeli military installations.
To prepare his report on the Israeli bases hit by Iran, Loffredo traveled to the Israeli-occupied territories and documented several impact sites that had not been reported by Israeli authorities, including areas near the Mossad headquarters in Tel Aviv. He also took the time to speak to the Israelis residing next to the targeted areas. He however later said that the majority of them refused to speak on the matter.
Loffredo's colleague at The Grayzone, Aaron Mate, called for his release in an Oct. 11 post on X.
"Jeremy Loffredo (@loffredojeremy) of @TheGrayzoneNews, a U.S. citizen, has been arrested by Israeli forces and after 24 hours is still being detained. I ask all journalists to join us in calling for his release," Mate wrote. "Israel is detaining and prosecuting an American journalist for doing journalism."
The Guardian's Seth Stern said what makes everything complicated is that Loffredo reports for an independent news outlet that has been accused of carrying Russian and Chinese propaganda.
"If Israel's theory is that reporters illegally share information with the enemy whenever the enemy reads the news, that could criminalize a whole lot of journalism. If Israel has proof that Loffredo did something more nefarious than that, it should say so, and be specific," Stern argued. "The Dissenter reports that several more mainstream journalists reported similar information and footage to Loffredo and weren't charged – if so, why was a particularly adversarial journalist singled out?"
Also, Israel has killed more than a hundred journalists in the war as it deliberately targets some of them. According to reports, journalists and their families have been receiving death threats from Israeli officials for their reporting.
For Stern, the administration of President Joe Biden must demand that Israel immediately explain why the IDF detained an American journalist. If the authorities can't provide a reason not directly related to Loffredo's reporting, the government must demand that the charges be dropped. His phone and passport should be returned and he must be allowed to return to the United States. (Related: Journalist challenges State Department over U.S. foreign policy on Israel: "People are sick of the BS.")
"Israel shouldn't be jailing any journalist who hasn't committed a real crime and the U.S. shouldn't turn a blind eye to its ally's assaults on the press, let alone finance them," Stern concluded.
Biden's White House favors Israel over American citizens
As Washington remains mum on Loffredo's case, critics lambast the White House for not protecting its citizens' human rights, just as long as the predator is Israel.
One of the jailed reporters later took to X to share their ordeal. The reporter said their car was searched, personal belongings removed and phones confiscated. One of them was even beaten and threatened with a gun when he refused.
The journalists also recounted the inhumane treatment they received from the IDF. They were held in the scorching sun and denied shade, water and medical attention. According to them, they were blindfolded, handcuffed and transported in a military jeep. The Israeli military also verbally abused them and threatened them with sexual violence.
When they arrived at the police station, they were forced to pose for photos with nationalist slogans and endured further insults and threats. They were also denied food, water and legal representation.
Check out IsraelCollapse.com for stories related to the abuses and inhumane treatment of the IDF on civilians and journalists in the occupied territories.
Watch the video below where former Marine intelligence officer Scott Ritter questions Israel's ability to survive a war with Iran.
This video is from the What is happening channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Iran calls ballistic missile attack response on Israel "legal, rational and legitimate."
Israel promising new attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities that Biden says he won't back.
Israel CENSORING the extent of damage caused by Iran's Oct. 1 missile strike.
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