Nine Palestinian journalists detained by IDF

Nine Palestinian journalists have been detained from their homes by Israeli military forces throughout Gaza and the West Bank.

Palestinian journalist Serri Sammour joins eight other journalists who have been detained at their homes by Israeli military forces. Sammour was detained today in his home in Jenin. Israel forces have also detained Ghufran Zamil from Al-'Ein Refugee Camp and Muhammad Muna from Nablus. Taken from their homes in the West Bank are: Walid Khalid, Nizar Ramadan, Muhammad Al-Qeiq, Amjad Shawamra, Husam Badran, and Sami 'Asi. The reason for the journalists' detainment has not been made public, though some have speculated a potential military operation and this move by IDF forces as a pre-emptive response to a full media blackout if speculation is to be believed. In January of 2008, during Operation Cast Lead, Israel imposed a foreign media blackout, banning all journalists from covering the military operation that has come under criticism by human rights groups and the U.N as violations of international law. There were over 1,400 Palestinian men, women, and children killed during Operation Cast Lead and 11 Israeli casualties, including three killed when a U.N school was bombed. The IDF has come under criticism before in the deaths of journalists James Miller, Alaa Murtaja, Ihab al-Wahidi, Omar Silawi and Rueters cameraman Fadel Shana. The deaths of Britishj journalist James Miller and Fadel Shana were both caught on tape. Human Rights groups contend that journalists are targeted by IDF soldiers while IDF maintains it hopes to avoid such civilian death. The death of James Miller was settled monetarily out of court while an investigation into Fadal Shana's death was opened. Disciplinary actions were not taken against the soldiers involved in either case.