Ramallah: Palestinian journalist Mujahid Mohammed Bani Mufleh underwent emergency surgery shortly after his release from Israeli detention, with medical examinations reportedly revealing brain bleeding and other health complications that emerged following his 14-month imprisonment.
Bani Mufleh, a journalist from the town of Beita, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, was released on January 12, 2026, after spending more than a year in detention. However, his health deteriorated rapidly just days after his release, leading to his admission to hospital and emergency medical intervention.
Arrest and administrative detention
According to accounts provided by his family, Israeli forces arrested Bani Mufleh during a raid on his home in Beita on June 28, 2025.
His wife, Nuha al-Shurafa, said soldiers entered the family home, searched the premises and took the journalist into custody. It was reportedly his third detention, having previously been arrested in 2015 and 2020.
Ten days after his latest arrest, an Israeli military court placed him under administrative detention for four months. The order was subsequently extended twice, keeping him in detention for a total of 14 months.
Administrative detention is a practice under which individuals can be held without formal charges or trial, based on evidence that remains undisclosed to the detainee and legal representatives.
Health concerns after release
According to reports, Bani Mufleh developed severe fatigue and difficulty walking within days of his release.
He was taken to the Istishari Arab Hospital in Ramallah, where doctors diagnosed brain bleeding and high blood pressure. Medical teams subsequently performed surgery.
Palestinian organisations advocating for prisoners’ rights have expressed concern over his condition and alleged that his health complications were linked to his detention experience.
Bani Mufleh has also reportedly spoken about significant weight loss and physical injuries sustained during his imprisonment.
Journalist describes prison ordeal
Following his release, the journalist shared details of his experience in detention through social media posts.
He described prolonged periods of hunger, thirst and physical suffering, stating that the experience had deeply affected both his physical and emotional well-being.
Palestinian media outlet Ultra Palestine reported that he lost approximately 25 kilograms during his detention and suffered repeated physical assaults that left him with lingering health issues.
According to reports, he continues to experience numbness and difficulty walking, which he attributes to injuries and prolonged restraints during his imprisonment.
Concerns over detained journalists
The case has renewed attention on the detention of Palestinian journalists and media workers.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society, at least 193 Palestinian journalists have been arrested or detained since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023.
Human rights organisations and press freedom groups have repeatedly raised concerns over the detention of journalists and the challenges they face while carrying out their work in conflict zones.
Israeli authorities, meanwhile, have maintained that arrests and detentions are carried out in accordance with security considerations and legal procedures.
Ongoing recovery
Bani Mufleh remains under medical care and continues his recovery following surgery.
In reflections shared after his release, the journalist wrote about the importance of health, freedom and human dignity, saying his experience had profoundly changed his understanding of life’s ordinary blessings.
His case has once again highlighted the humanitarian concerns surrounding detainees’ health and the broader debate over the treatment of prisoners and journalists in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.