Nidal and Haitham, Palestinian journalists from the occupied Gaza Strip, were detained by Israeli forces on 7 October while reporting the Hamas-led attack. Since then, Israeli authorities have refused to disclose their whereabouts or the legal grounds of their arrest. Their families don’t even know if they are still alive.

Nidal al-Waheidi (31) and Haitham Abdelwahed (25) work for the independent outlets Ein Media and an-Najah channel respectively and were reporting from the Beit Hanoun/Erez crossing the day they were detained and disappeared.

Since 7 October, Israeli authorities have confirmed that six Palestinian detainees have died in Israeli custody, exacerbating the fears of Nidal and Haitham’s families. In at least one case, the autopsy showed clear signs of beatings and torture. 

Horrifying accounts and cases of torture and degrading treatment of Palestinian detainees and prisoners whether in prisons or military detention centres have been shared by released prisoners and detainees as well as lawyers who visit them.

Nidal and Haitham’s enforced disappearances are not isolated incidents. Between 7 October and 11 December, Israeli human rights organisation, HaMoked, received 816 inquiries on missing Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, including children. The actual number of those missing is expected to be much higher, with many families unable to report on their missing loved ones due to communication blackouts and concerns over negative implications of publicity.

Israeli authorities must immediately release Nidal and Haitham, disclose their whereabouts and the legal grounds for their arrest, grant them access to legal representation and ensure their humane treatment.

We know that people power works. Call on Israel to disclose the whereabouts of Nidal and Haitham and immediately release them.