On 13 July the Palestinian Authority denied accusations of having launched a campaign of political arrests in the occupied West Bank. “There is no truth to the rumours circulating about the security services arresting people on political grounds,” stated the spokesperson of the security services, Major General Talal Dweikat.
Following the official declarations, Awawdeh shared a post on social media, criticising political arrests in the occupied West Bank and the denial, by the security services, of these arrests, according to preliminary reports.
This is not the first time that the journalist has experienced problems with the security forces. On 5 July 2021, Awawdeh was brutally beaten inside a police station by Palestinian security officers after covering a protest in Ramallah.
The PJS issued a statement denouncing the arrest of Aqil Awawdeh and urging the Palestinian authorities to immediately release him. “His detention constitutes a serious violation of freedom of opinion and the right to express it.”The union declared that the timing of the arrest, on a Thursday evening –meaning that it will be extended at least until Sunday morning – is designed to prevent the journalist’s speedy release.
In the same communication, the PJS welcomed the release of Palestinian journalist Ahmed Al-Bitwai on 13 July, after efforts made by the union. He was detained for more than a week in Nablus, north of the occupied West Bank.
IFJ Secretary General Anthony Bellanger said:“We join the PJS in condemning the arrest of our colleague Awawdeh, who was only exercising his right to freedom of expression by stating his opinions. We call on the Palestinian authorities to immediately release him and to allow journalists and media workers to do their job without fear of arrests, threats, or attacks.”
UPDATED 17.07.2023: Palestinian journalist Aqil Awawdeh was released on bail of 3,000 Jordanian dinars ($4,200) on 16 July, after four days in custody. He has been charged with "publishing information that incites radical strife and slandering the Authority".