Israel: No journalist should be forced to sign documents to secure their release

French journalists Omar Faiad and Yanis Mhamdi, who were on board the Madleen vessel, were arbitrarily arrested by Israeli authorities when the ship was intercepted on 8 June in international waters as it approached the shores of Gaza. While Faiad was released 24 hours after signing a series of documents, Mhamdi is still being held in custody. The International and the European Federation of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) demand that journalists are not forced to sign any documents to secure their release, as they were unfairly detained during the course of their work. The IFJ and the EFJ urge the Israeli authorities to immediately release Mhamdi.

A placard reads "I am Madleen" as participants gather during a rally to show their support for activists aboard a boat stopped by Israeli forces enroute to deliver aid to Gaza, during a rally in Lyon, south-eastern France in June 2025. Credit: Alex Martin/AFP.

French journalists Omar Faiad, who was working for the Al Jazeera Network, and Yanis Mhamdi, who was working for the French news outlet Blast, were on board the Madleen ship that attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. Both journalists, who were covering the Madleen mission, were arbitrarily arrested during the course of their work.

Faiad arrivedin Paris on 10 June after being deported by Israeli authorities. To secure his release, he had to sign a series of documents, including a ban on entering Israeli territory and an acknowledgment of the illegality of the Madleen humanitarian mission, according to Faiad's account.

On 9 June, the Israeli Foreign Minister saidon X that those who refuse to sign deportation documents will be brought before a judiciary authority.

As reportedby his employer Blast, Mhamdi refused to sign the documents and remains in Israeli custody.

"We strongly condemn the arbitrary arrest of journalists Omar Faiad and Yanis Mhamdi, who were carrying out their journalistic duty of informing the public and urge the Israeli authorities to immediately release Mhamdi. No journalist should be forced to sign any document to secure their release, especially when they have been arbitrarily arrested, "said the IFJ and the EFJ in a joint statement.