Jerusalemite journalist Bayan al-Jo’beh is suffering a year of house arrest with her three children
Jerusalemite journalist Bayan al-Jo’beh has endured immense hardship for over a year, serving her house arrest at home in the Shu’fat refugee camp in Jerusalem with her three children, the eldest eight years old and the youngest ten months old. Her daily life and journalistic activities are severely restricted.
Al-Jo’beh's ordeal started on February 28, 2025, when Israeli forces detained her inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. She was there with her husband, journalist Muhammad al-Sadiq, and their two children, observing the new moon sighting before Ramadan. After several hours of questioning, she was released but faced strict restrictions, including house arrest and mandatory interrogations when summoned, because her pregnancy was deemed "high-risk.”
During this period, al-Jab’a gave birth to her son, Yazan, while restrictions on leaving her house persisted. Recently, she was allowed to leave under specific conditions and for limited hours. She is forbidden from using social media or giving journalistic interviews until a final verdict is reached.
Her trial has been postponed until May 10, 2026, pending an interview with the probation officer and the release of his report. This follows an indictment filed by the prosecution on March 20, 2025, accusing her of "incitement via social media, support for and affiliation with a terrorist organization." The indictment references journalistic and news posts on Facebook and Instagram from 2021 to 2023 and personal photos taken inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The woman's hardship is worsened by restrictions affecting her children, especially her infant son, Yazan, who is not yet registered on her identity card, since the Israeli authorities claim that the family lives in Al-Ram in the West Bank, despite the court order which requires Al-Jo’beh to be in the family’s home in Jerusalem while under house arrest. Yazan lacks health insurance and essential medical care, despite needing ongoing medical attention. This adds more stress to his mother as she efforts to care for and safeguard her children in very challenging conditions.
