BBC Team Detained by Israeli Forces in Southern Syria
A BBC Arabic team, including British citizen Feras Kilani, experienced a harrowing ordeal when they were detained by Israeli forces in southern Syria, near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Incident Overview
The team, reporting from Damascus, intended to reach the frontier to cover the area seized by Israel. While filming near a UN observation post, the team was approached by Israeli soldiers, who confiscated their equipment at gunpoint.
Details of the Detention
The journalists were then escorted to Quneitra, where they were subjected to interrogation, strip-searched, and threats. The soldiers thoroughly examined their phones and laptops, deleting photos, including personal ones.
Release and Aftermath
After seven long hours, the team was released in a rural area without their equipment. They eventually made their way back to Damascus.
The BBC has filed a complaint with the Israeli military regarding the incident, expressing serious concerns about the treatment of its journalists.