The Al Mayadeen Media Network held solidarity rallies in Beirut and Tehran on Monday in support of its Palestine bureau chief, Nasser al-Lahham, who was detained earlier in the day by Israeli occupation forces.

Speaking during the Beirut rally, the chief of Al Mayadeen’s bureau in Beirut Roni Alfa described al-Lahham as “a witness to the crime committed by the occupation against freedom,” adding that his colleague's words “frighten the occupation more than bullets.”

“We will not compromise on truth,” Alfa declared. “We will never stop speaking reality [as it is].”

Addressing al-Lahham directly, he continued, “We are waiting for you. Your absence pains us. Your presence is only delayed, and whosoever believes in free media stands with us.”

He concluded with a call to action, “To all the free people in the world, [let us] stand with Nasser al-Lahham.”

Simultaneously, Al Mayadeen’s bureau in Tehran organized a parallel rally in solidarity with the detained journalist.

According to reports, Israeli forces raided al-Lahham’s home in the early hours of Monday morning. Agents from the Shin Bet security service ransacked his property and seized electronic equipment before taking him into custody.

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The arrest has sparked condemnations from regional media circles and press freedom advocates.

This latest move comes as part of a broader, systematic campaign targeting journalists and media operations in occupied Palestine. In late October 2023, Israeli forces raided al-Lahham’s home, assaulting his wife and children, conducting an intrusive search, and detaining his two sons, Basil and Basel.

Al Mayadeen condemns detention

Al Mayadeen Media Network issued a strong-worded statement on Monday denouncing the violent detention of its bureau chief in occupied Palestine. The network said the arrest was carried out with "brutality and repression," demanding al-Lahham’s immediate release.

On Monday morning, July 7, Israeli occupation forces arrested our colleague Nasser Al-Lahham, Al Mayadeen’s Bureau Chief in #Palestine.

The arrest was executed brutally and oppressively. The arresting unit, consisting of Shin Bet officers and personnel, ransacked al-Lahham’s… pic.twitter.com/GVKpdXGnVj

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 7, 2025

Al Mayadeen labeled al-Lahham's detention as part of a wider campaign of repression carried out by Israeli authorities against Palestinian journalists.

"We are not surprised by the occupation’s sadistic practices," Al Mayadeen said, "nor by its persistent hostility toward journalism, journalists, and the right to report the truth."

Al Mayadeen's statement asserted that al-Lahham is one of the most renowned names in Palestinian media, with more than 30 years of experience in journalism. His arrest drew immediate condemnation from across the Arab world, with media figures, press freedom advocates, and political movements expressing solidarity.

"For us, Nasser is more than a bureau chief. He is a leading voice in Palestinian journalism, a symbol of purposeful reporting, and a steadfast defender of his people’s rights," Al Mayadeen's statement asserted.