Below is the open letter signed by hundreds of journalists and media organisations in France:

We, the undersigned journalists, express our deep concern and full solidarity with our colleague Yanis Mhamdi, journalist for the media outlet Blast, who is currently arbitrarily detained by Israeli authorities.

Last week, Yanis Mhamdi boarded the humanitarian vessel Madleen as part of the civil mission Freedom Flotilla, to document the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. Alongside fellow journalist Omar Faiad of Al Jazeera, he accompanied several prominent figures, including activist Greta Thunberg and French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan. He was on assignment from his media outlet, and his presence on the ship was strictly professional.

During the night of 8 June , 2025, the Madleen was illegally intercepted in international waters by the Israeli military, in blatant violation of international law. All passengers were placed in detention. While some have since returned to their home countries, Yanis Mhamdi remains in custody for refusing to sign a document presenting ambiguous release conditions.

Since his arrest, his relatives and legal counsel have only received fragments of information about his condition and the circumstances of his detention. He was deprived of food for over sixteen hours, threatened at gunpoint, and held in an undisclosed location under unjustifiable conditions.

This situation raises serious concerns: it is unacceptable that a French journalist, sent to report by his media outlet, is currently deprived of his liberty simply for doing his job. When the work of a media professional is purposefully hampered and a reporter is equated with an activist, l, the entire journalism profession is under threat.

This arbitrary detention is part of a broader pattern in the treatment of journalists in Gaza, who are systematically prevented from doing their work and directly targeted. According to Reporters Without Borders, nearly 200 journalists have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza.

The arrest and detention of a fellow journalist casts an alarming shadow over press freedom and reporters’ ability to cover armed conflicts and humanitarian crises worldwide.

By keeping Yanis Mhamdi in detention, a fundamental right is at risk: the public’s right to be informed. Safeguarding freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and the right to information is not optional — it is a democratic obligation.

We call on the French government to take responsibility and publicly demand the immediate release of our colleague. Silence, ambiguity, and inaction are not acceptable.

Freedom of the press is not negotiable. It is the cornerstone of public debate and, therefore, the foundation of all democracies.

Signatory organisations (following the announcement of Yanis Mhamdi’s release oon the morning of June 16, this list has been closed):

• Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

• Blast Journalists' Society

• France 24 Journalists' Society

• Libération Journalists and Staff Society (SJPL)

• Radio France Internationale Journalists' Society (RFI)

• Mediapart Journalists' Society

• National Union of Journalists (SNJ)

• Télérama Journalists' Society

• L'Humanité Staff Society

• Association of Antiracist and Racialized Journalists (AJAR)

• National Union of CGT Journalists (SNJ-CGT)

• SDJ Konbini

• Arrêt sur images SDJ

• Courrier International Journalists' Society

• Enketo Collective

• Splann!

• Vert le média

• Booska-P

• Le Parisien-Aujourd'hui en France Journalists' Society The Society of Journalists of Le Monde

• Fracas Media

• The Presse-Papiers Collective

• The Society of Journalists of La Tribune

• Focus, collective of independent journalists and documentary filmmakers

 

List of individual signatories (following the announcement of Yanis Mhamdi’s release on the morning of June 16, this list has been closed):

• Adèle Flaux, journalist, director

• Agnès Briançon-Marjollet, journalist, co-first secretary general of the SNJ (National Journalists’ Union)

• Alexandre Brutelle, journalist at The Examination

• Aïda Amara, freelance journalist

• Aïda Delpuech, freelance journalist

• Aissata Soumare, freelance journalist

• Alex Talandier, freelance journalist

• Alexandra Henry, freelance journalist

• Alexandre Malesson, freelance journalist

• Alexandre-Reza Kokabi, journalist at Reporterre

• Alyssia Gaoua, freelance journalist

• Ambrine Ziani, journalist

• Amel Zaki, Libération

• Amina Kalache, freelance journalist

• Amine Abdelli, freelance journalist

• Amira Souilem, reporter, RFI

• Anaïs Delmas, freelance journalist

• Anissa Rami, freelance journalist

• Anna Margueritat, freelance editor

• Anne Bocandé, editorial director, Reporters Without Borders

• Anne Paq, freelance photographer

• Annie Fiore, freelance journalist

• Antoine Cariou, journalist

• Antoine Chuzeville, journalist, co-first secretary-general of the SNJ (National Journalists’ Union)

• Antoine Comte, journalist, France 3

• Antoine Portoles, journalist, L'Humanité

• Antton Rouget, journalist, Mediapart

• Aouregan Texier, journalist, La Dépêche

• Ariane Lavrilleux, Disclose

• Arnaud Froger, journalist, Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

• Aurélien Devernoix, journalist, RFI, union representative, SNJ (National Journalists’ Union)

• Aziz Oguz, freelance journalist

• Baptiste Mas, freelance reporter

• Barbara Delad, freelance journalist

• Barbara Gouy, freelance journalist

• Benjamin Barthe, Le Monde

• Benjamin Beraud, freelance journalist

• Camelia Kheiredine, ARTE

• Camille Miloua Giraudea, Courrier International

• Camille Regache, freelance journalist, member of the AJL (Association of Gay, Lesbian and Transexual Journalists)

• Camille Scali, journalist and artist-author

• Capucine Japhet, freelance journalist

• Caroline Constant, journalist at L'Humanité

• Catherine Maubert, BFMTV

• Cécile Fischer, journalist, Serieously

• Célia Gueuti, freelance journalist, AJAR (Association of Antiracist and Racialized Journalists)

• Céline Beaury, freelance journalist, (Collectif La Friche)

• Cemil SANLI, freelance journalist

• Charlotte Vautier, journalist

• Chloé Dubois, freelance journalist

• Chloé Plisson, journalist, Centre France group

• Christelle Gilabert, freelance journalist

• Christelle Murhula, freelance journalist, member of the AJAR (Association of Antiracist and Racialized Journalists)

• Claire Billet, journalist and producer

• Claire Gandanger, journalist

• Clara Menais, journalist at Blast

• Clara Monnoyeur, journalist, StreetPress

• Clarisse Feletin, journalist for Off Investigation

• Claudine Cordani, freelance journalist

• Clément Pouré, freelance journalist

• Clément Quintard, journalist and editor-in-chief of Fracas

• Coline Charbonnier, journalist at 15-38 Méditerranée

• Coralie Salle, freelance journalist

• Corinne Longhi, freelance journalist

• Cyril Castelliti, journalist at La Provence

• Cyril Theophilos, journalist and video reporter, France 2

• Dalal Mawad, Correspondent, Al Araby TV

• Dan Israel, journalist

• Danae Corte, journalist at AEF info

• Daphné Deschamps, journalist, StreetPress

• David Dufresnes, Au Poste

• David Hury, freelance journalist

• David Zurmely, ARTE

• Denis Robert, co-editorial director of Blast

• Dominique Pradalié, journalist, President of the International Federation of Journalists

• Donia Ismail, freelance journalist

• Donnia Ghezlane-Lala, journalist

• Dorian Mao, freelance journalist

• Dounia Rachati, freelance journalist

• Edwy Plenel, journalist, Mediapart

• Eliott Brachet, freelance journalist

• Elisabeth Fleury, journalist at L'Humanité

• Élise Courant, journalist

• Elodie Safaris, Arrêt sur images

• Elsa Miske, journalist, AJ+

• Enora Hillaireau, journalist

• Emilio Meslet, journalist at L'Humanité

• Emma Villeroy, freelance journalist

• Emmanuel Clévenot, journalist at Reporterre

• Emmanuelle Veil, journalist

• Emeline Odi, freelance journalist

• Ervan Couderc, journalist, jhm quotidien

• Erwan Blanchard, journalist at Radio Breizh

• Esther Meunier, freelance journalist

• Etienne Milliès-Lacroix, editor, OFF Investigation

• Fabien Gay, director of L'Humanité

• Fabien Rives, Off Investigation

• Fabrice Wuimo, journalist, head of the “News” section, Le Média TV

• Fanny Marlier, freelance journalist, member of the Hors Cadre collective

• Filippo Ortona, journalist at Index Investigation and Il Manifesto

• François Bonnet, The Fund for a Free Press

• Frédérique Le Brun, freelance journalist, member of Reporters Solidaires

• Gallagher Fenwick, independent columnist

• Gilles Bader, photojournalist at La Provence

• Gnamé Diarra, freelance journalist

• Grégoire Triau, journalist (Collectif La Friche)

• Guillaume Gendron, journalist at Libération

• Gwenaelle Lenoir, journalist, Mediapart

• Haïfa Mzalouat, Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

• Hajar Ouahbi, journalist, ARTE Tracks

• Hakim Mokadem, journalist

• Héléna Khattab, France 24

• Houda Benallal, journalist

• Hugo Coignard, freelance journalist

• Ibrahim Banaïssa, Blast

• Inès El Kaladi, Libération

• Isma Le Dantec, Fracas

• Issa Sedraoui Cochet, journalism student and freelancer

• Isya Okoué Métogo, journalist at Off Investigation

• Jean-Marc Souami, freelance journalist

• Jean-Baptiste Rivoire, founder of Off Investigation

• Jeanne Gobin, freelance photojournalist, Agence Encrage

• Jeannette Marié, journalist/founder of Komune Média

• Jili Martin, Radio Gâtine

• Jimmy Hutcheon, freelance journalist

• Jonathan Dagher, journalist, Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

• Jose Rexach, journalist at Blast

• Julie Lassale, journalist, Libération

• Julie Tomiche, freelance journalist

• Julien Coquelle-Roëhm, journalist at RFI, elected member of the SDJ (Journalists’ society) of RFI (Radio France Internationale)

• Julien Sauvaget, editor-in-chief of the weekend morning shows at France 24

• Julien Théry, Le Média

• Juliette Quef, journalist and president of Vert media

• Justine Fontaine, journalist, RFI (Radio France Internationale)

• Justine Guitton-Boussion, journalist, Reporterre

• Justine Prados, journalist, Vert

• Justine Segui, journalist

• Khadija Toufik, freelance journalist

• Khedidja Zerouali, journalist at Mediapart and member of AJAR (Association of Antiracist and Racialized Journalists)

• Laura Wojcik, journalist, Mediapart

• Laure Pechkechian, journalist at France Télévisions

• Laurent Dauré, freelance journalist

• Laurie Debove, editor-in-chief, La Relève and La Peste

• Léa Dang, journalist, Socialter

• Léa Gorius, journalist at Reporterre

• Lea Martinez, journalist at Off Investigation

• Léa Masseguin, Libération

• Leïla Beratto, 15-38 Méditerranée

• Leïla de Comarmond, journalist

• Léonard Vincent, journalist-writer

• Léo Roussel, freelance journalist

• Léo Lefrançois, journalist

• Léo Bachiri Wadimoff, journalist at RTS

• Lila Paulou, freelance journalist

• Lilia Aoudia, freelance journalist

• Lina Rhrissi, journalist at StreetPress and member from AJAR (Association of Antiracist and Racialized Journalists)

• Lisa Lap, journalist at Le Média

• Lisa Legeay, journalist at Blast

• Lisa Morison, journalist at Fréquence Protestante

• Lisa Noyal, freelance journalist

• Louisa Ben, freelance photojournalist

• Louis Blanchard, journalist at Ouest-France

• Louis Bontemps, freelance journalist

• Louis Witter, journalist

• Louisa Benchabane, freelance journalist

• Louise Bihan, L’Insurgée

• LouizArt, freelance photographer

• Loup Espargilière, editor-in-chief of Vert media

• Lucas Chedeville, journalist at StreetPress

• Lucas Martin-Brodzicki, freelance journalist

• Lucile Berland, freelance journalist

• Lucile Gimberg, journalist at RFI

• Lynn S.K., freelance photographer

• Maëliss Orboin, freelance journalist

• Maïlys Khider, freelance journalist

• Malik Habchi, l’Usine Nouvelle

• Malo Janin, journalist at Basta! Manal Fkihi, freelance journalist, member of AJAR

• Manuel Magrez, journalist

• Marie Sarfati, journalist

• Margaux Houcine, journalist, Mediapart

• Margaux Seigneur, freelance journalist

• Maria Aït Ouariane, journalist, StreetPress

• Mariane Truffert, ARTE

• Marianne Skorpis Rimo, journalist, ARTE

• Marin Ben, journalist, Blast

• Marion Lopez, journalist, Le Média

• Marius Sort, journalist

• Martin Bizeray, journalist

• Martin Roux, journalist, Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

• Mathias Enthoven, journalist, Blast

• Mathieu Magnaudeix, journalist, Mediapart

• Mathilde Goanec, journalist, Mediapart

• Maxime Cochelin, journalist, Blast

• Maxime Lahuppe, freelance journalist

• Maya Elboudrari, freelance journalist

• Mélina Huet, freelance journalist

• Méline Pulliat, freelance journalist

• Mellit Derre, France 24

• Meriam Riahi, journalist

• Meriem Laribi, journalist Independent journalist and author

• Merwane Mehadji, journalist at Le Parisien

• Méwain Petard, independent journalist

• Michel Henry, independent journalist

• Miktar Malik, journalist at Franceinfo

• Mohamed Farhat, France 24

• Mona Hammoud, independent journalist and filmmaker

• Morad Ait Habbouche, Elle est pas belle la vie press agency

• Moran Kerinec, journalist at Reporterre

• N'namou Sambu, independent journalist

• Nabia Makhloufi, France 24

• Nada Abou el Amaim, journalist at AFP

• Nada Didouh, journalist

• Nadia Bouchenni, independent journalist

• Nadia Henni-Moulaï, Faktuel

• Nadia Sweeny, journalist at Le Média

• Nadiya Lazzouni, journalist at Le Média

• Nassira El Moaddem, journalist

• Nathalie Olivier, journalist at Le Parisien

• Nathan Lautier, freelance journalist

• Nathanaël Vittrant, journalist and president of the SDJ (Journalists’ society) of RFI

• Nejma Brahim, journalist, Mediapart

• Nesrine Slaoui, freelance journalist

• Nicolas Cortes, photojournalist

• Nicolas Mayart, journalist at Média TV

• Nicolas Turcev, Les Surligneurs

• Nicolas Vescovacci, freelance journalist

• Nina Hubinet, freelance journalist

• Nina Moreno, Libération

• Nina Pareja, freelance journalist

• NnoMan Cadoret, photojournalist, ENCRAGE Agency

• Olivia Snaije, freelance journalist

• Olivier-Jourdan Roulot, journalist at Blast

• Oriane Marty, journalist at Blast

• Ouissem Gombra, URBANIA

• Pablo Aiquel, journalist, Secretary General of the SNJ-CGT, Vice-President of the European Federation of Journalists

• Paloma de Dinechin, freelance journalist

• Paloma Moritz, journalist at Blast

• Patricia Blettery, journalist at RFI

• Paulina Benavente, RMC BFM, SNJ (National Journalists’ Union) delegate

• Pauline Bock, journalist, Arrêt sur images

• Pauline Chamignon, journalism student

• Pauline Maufrais, Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

• Philippe Pujol, Albert Londres Prize-winning journalist

• Pierre Pauma, cartoonist

• Quentin Girardon, Franceinfo

• Quentin Muller, freelance journalist

• Quentin-Mathéo Pihour, freelance journalist

• Rachida El Azzouzi, journalist at Mediapart

• Radidja Cieslak, Libération

• Raphaël Da Cruz, freelance journalist

• Redwane Telha, France Inter

• Régis Roiné, TF1

• Rémi-Kenzo Pagès, freelance journalist

• Romain Mahdoud, freelance journalist

• Rosa Moussaoui, journalist at L’Humanité

• Rouguyata Sall, freelance journalist (Collectif La Friche)

• Roxanne D’Arco, journalist at Nice-Matin

• Saadia Sisaid, freelance journalist

• Sabrine Mimouni, freelance journalist

• Sabrine Zahran, journalist for Le Progrès

• Safa Bannani, journalist for MEE

• Salah-Eddine Gakou, journalist

• Salim Saab, freelance journalist

• Salomé Saqué, journalist for Blast

• Salomé Parent-Rachdi, freelance journalist

• Samba Doucouré, publication director for Africultures

• Samira Benzaïd, freelance journalist

• Sania Mahyou, freelance journalist

• Sara Kheladi, journalist

• Sarah Benichou, freelance journalist (Youpress collective)

• Sarah Bos, freelance journalist

• Sarah Bosquet, freelance journalist

• Sarah Boumghar, freelance journalist

• Sarah Lapied, AJ+ French

• Sarah-Samya Anfis, former correspondent in Iraq and Tunisia

• Sara Trabi, journalist for La Fabrique des Soignants

• Sayeh Bouchouicha, journalist for Bondy Blog

• Sébastien Fontenelle, journalist for Blast

• Sélim Krouchi, journalist for Bondy Blog

• Sephora Lukoki, journalist for SLK News and member of AJAR

• Shad De Bary, freelance journalist

• Sheerazad Chekaik-Chaila, journalist

• Siham Sabeur, presenter for Medi1TV

• Simon Guichard, journalist for L’Humanité

• Simon Mauvieux, freelance journalist

• Sofiane Alsaar, journalist, AFP

• Solène Guili, journalist, Rue89Lyon

• Sophie Bourlet, freelance journalist

• Sophie Chapelle, journalist for Basta!

• Sophie Larré, freelance journalist

• Soraya Morvan-Smith, journalist, France 24, deputy general secretary of the SNJ-CGT (National Journalists’ Union)

• Souhila Sbaihi, journalist

• Soumaya Benaissa, co-editorial director, Blast

• Stéphane Antoine, L’Equipe

• Stéphane Foucart, Le Monde

• Stephanie Wenger, journalist

• Sylvain Mercadier, freelance journalist

• Tania Kaddour-Sekiou, journalist

• Théo Bourrieau, journalist at L’Humanité

• Théophile Kouamouo, editor-in-chief at Le Média TV

• Thibaut Bruttin, Reporters Without Borders

• Thibault Izoret, journalist, Blast

• Thibault Rios, journalist at Blast

• Thierry Vincent, journalist at Blast

• Thilelli Chouikrat, freelance journalist

• Thomas Porcher, journalist at Gazette France

• Thomas Porlon, journalist at StreetPress

• Timothée Vinchon, freelance journalist

• Tom Demars-Granja, journalist Humanity

• Ulysse Mathieu, journalist

• Valérie Thorin, journalist at Fréquence Protestante

• Veronica Gennari, journalist at Blast

• Victor Guinebert, Off Investigation

• Vincent Dublange, journalist, Africa service, RFI

• Vincent Lucchese, journalist at Reporterre

• Vincent Morel, journalist at Mediapart

• Vincent Ortiz, Le Vent Se Lève

• Virgil Bauchaud, journalist

• Walid Bourouis, freelance journalist

• Widad Ketfi, freelance journalist

• William Lacaille, journalist

• Xavier Monnier, journalist at Blast

• Xavier Regnier, 20 Minutes

• Xavier Ridon, journalist at La Clé des Ondes radio station

• Yemcel Sadou, freelance journalist

• Yunnes Abzouz, journalist at Mediapart

• Zeina Kovacs, freelance journalist

• Zoé Cottin, freelance journalist

• Zoé Moreau, journalist at Vert Le Média

• Zoé Neboit, freelance journalist

• Djaffer Ait Aoudia, founder of the newspaper Le Correspondant

• Benjamin Deudon, journalist at Sud Ouest

• Vanessa Ratignier, journalist

• Franck Dépretz, freelance journalist

• Jean-Pierre Canet, journalist and producer

• Kévin Le Gouguec, journalist L’Angérien Libre