Lebanon: British-Israel journalist arrested in Beirut amid conflict intensification

Lebanese authorities reportedly arrested two European journalists with links to Israel, including a British citizen, this week and last month, according to various reports.

Joshua Tartakovsky, a dual UK and Israeli passport holder, was reportedly arrested in the Lebanese capital on Tuesday. He had entered the country two weeks earlier on a British passport, but Lebanese authorities detained him after discovering he was carrying an Israeli identity card.

The journalist, who describes himself as independent on X, reportedly entered the country as an investigative journalist, the Lebanese Al-Akhbar newspaper said.

Tartakovsky was reportedly apprehended in the south Beirut suburb of Dahieh, the site of numerous Israeli strikes over the past two weeks, which have killed scores – including Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, and other senior officials.

His presence in the country reportedly raised suspicions among local authorities, prompting his detention, which then lead to the finding of his Israeli passport.

In a statement to The New Arab's query on whether British authorities were aware of the detainment of Tartakovsky, the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: "We have not been approached for support, but our staff stand ready to support British Nationals 24/7."

The UK’s foreign secretary, David Lammy, has yet to comment on the arrest.

Lammy travelled to the Middle East on Wednesday, where he met with leaders from Bahrain and Jordan as he continued to press for a ceasefire in both Gaza and Lebanon.

The UK’s foreign office, however, has advised British nationals to leave the country, as it experiences aggressive Israeli bombardment for over two weeks targeting mainly the Lebanese south, Beirut's southern suburbs and other parts of the country, such as Baalbek.

Additionally, German outlet Bild reported that many of its journalists were arrested and taken in for questioning the day after the assassination of Nasrallah on 27 September.

Bild said its war correspondent Paul Ronzheimer and several members of his team were apprehended from their hotel rooms and taken in for questioning by alleged members of Lebanon's military intelligence service.

Ronzheimer's arrest came after he gave a live interview to Israeli broadcaster Kan, which was described as the first live broadcast from Beirut since Israeli troops withdrew from Beirut in 1982, following the end of the Lebanon war and Israel’s second invasion of the country. 

Ronzheimer can be seen giving an interview on Kan’s 'Friday News programme, in a clip shared online.

It has not ben confirmed however, that the German journalist's appearance on Israeli television was the reason for his arrest.

According to Bild, Ronzheimer was released later on the same day, after the German embassy in Beirut intervened after contacting the Lebanese authorities. The German journalist has since left Lebanon, The Times of Israeli said.

Lebanon bars Israeli nationals from entering the country, as well as any passport holders bearing an Israeli stamp, visa or any other Israeli-linked seals.

Israel’s aggression in Lebanon has killed at least 2,119 people since October 8 last year, one day after Israel and Hezbollah began launching cross-fire border amid the war in the Gaza Strip. Journalists have also been among the casualties.