Russian journalist Adele Shoko alleges detention by IDF, then 5 soldiers forced her to use the toilet in front of them after mistaking her for Greta Thunberg

A Russian journalist and 'solidarity activist' has alleged she was illegally detained and subjected to humiliating treatment by Israeli forces while reporting on the demolition of the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank. Adele Shoko, who has documented life in Palestinian communities for several years, was detained earlier this month while covering Israeli military operations in the area. In an interview with Middle East Eye, she described the incident as a “kidnapping,” saying the detention was intended to intimidate journalists and activists reporting on the forced displacement of Palestinians.

According to Shoko, she was stopped by Israeli soldiers near the Nur Shams camp and made to wait for nearly two hours while five armed soldiers stood around her, pointing their weapons in her direction. She said she was later blindfolded, handcuffed, and taken to a military base, where she was held in a cold, dark room for more than five hours.

Shoko said she repeatedly asked why she was being detained but was given no clear explanation. She claimed soldiers mocked her, falsely accusing her of being Swedish activist “Greta Thunberg” and alleging she had come to provoke unrest. At the same time, she said they accused her of organizing protests that had been taking place for weeks near Nur Shams, where displaced families were demanding the right to return to their homes.


The most disturbing part of her detention, Shoko said, was a moment she described as deliberately degrading. She alleged that five Israeli soldiers forced her to use the toilet while they stood around her watching. “They surrounded me and stared at me,” she said, describing the experience as deeply humiliating and shared her thoughts on what the Palestinians might be going through.


Nur Shams camp has faced escalating Israeli military operations in recent months, part of what Israel has described as “Operation Iron Wall” in the northern West Bank. Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have warned that the operations have resulted in large-scale forced displacement, leaving more than 30,000 Palestinians homeless since 2025.

Despite the experience, Shoko said the detention had the opposite effect of what she believes was intended. Rather than deterring her, she said it strengthened her resolve to continue reporting. She said that the day after her release, she travelled across several West Bank governorates documenting conditions on the ground.

Shoko also criticized what she described as widespread impunity for violence against activists, including Israeli solidarity protesters. She claimed that even within Israel, activists face increasing repression, with beatings and arrests becoming more common, while attacks by nationalist groups often go unpunished.

Who is Adele Shoko?

Adele Shoko is an independent Russian journalist reporting from the occupied West Bank, where she documents daily life in Palestinian communities. According to her Patreon page, she works on the ground covering the realities of the Israel-Palestine conflict and relies on public support to continue her reporting. Shoko has a social media following of more than 22,000 on Instagram, where she regularly shares updates, videos, and firsthand accounts from the region.