The Silenced Voices: Palestinians Live in Fear of Arrest for Expressing Solidarity with Gaza Civilians
Palestinians fear arrest for expressing sympathy towards Gaza civilians as police officers raided the home of Dua Abu Sneineh in East Jerusalem The shocking incident reflects the extreme reaction faced by individuals voicing their concerns
Dua Abu Sneineh was taken aback by the sudden intrusion of a group of approximately 10 to 15 police officers into her residence in East Jerusalem on October 23. Unprepared, she expressed her disbelief, stating that she never expected the authorities to target her. However, that is exactly what happened.
Abu Sneineh, a 22-year-old, recounted that she was informed of her arrest and requested to surrender her phone. "Upon questioning the reason behind it," she stated, "(the police officer) forcefully grabbed and took away my phone."
The officer proceeded to inspect Abu Sneineh's phone, specifically searching for TikTok or Facebook accounts, despite her not having either. Afterwards, the officer examined her Snapchat account, which is the only social media platform she utilizes.
"[The officer] observed that I had not shared anything. Subsequently, she accessed my WhatsApp... On my account, I had shared a verse derived from the Quran, and surprisingly, that became their focus. They accused me of promoting terrorism. I was in utter disbelief," expressed Abu Sneineh.
The specific verse that caused concern, as described by Abu Sneineh, was: "God is fully aware of the actions of the oppressors."
Abu Sneineh is among several Palestinian residents and Israeli citizens who have been detained in Israel for demonstrating solidarity with Gaza and its civilian population. They have been arrested for sharing Quranic verses, expressing support for the Palestinian people, or any form of endorsement since the recent conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group commenced last month. CNN has reached out to the Israel Police for a statement regarding the arrest of Abu Sneineh; however, no response has been received.
Gaza has faced relentless airstrikes from Israeli forces in response to the horrific terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7th. According to Israeli officials, these attacks resulted in the loss of 1,400 lives and the capture of over 240 hostages.
Israeli security forces on the streets of Jerusalem.
Pavel Nemecek/AP
According to statistics released on Friday by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, over 9,000 individuals, including numerous children, have lost their lives in Gaza as a result of Israeli airstrikes. The significant number of casualties caused by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bombings and the worsening humanitarian situation have sparked worldwide condemnation of Israel, leading even its closest allies to demand a temporary humanitarian pause or ceasefire.
Palestinians who show solidarity with Gaza in Israel are experiencing severe repercussions. Abeer Baker, a human rights lawyer assisting individuals who have been detained, stated that the police consider any expressions that endorse Gaza or oppose the war as support for terrorism, even if the intention is to denounce acts of murder.
The Israel Police reported that, as of October 25, they have apprehended 110 individuals since the commencement of the conflict, on grounds of allegedly inciting violence and terrorism, primarily through social media platforms. Out of these arrests, only 17 have led to formal charges. The majority of individuals were released without any additional accusations, usually within a few days.
Baker opined that the limited number of indictments implies that individuals were being apprehended for expressing statements that do not violate any laws.
"People have faced arrest for expressing solidarity with the children in Gaza," Baker informed CNN, citing the widely-covered incident involving a comedian from northern Israel who was detained for sharing the same sentiment on his social media platform."
The Israel Police is enforcing Israel's Counter Terrorism Law, which allows for the arrest and imprisonment of anyone who shows support for a terror group through actions such as publishing praises, waving a flag, or displaying a symbol. Adalah, an NGO advocating for Arab rights in Israel, disputed the arrests, claiming they are arbitrary, targeting only Palestinians. The organization further stated that these arrests are often conducted with excessive force in the late hours of the night and lack proper legal justification.
"The criteria does not concern its legality; rather, it focuses on whether it triggers anger or goes against the mainstream. We are not referring to the law; we are referring to the prevailing atmosphere," explained Baker. He further stated that any discussion regarding the context of the October 7 attacks is strictly prohibited.
"It is not permissible to inquire about the motivations behind such heinous crimes. Is it acceptable to question who is responsible for the failure? Why has Hamas achieved success? Absolutely not," Baker emphasized, highlighting the presence of numerous articles in the Israeli media that explore the same inquiries. "They are able to do it. However, if you are Palestinian, you are forbidden from doing so," the lawyer concluded.
In response to CNN's inquiry about the rise in arrests related to social media posts, Israel Police stated that while they strongly support the fundamental right to freedom of speech, it is crucial to address individuals who misuse this right to dangerously incite violence.
One of the individuals that Baker represents is Dalal Abu Amneh, a renowned Palestinian singer and neuroscientist, who faced arrest after seeking assistance from the police on October 16.
Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes as the attacks continue in Gaza city on November 3.
Ali Jadallah/Anadolu/Getty Images
She received numerous serious threats due to a Facebook and Instagram post that featured the Quranic expression "There is No victor but God" alongside a Palestinian flag emoji.
According to the police, the statement was deemed to incite terrorism and violence. However, the lawyer argues that the statement was posted on Abu Amnehs Facebook and Instagram pages by her PR team and has since been removed. The post, which was published on October 7 after the Hamas terror attack and the first IDF strikes against Gaza, was intended as a response to the conflict from both sides.
Abu Amneh, a 40-year-old, was initially held for a two-day period but was later released on bail on October 18 under house arrest, as stated by Baker in an interview with CNN. Although she has not been formally charged with any crime, she has been prohibited from discussing the war in Gaza for a period of 45 days, as relayed by Baker.
CNN has repeatedly requested a response from the Israel Police regarding Abu Amneh's case, but they have not received any reply. Despite her house arrest being over, Abu Amneh has been staying at her parents' house for the past two weeks. According to Baker, she is feeling extremely fearful and hesitant about returning to her own home. This is due to Israeli flags being put up around her house, as well as receiving threats and having her address shared on social media.
According to Palestinian lawyer Jawad Boulos, Israel has relied on imprisoning Palestinians, including those who are innocent, as a significant strategy to perpetuate the occupation of Palestinian territories.
He stated that Israeli authorities have made a deliberate attempt to suppress Palestinians in the West Bank through imprisonment, ever since Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005.
Boulos mentioned that, despite the Palestinians facing numerous challenges within a justice system that does not prioritize their rights, some prisoners had been released in the past. However, he emphasized that this possibility is no longer available.
"It is incomprehensible when arrests are executed in such a manner," he expressed to CNN.
The Israeli State Attorneys Office released a statement emphasizing the necessity for an absolute intolerance towards individuals who openly or subtly endorse the enemy and their felonious actions against the nation's inhabitants.
The statement mentioned that the State Attorneys' Office has implemented measures to streamline police investigations into reported incidents of these acts, thereby simplifying the process.
This crackdown has instilled a sense of fear among the Palestinian population, leading to an atmosphere characterized by apprehension.
Yasser, a Palestinian resident of Jerusalem, expressed concern to CNN that Palestinians can be arrested at any time for their online posts related to Gaza. He mentioned that even expressing sympathy for a Palestinian child killed or injured after an Israeli airstrike could lead to arrest. According to Yasser, while criticizing airstrikes on Tel Aviv might be tolerated, speaking out against airstrikes on Gaza could result in imprisonment.
"They are engaged in battles on all fronts - both online and offline, in the streets, in the media, essentially everywhere. Any utterance is strictly forbidden. If one wishes to address the truth here, expressing oneself is strictly prohibited," said Adli, another Palestinian resident of Jerusalem, as reported by CNN. Due to apprehensions about the potential repercussions of speaking to the media, both Adli and Yasser requested CNN to withhold their last names.
Adli expressed feelings of shame and embarrassment for being unable to openly express support for Palestinians in Gaza or denounce the Israeli airstrikes. He emphasized that the risks associated with doing so were too great.
However, sympathizing with Gaza may lead to even graver repercussions in the near future. According to existing Israeli legislation, the Ministry of Interior holds the power to revoke the citizenship or residency status of individuals found guilty of engaging in "terror activity," as stipulated by the Counter Terrorism Law.
Israels Minister of Justice, Yariv Levin, stated last week that he and Minister of the Interior, Moshe Arbel, are considering expanding the law's jurisdiction to include the capacity to revoke citizenship for individuals who publicly endorse, provoke, or commend acts of terror.
Simultaneously, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's far-right minister of national security, has made combatting online incitement to terrorism a top priority. He has established a dedicated task force to address social media incitement and has been advocating for a more stringent approach to the issue. Ben-Gvir has previously been convicted for inciting anti-Arab racism and promoting terrorism.
Baker, the lawyer, claimed that a few of the arrests and the rhetoric of Ben-Gvir were an exaggerated response to the savage Hamas assault.
"Israel is currently experiencing an intense and dreadful trauma. However, despite this tragic situation, the law remains unchanged. The criteria for determining what is unlawful remain the same. The reaction being displayed is indeed extreme," Baker stated.
Fatina Abu Sneineh, the mother of Dua, expressed her deep fear upon her daughter's abduction. Following her release, Dua is currently under house arrest, with regular visits from the police. Fatina further disclosed that Dua has been unwell and unable to eat since returning home.
After Dua's arrest, the family recounted how the police thoroughly searched their house. Upon Ibrahim's return, he too was taken into custody and remains imprisoned. Fatina, the mother, vehemently denied any wrongdoing on Ibrahim's part, stating that he has not shared any provocative content on social media. She further emphasized that even if he had, he would never encourage violence or express any harmful views. Fatina also revealed that her elder son, Aboud, has been detained for eight months due to his participation in protests near al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
"He (Aboud) didn't do anything wrong, but Ibrahim wouldn't take the risk of getting into trouble since he's in jail," she stated.
CNN requested a comment from the Israel Police regarding Ibrahim Abu Sneineh's arrest, but has not received a response.
