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On Thursday, November 9, several prominent Palestinian leaders were arrested by Israeli police while being present at a vigil organized by citizens as a means to protest the ongoing bombardment of Gaza. Of those arrested, a few included former members of the Knesset.
Israel has banned any public protests against their war in Gaza and threatened to imprison those who take part. The organizers had petitioned the Supreme Court for permission to hold gatherings in Umm al-Fahm and Sakhnin, however this request was denied as they said there weren’t enough resources available to police these demonstrations.
Upheld by this decision, Palestinians decided to go ahead with a small closed vigil which didn’t require police approval according to Israeli law.
Those arrested included Mohammad Barakeh – the head of the Arab Follow-Up Committee and former member of Hadash; Haneen Zoabi – an ex MK from Arab Balad party; Sami Abu Shehadeh – another previous MK from Balad; and Youssef Tatour – its deputy leader.
All four are major figures within their respective communities and represent their interests at national level.
Israeli forces arrest Mohammad Barakeh, other Palestinian politicians
Mohammad Barakeh, the head of the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, has been arrested by Israeli forces in Nazareth.Initial reports suggested that the former member of the Israeli…
— Citizen YC (@CitiznYC) November 9, 2023
The Associated Press reported:
“An advocacy group for Israel’s Arab citizens says six prominent leaders in Israel’s Palestinian community has been arrested in route to a protest against the military’s war in the Gaza Strip.
The detainees include Mohammed Barakeh, a former lawmaker and head of the High Follow-up Committee for Arab Citizens; and former lawmakers Hanin Zoabi and Sami Abou Shahadeh.
Police said in a statement that the protest in Nazareth was “liable to incite and harm the public’s welfare.” Police recently banned antiwar protests.
Adalah, the advocacy organization, said Barakeh was detained for questioning after he was followed by an unmarked police car. He had notified police on Wednesday that the committee planned to hold a protest with fewer than 50 people and therefore did not need a permit.
Adalah said Barakeh’s arrest was illegal and evidence of a policy “designed to muzzle any dissent and to suppress the freedom to protest of Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel.””
