By Ranna Khalil | Researcher
Police carried out illegal arrests following protests against Israel’s war crimes against civilians in Gaza. Adalah: Directive by Israeli Police Commissioner to prohibit protests is illegal and incites against the Palestinian Citizens of Israel.
Demonstrations against Israel’s offensive on Gaza were dispersed with brutal force by Israeli police in the towns of Haifa and Umm al-Fahm on 18 and 19 October 2023. During the two protests, the police arrested 17 Palestinian citizens of Israel, including minors.
These events followed a directive by the Israeli Police Commissioner to reject all permits for demonstrations in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza. The Commissioner made this directive public on 17 October 2023 during a briefing in which he also stated that "Anyone who wants to identify with Gaza is welcome, I will put them on buses now that are headed there and I will help him get there [to Gaza]”. The police widely circulated a video of the Commissioner's briefing (with Arabic subtitles) online, emphasizing the aforementioned comment. In response, Adalah sent an urgent letter to the Police Commissioner and to Israel's Attorney General demanding the immediate cancellation of the Commissioner's illegal directive.
CLICK HERE to read more about the video and Adalah’s letter
The following day, on 18 October 2023, hours before a planned demonstration in Haifa against Israel’s war crimes in Gaza, the police issued a statement that the protest did not have a permit, and that the police “will take a firm hand, subject to the law, to disperse the demonstration, including using mass dispersal measures as required."Adalah sent an urgent letter to the Haifa police, arguing that this decision is illegal and that, according to Israeli law, the protest does not require a permit.
However, before the protest was set to begin dozens of officers arrived at the scene, declared the protest unlawful and used brutal force to arrest five demonstrators who refused to leave the site. At the Police station, Adalah attorneys were told that the detainees will be held overnight in accordance with direct orders from the commissioner. Adalah represented these protesters, and ultimately, the Haifa court ordered their release a day later. In light of these developments, Adalah sent a follow-up letter to the Deputy Attorney General demanding his immediate intervention and the cancellation of the Commissioner's directive.
On 19 October 2023, Israeli police spokesperson further stated in a radio interview, that the police will not allow any demonstrations in support of Gaza or Hamas: “Those who dare to protest without permission – we will reach and deal with the demonstration by all means... Anyone who dares to step out and utter a single word in praise of Gaza will be behind bars."
The Commissioner and spokesperson’s statements seek to delegitimize any protest in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza and thus, they can be used to justify the use of illegal and dangerous means to disperse protests. This, in turn, could lead to increased police brutality against protesters, resulting in potential injuries and even loss of life. Adalah is currently pursuing legal action against this order.
On the same day (19 October 2023), the police arrested 12 protestors during a demonstration held in Umm al-Fahm, a Palestinian city in the Wadi Ara region in Israel, against Israel’s offensive on Gaza that has resulted in thousands of civilian casualties. The police used violent and dangerous means to disperse the legitimate and non-violent protest, including the reported use of rubber bullets and stun grenades.
On 20 October 2023, the police sought the extension of the detention for 11 protestors, including 4 minors. Adalah, along with volunteer lawyers, represented the protesters before the Haifa Magistrates Court. The hearing was delayed for several hours, as the police did not bring the detainees to the court and failed to facilitate a video conference, which is required by the emergency regulations that are now in effect. After hearings for the detainees began, the court decided to abruptly end them due to the beginning of Shabbat, approving the extension of all 11 detainees until the following night in clear violation of their right to a due process and for a fair trial. After the District Court rejected Adalah’s appeal against the Magistrates Court’s decision, Adalah filed a request to appeal to the Supreme Court. Adalah lawyers continue to represent two detainees from Umm al-Fahm who are still under arrest.
Adalah’s legal director, Dr. Hassan Jabareen, commented:
“The arrests the police carried out during the two protests were unequivocally illegal, and are a direct result of the Commissioner's illegitimate order to ban lawful protests and his inflammatory and racist statements. The arguments of the Police in court reaffirm that the basis for these arrests is a false accusation of "supporting of terrorism,” which the police associate with any criticism of the Israeli offensive or any expression of solidarity with the civilian population in Gaza. The entire police force is currently being mobilized for the supremacist objectives of National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, to whom the police is subservient, with the goal of labeling all Palestinian citizens as enemies. The court in Haifa has also played its part in this effort by approving the extension of this unlawful detention, while denying the detainees their freedom and the opportunity to defend themselves and address the accusations.”
By Ranna Khalil | Researcher
By Ranna Khalil | Researcher
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