Hamas Men in Jerusalem
Arrests in Jerusalem Spark Tension: Hamas Allegations Revealed
Israeli police arrest two East Jerusalem residents for alleged Hamas affiliation and incitement, including social media posts and possession of Hamas flags. Part of broader crackdown.
Israeli police have arrested two East Jerusalem residents on suspicion of incitement and affiliation with Hamas. Law enforcement officials announced the arrests, which took place in recent days as part of a broader crackdown on online and in-person incitement.
One of the men, a hotel maintenance worker in his 30s, was taken into custody after police discovered multiple "incendiary" social media posts. According to police, one of the posts quoted a speech by the late Hamas chief, Ismail Haniyeh, which read:
"Hamas dedicates our souls, our blood, our family and our sons for the sake of Jerusalem. There is no such thing as the State of Israel whose capital is Jerusalem. Jerusalem is not for sale."
The second suspect, a 46-year-old man, was arrested after a raid on his home. During the search, officers reportedly found and seized Hamas flags.
Both men remain in police custody, and prosecutors are expected to file incitement charges against them in the coming days. The arrests are part of a larger police effort in Jerusalem, with dozens of individuals detained on similar suspicions.
Authorities say most suspects are identified by officers in the "Special Awareness Operations Center," a unit launched earlier this year to monitor online activity for incitement.