Palestinian journalist released from Israeli detention condemns arrest as ‘political pressure’

Palestinian journalist Abdulkader Abu Shehadeh urged solidarity against political pressure targeting journalists and activists after Israeli authorities released him from detention on Sunday, Anadolu reports.

Israeli police and the Shin Bet domestic security agency arrested Abu Shehadeh at his home in Jaffa on Nov. 4.

Authorities detained Abu Shehadeh on suspicion of “communicating with a foreign agent” following an interview he conducted with Palestinian thinker Azmi Bishara regarding Israeli elections and the situation of Palestinians.

Rejecting a police request for an eight-day extension, the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court ordered his detention until Nov. 8, leading to his release on Sunday without charges.

Following his release, residents, activists, and civil society representatives welcomed Abu Shehadeh at the Jaffa Arab Affairs Association.

Addressing the crowd, Abu Shehadeh said Palestinians would not yield to fear.

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“History didn’t start with us, nor will it end with us. We are part of a people, a cause. We demand justice, our rights, and equality for all,” he said.

Stressing the desire to raise children without fear, he added: “We see those across from us as human beings, not as numbers. All we want is justice, for no one to be seen as superior to another.”

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Abu Shehadeh credited the solidarity of the Jaffa community for providing him strength during his detention. He described his arrest as part of a broader systemic issue.

“The attack on me is not an isolated event. This attack is part of political pressure on activists, journalists, and anyone who doesn’t fit the mainstream narrative dominated by the extreme right,” he said.

Abu Shehadeh urged an end to the rhetoric of war and called on journalists and intellectuals to focus on building a future rooted in democracy, peace, and equality.

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