Israeli forces release Palestinian journalist Abou Shhadeh

Speaking after his release, Abou Shhadeh said on Sunday that his detention was part of 'political measures' intended not only for him 'but to intimidate Arab society as a whole'. 'In my view, the most appropriate response is to reaffirm among ourselves that we are on the right side, that our path is the path of truth,' he said, adding that he would continue his work as a journalist.

Detention details

Abou Shhadeh was held in a Shin Bet intelligence facility in Petah Tikva, on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, after being detained on Tuesday on suspicion of 'contact with a foreign agent'. He was suspected of receiving money from foreign sources in order to support Israel's Arab voters, according to the legal rights group Adalah, which is part of his defence team.

Arrest circumstances

The lawyer said Abou Shhadeh was arrested in the middle of the night after 15 Israeli security officers raided his home in Jaffa and confiscated personal belongings, such as electronic devices and books, in front of his two children. The accusation came after Abou Shhadeh, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, spoke on the al-Midan podcast for the Arab48 website and appeared as an analyst on Al Jazeera.

Political context

His five-day detention was 'part of the campaign against the votes of the Arabs and Palestinians in Israel', Adalah founder Hassan Jabareen told Al Jazeera. Jabareen said Israel sought to 'delegitimise their votes' by the claims against Abou Shhadeh. 'They tried to use him in order to say that Arabs use illegal [means] in their political participation in the Israeli elections.'