Israeli Troops Are Now Going Through Palestinians' Phones. Anything 'Forbidden' Provokes Abuse
Testimonies leave no room for doubt: There's a new kind of Israeli military censorship in Hebron
Gideon Levy and Alex Levac, Haaretz
February 1, 2025
A new and original task has been added to the many assignments given to the forces of the occupation: military censorship. Indeed, Israel Defense Forces soldiers at checkpoints in Hebron are now effectively functioning as censors.
Three weeks ago, we recounted in these pages the story of Fatma Jabbar, a mother of seven and a volunteer for the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem, who was subjected to blows and humiliation by Israeli troops in Hebron because her phone contained a clip of an IDF soldier abusing a Palestinian with special needs. This week it emerged that such an abuse was not exceptional, but regular, routine conduct.
In recent months, soldiers have been checking the contents of the cellphones of Palestinians passing through the pedestrian checkpoints leading into Hebron's H2 quarter, and subjecting many of them to maltreatment. Every text, image or video clip that displeases the soldiers immediately brings about questioning, detention and/or beatings.
According to B'Tselem's field researcher in the city, Manal Jabari, about 70 percent of the tens of thousands of Palestinian residents of that neighborhood – which is home to fewer than 1,000 settlers and is under Israeli military control – have experienced abuse because their phones contained some sort of ostensibly forbidden content.
Perhaps the footage came from an Israeli television newscast, or there was an image of soldiers or settlers that was circulated on Palestinian social media, or there were photos of an armed Palestinian that went viral.
Haaretz
On a travel show, they highlighted Hebron as a city where the two sides live in harmony. Perhaps they need to rewrite the history of Roman Occupation to show nice they were. |
