Arab Movement Links Persecution of Leaders to Gaza Protests
The Arab nationalist movement Sons of the Land (Abnaa Al-Balad) claims a renewed campaign of incitement and persecution is targeting its leaders, drawing parallels between the recent detention of lawyer Ahmed Khalifa and the earlier prosecution of Raja Ighbariya.
According to the movement, the "Tzlalmo" organization published an article on the Hebrew website Walla after Ighbariya's sentencing eight years ago, attacking the verdict and calling for an appeal to increase his sentence and imprison him. The movement stated that prosecutors had sought 16 to 40 months in prison for Ighbariya, viewing subsequent calls for a harsher sentence as part of a campaign against him due to his speeches and stances.
Sons of the Land asserts that the same organization is now targeting Ahmed Khalifa, a political bureau member and leader within the movement, for participating in an anti-Gaza war protest in Umm al-Fahm in October 2023. Khalifa was arrested after the demonstration and detained for approximately four months, during which time he also served on Ighbariya's defense team. The movement believes the targeting of both men is linked to their positions and roles within Sons of the Land, noting the different methods used: Ighbariya faced prosecution for his rhetoric, while Khalifa was arrested for protesting.
The movement further claims the crackdown extends to other members, including Ahmed Khalifa's brother, Tamer Khalifa, who was allegedly held under administrative detention for eight months without trial or criminal conviction. Sons of the Land describes these actions as a continuous campaign, not isolated incidents, citing demands for imprisonment, sentence enhancements, and the revocation of professional licenses.
The movement has called on human rights organizations, political parties, the Higher Follow-up Committee, the Bar Association, and Palestinian media to monitor and document this alleged campaign. They urge a collective national and legal response to what they deem incitement and persecution against Sons of the Land leaders and cadres, emphasizing the need to document these developments and address them collectively.
