Israeli Police and IDF Arrest Two Palestinians for Terror Incitement on Social Media

A coordinated operation by Israeli police and IDF forces recently led to the arrest of two Palestinians suspected of inciting violence and supporting terrorism through extensive social media activity. One suspect, a 63-year-old man from Ramallah who also claims to be a poet, mathematician, and agricultural expert, was found to have over 120 social media pages promoting terror organizations, praising attacks, and issuing veiled threats against the city of Dimona. His posts included explicit threats of rocket attacks and praise for the October 2023 massacre, as well as support for Iran's conflict against Zionism. He was detained following a raid on his home by Benjamin police and special units and is currently under investigation.

In a separate but related operation over the weekend, a 40-year-old Palestinian pharmacist from Dahariya near Hebron was arrested by IDF forces on similar charges of incitement and support for terrorism via social media. He managed a large following and posted provocative content, including a photo from a violent incident in Beit Shemesh during Operation "Roaring Lion," accompanied by inflammatory remarks about Ramadan. He also publicly praised Hamas spokesman Abu Ubaida on the day Hamas confirmed his targeted killing by the IDF. The pharmacist was transferred to the Hebron police station for further interrogation and subsequently imprisoned.

Israeli security forces emphasized that these arrests resulted from precise intelligence gathering and advanced monitoring technologies aimed at identifying hostile inciters exploiting online platforms to promote violence against Israeli citizens. The Shin Bet and IDF Central Command units continue to collaborate closely to detect and detain individuals who publicly endorse terrorism and glorify attacks against Israel. Authorities stressed that such online activities are closely monitored and will be met with decisive enforcement actions to ensure public safety.