Israeli Court Convicts Journalist Saeed Hassanein on All Charges
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
An Israeli court convicted journalist Saeed Hassanein on all charges related to a February 2025 interview. Prosecutors accused him of contacting a foreign agent and supporting a terrorist organization by praising Hamas and Hezbollah. Hassanein was arrested in February 2025, detained for three months, and then moved to house arrest with restrictions. His defense argued his statements were journalistic analysis and denied any illicit contact.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Journalist Saeed Hassanein was convicted on all charges by an Israeli court.
- Prosecutors accused Hassanein of contacting a foreign agent and supporting a terrorist organization.
- The charges stemmed from a February 2025 interview where Hassanein praised Hamas and Hezbollah.
- Hassanein was arrested in February 2025 and later placed under house arrest with restrictions.
- His defense team argued his statements were journalistic analysis and denied illicit contact.
- The trial lasted about 18 months and drew support from Arab journalists and activists.
Journalist Saeed Hassanein has been convicted on all counts of the indictment against him by an Israeli court. The charges stemmed from a February 22, 2025, media interview Hassanein conducted with Al-Aqsa TV and radio. The Israeli Public Prosecution alleged that the interview and Hassanein's statements constituted contact with a foreign agent and solidarity with an organization Israel designates as "terrorist."
According to the indictment, Hassanein praised Hamas's handling of Israeli captives taken during the October 7, 2023, attack. He was also accused of commending former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and the party for their stance on the conflict with Palestinians.
Hassanein was arrested on February 25, 2025, after his home in Shfaram was raided, searched, and electronic devices were confiscated. His family members were also summoned for questioning. The Public Prosecution filed the indictment on March 13, 2025.
After approximately three months of detention, a court ordered Hassanein's transfer to house arrest in Kafr Manda on May 13, 2025. He was subjected to restrictions, including being banned from his hometown of Shfaram and prohibited from using phones and social media, along with other movement limitations.
Hassanein's defense team, led by lawyer Nimir Edlebi, rejected the charges, particularly the foreign agent accusation. They argued that the individual who coordinated the interview was a journalist and that there was no prior or subsequent contact. The defense also contended that Hassanein's statements were journalistic analysis of a political stance, not support for a terrorist organization, citing previous cases where journalists interviewing Hamas officials faced no similar charges.
The trial lasted about a year and a half, during which Hassanein received support from Arab journalists, activists, and community figures. Some expressed concerns about the case's implications for the freedom of journalistic work and expression for Arab journalists within Israel.
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