Adalah demands that Israeli Police End Systematic Suppression of Anti-War Protests in Haifa
On 12 January 2025, Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel sent an urgent letter to the Israeli Attorney General, the State Attorney, the Police Commissioner, and the Commander of the Haifa Police Station, demanding an immediate end to the police’s illegal conduct and unlawful suppression of peaceful protests against the war on Gaza.
Click here to read the letter (Hebrew)
Since 7 October 2023, Haifa police have engaged in a policy aimed at repressing demonstrations through arbitrary arrests, the confiscation of protest signs, and the use of excessive force against demonstrators. By weaponizing the criminal law, the police have sought to intimidate protesters, stifle freedom of expression, and engage in political persecution. Adalah’s letter, which documents over 60 cases of detention from protests in Haifa- all involving individuals represented by Adalah attorneys- reveals a troubling pattern of police misconduct designed to silence dissent.
Adalah details how Haifa police have preemptively banned and forcibly dispersed protests, often declaring peaceful demonstrations illegal even before they commence and threatening participants with arrest. The letter describes the arbitrary arrests and criminalization of protesters, noting that dozens have been detained under false pretexts, including alleged threat to public order. In many instances, courts have rejected these claims and ordered the release of detainees due to a lack of evidence. It also highlights the police’s practice of confiscating protest signs. Protesters carrying banners with messages such as “Stop the genocide” or “Save Gaza” have had their signs seized by police, despite these being legal expressions of free speech.
Adalah further underscores that these repressive measures have disproportionately targeted Palestinian citizens of Israel, a stark contrast to the impunity shown toward far-right counter-demonstrators, who incited violence against protesters without facing any police intervention. Adalah emphasizes that such actions constitute a severe violation of fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and protection from arbitrary detention. Israeli law and Supreme Court rulings have firmly established that public protest is a constitutional right, even during times of war.
Adalah called on Israeli officials to end the unlawful dispersal of anti-war protests, stop the confiscation of protest signs, ensure that police enforcement remains unbiased, and uphold the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. Moreover, Adalah demanded a thorough investigation into the documented cases of unlawful arrests and violence against demonstrators, and urges an end to the selective and discriminatory enforcement of laws that disproportionately target Palestinian citizens.
Attorney Hadeel Abu Salih of Adalah stated, “We are witnessing a blatant and illegal crackdown on those who oppose the war. The Israeli police have turned into a political tool, silencing legitimate dissent while enabling incitement from far-right groups. This dangerous and unlawful policy must end immediately. The targeting of anti-war protesters not only undermines fundamental rights but also sends a clear message that Palestinian citizens and critical voices are unwelcome in the public sphere.”
