Israel detains Palestinian writer Rasem Obaidat from his home in occupied East Jerusalem

Israel's police arrested Palestinian writer and political commentator Rasem Obaidat, 65, from his home in Jabal al-Mukaber, occupied East Jerusalem, on Tuesday, 12 December. 

Obaidat is a regular contributor to the widely circulated Al-Quds daily newspaper. He is also a frequent guest at Al-Mayadeen, the pro-resistance Lebanese television channel which Israel banned last month. 

Malek Obaidat informed The New Arab that his father is now being interrogated in the Al-Maskoubia police compound in West Jerusalem. 

"They searched our house, confiscated two laptops, an iPad and my father's phone, then they drove away with my father," Malek told TNA. 

Obaidat was detained for over two weeks by the Israeli police in 2021 during the 11-day war between Hamas and Israel for having critical views of Israel.  

In the previous month, Mirvat al-Azzeh, a freelance journalist, was also arrested by the Israeli police for allegedly mocking one of the abductees of the 7 October attacks. She has since been released during a seven-day truce that expired on 1 December in which Hamas released 105 hostages, including 80 Israelis, in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Additionally, on 9 November, the Israeli police detained former Arab Knesset member Muhammad Barakeh for attempting to stage an anti-war sit-in in the city of Nazareth. Former MKs  Sami Abu Shehadeh and Hanin Zoabi were detained the same day. 

Israel isn't only targeting Palestinians but is also persecuting Jewish Israeli citizens opposing the war or even calling for a ceasefire. 

Dr Meir Baruchin, an Israeli activist against the war on Gaza, was recently detained and investigated for sedition and intent to commit treason. He was put in solitary confinement for four days for writing posts on Facebook sympathising with Palestinian victims of Israeli strikes on Gaza.

Since 7 October, Israel has detained or briefly questioned at least 3,810 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank. 

On Tuesday, 12 December, Israeli forces killed four Palestinians in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, the Palestinian health ministry reported.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said they were killed in a drone strike on the Old City and that Israeli forces "continue to storm Jenin camp and ambulance crews are prevented from entering... without prior coordination".

According to Palestinian sources, the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has reached 488.