In Israel, some residents are scared to speak out about the war
In Israel, amid the trauma of the 7 October massacre by Hamas and the subsequent Israeli military offensive in Gaza, a silencing of dissenting voices has ensued.
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00:00 In Israel, amid the trauma of the October 7 massacre by Hamas and subsequent Israeli
00:04 military offensive in Gaza, a silencing on dissenting voices has ensued.
00:09 Palestinians say they fear being arrested if they are accused of having spoken out against the war,
00:14 including liking or sharing messages on Facebook.
00:17 Critical Israelis, including university lecturers, journalists,
00:20 politicians have been targeted for speaking out.
00:23 Arab-Israeli politician Aida Touma Suleiman,
00:27 who has condemned Hamas' brutal attack on Israelis,
00:30 says she's prevented from showing similar compassion to Palestinians in Gaza.
00:35 I don't have walks with my grandchildren anymore,
00:38 because I don't want anybody to know that they are my grandchildren.
00:42 There's a huge incitement against anyone who dares to protest against this war,
00:53 or to even reveal a little bit of empathy toward what is happening in Gaza.
01:00 We are not allowed even to cry for a Palestinian child who is killed there.
01:06 Last February, a task force designed to monitor hateful speech against the state of Israel was
01:11 set up by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. And in recent weeks,
01:15 the Israeli court system has upheld the remand of those accused of breaching the law.
01:20 Judges say it's necessary given that the country is in a time of war.
01:23 Amer Badran and Itamar Alvneri are Palestinian and Jewish political allies who are working for
01:29 a joint approach to tackle fear and hatred, which is gravely deteriorated between the two communities.
01:35 Both sides are afraid. Jews and Arabs are afraid. But Arabs are still being threatened.
01:44 Many arrests are done to young people, and not only to young people, because of
01:49 really nothing that they were doing on the social networks. A like that they put,
01:58 or a simple picture that they had, and they are immediately taken for terrorists,
02:03 for people that are supporters of Hamas.
02:08 Jewish people are very anxious. They fear. They are very, very afraid. There`s a war in Gaza.
02:15 People are also anxious especially in Jews and Arabs.
02:18 It`s very natural, but we are trying to do escalate it and to prevent violence to Iraq.
02:24 An Israeli government official told Euronews that Israel does monitor incitement
02:28 and investigates every case. Shona Murray, Euronews, Jerusalem.