Jewish activists face ‘atmosphere of fear’ for advocating peace in Israel

Activists and peace advocates are reported to have been facing suppression of their voices calling for harmony and expressing sympathy towards people in Gaza in the form of detention and punitive actions in Israel aftermath of Israeli bombardment as retaliatory action for the Hamas attack on October 7.

The government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has initiated a crackdown that extends beyond the immediate aftermath of the attack, according to a report published in The Guardian.

Two activists from the Jewish-Arab peace movement Standing Together were detained for putting up posters with a message of unity: "Jews and Arabs, we will get through this together." This seemingly benign expression of solidarity has been deemed offensive by authorities, leading to the confiscation of their posters and peace-themed T-shirts.

The suppression is not limited to activists; even professionals are facing consequences for expressing sentiments perceived as sympathetic to Hamas. The director of the cardiac intensive care unit at a Petah Tikva hospital, Abed Samara, found himself suspended from his position due to his social media profile picture—a dove carrying an olive twig and a green flag with the Muslim declaration of faith. Despite adopting the image before the Hamas attack, it was interpreted as support for the outrage.

The government's response includes granting the police wide discretion to determine what constitutes support for so-called ‘terrorism’, eroding legal protections for free speech. Human rights lawyer Michael Sfard notes a "tsunami of police investigations," creating a chilling effect on any form of criticism or compassion.

Protests expressing sympathy for Gaza have been forcefully dispersed, and Israel's Chief of Police, Yaakov Shabtai, went as far as offering to assist those identifying with Gaza in reaching their destination.

In a concerning move, Israel's attorney general's office instructed universities to forward cases to the police involving students who posted "words of praise for terrorism." The result has been a purge in Israeli universities, with around 50 Palestinian students summoned to disciplinary committees over social media posts, some facing suspension.

The crackdown extends beyond official channels, with faceless individuals and groups using online platforms to intimidate dissidents. Doxing, the act of publicly revealing personal information, has become a widespread phenomenon. Peace activists, including journalists and healthcare professionals, are facing threats to their safety.

Alon-Lee Green, the national director of Standing Together, highlights the broader impact, stating that many people are losing their jobs due to differing political views or identities. While some may express support for Hamas, the majority are advocating for an end to the war or expressing concern for children in Gaza. Green warns that this suppression not only jeopardizes the diversity of professionals in society but also raises the risk of inter-communal violence.

Ori Kol, co-founder of FakeReporter, a group combating misinformation, describes an atmosphere of fear in Israel fuelled by unknown actors online. Doxing targets individuals seemingly at random, contributing to a pervasive climate of intimidation.

As the suppression continues, Achiya Schatz, executive director of FakeReporter, expresses deep concern about the emergence of an internal battle between citizens, posing a significant risk to the societal fabric and national security of Israel.