Marwat al-Azza, a 45-year-old resident of East Jerusalem, a journalist currently employed by NBC, was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of incitement to terrorism and identification with a terrorist organization. This follows four recent posts on her personal Facebook page relating to Hamas' murderous attack in the Gaza envelope.
The suspect uploaded footage of the abduction of an elderly woman from her home in the south by Hamas, and wrote: "No, I'm dead. Black comedy, the old lady is happy, lived the action before she died, I didn't laugh like that in a year." She also posted footage of young people fleeing from the massacre party while shooting at them, and wrote: "Thank God, let God pray and say thank you."
In another publication, Al-Aza published documentation of terrorists roaming the communities near the Gaza Strip, and wrote: "I feel like I'm in a film where the director and reporter are Palestinian, and the heroes are from Gaza."
Incitement on Social Networks/User Photos, Networks
Police say al-'Aza "came prepared for arrest," without a cell phone, and even wrote down phone numbers on her leg. During her interrogation, which was conducted at the Jerusalem District Judge Station, she tied herself to the allegations. "These are very serious offenses during a declared time of war when the respondent lives and earns a living in the same country that is under attack and yet chooses to incite and glorify the terrible acts committed against civilians," the police representative concluded at a hearing yesterday at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court.
Defense attorney: "She is a normative woman, works in journalism and her role is very important to everyone. She was asked during her interrogation about her work. I believe that in the statements attributed to her, she fully cooperated. She didn't try to hide and said, 'I had a hacker.' Even when she didn't have a phone, which is the main tool, she said, 'Indeed, these are my posts,' and that makes a thousand disruptive actions redundant. There's her saying. Therefore, I believe that the investigation has exhausted itself. I ask that she be released on any condition that the court deems appropriate. She's from a very respectable family." Her detention was extended by four days.
According to data from the activity of the Israel Police's incitement to terrorism team from the past week, since the outbreak of the war, some 533 publications encouraging violence, incitement, support and identification with terrorist organizations have been examined, about 233 investigation files have been opened for these offenses, and 77 indictments have been filed against inciters.
At the forefront of the police struggle against incitement to terrorism are the Jerusalem District police officers with 177 suspects arrested on suspicion of incitement, identification and support for terrorism since the outbreak of the war. 46 indictments filed (East Jerusalem Development Authority) and 9 prosecutor's statements pending indictments, alongside dozens of investigations still ongoing in the Jerusalem District against suspects arrested on suspicion of incitement.
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