This Sunday morning, the city of Nazareth was shaken by the news of the Israeli occupation police arresting former Knesset member and activist Haneen Zoabi. The arrest was not merely a routine procedure but a new chapter in a long history of pursuing free Palestinian voices under the pretext of "incitement to terrorism." This time, the charges stem from bold statements Zoabi made months ago at an overseas conference, where she redefined Palestinian resistance in her own terms.
Zoabi: "Resistance is a Popular Act Inseparable from Hamas"
Haneen Zoabi broke the silence, asserting that "resistance is not exclusive to Hamas, but rather a legitimate Palestinian popular act." In her speech, which ignited controversy, Zoabi stated clearly: "It was not Hamas that resisted, but the Palestinian people. And yes, you cannot separate Hamas from the Palestinian people." She added with conviction: "When they entered on October 7th, they did not enter Israeli lands; they entered their own land. This is their land." These powerful words, expressing the essence of the conflict from a Palestinian perspective, did not go unnoticed by the occupation authorities.
"Support for Terrorism" or Suppression of Free Speech?
The occupation police were quick to issue their verdict. After "formal judicial procedures," they declared that Zoabi's statements constituted "support for a terrorist organization and incitement to carry out operations." This description is not new; it is the sword hanging over every voice that defends the Palestinian people's right to liberation and dignified living.
In a statement issued by the Democratic Front and the Communist Party, it was affirmed that "the arrest of comrade Haneen Zoabi falls within the policy of intimidation and criminalization of political action." The statement highlighted a stark contradiction: "Netanyahu's coalition includes figures with genuine terrorist backgrounds, who have previously been convicted in Israeli courts for supporting settler terrorism," asserting that these alleged charges are merely a tool to suppress free Palestinian voices and silence dissent.
A Struggle-Filled Career Under Persecution
Haneen Zoabi, born in Nazareth in 1969, is a prominent Palestinian politician who served as a Knesset member between 2009 and 2019, becoming the first Arab woman to reach this position within the National Democratic Assembly party and the Joint List. However, her career was not without challenges and persecutions. For years, the occupation has pursued her with fabricated cases, and in 2022, she received a suspended prison sentence and a large fine. This systematic policy targets national leaders who reject the occupation and adhere to the option of resistance, attempting to isolate and silence them.
Haneen Zoabi's arrest today is not the end of the road; rather, it is a resounding cry added to the voices of millions of Palestinians demanding their right to their land and freedom. Will the occupation succeed in silencing this cry, or will it further fuel the flames of intellectual and popular resistance?