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Israeli police arrest prominent Palestinian activists
Palestinian activists behind social media campaign against forced expulsions in Sheikh Jarrah arrested
International
Israeli police have arrested activist Muna al-Kurd, who has been at the forefront of the campaign to stop the forced expulsions of Palestinians from occupied East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, according to Palestinian news agency WAFA.
Muna’s arrest comes a day after Al Jazeera Arabic journalist Givara Budeiri was arrested while covering a demonstration in Sheikh Jarrah. Budeiri was released hours later after her arrest drew global condemnation.
Muna’s father, Nabil al-Kurd, told reporters that the 23-year-old activist was arrested after police raided their home in Sheikh Jarrah, WAFA reported, adding that the police handed a notice ordering her twin brother Mohammed to turn himself in.
Later on Sunday, lawyer Nasser Odeh, speaking outside the police station, confirmed to the reporters that Mohammed was also arrested and the siblings faced “committing acts that disturb public security” and “taking part in riots”.
“The reason for the arrest is that we say that we will not leave our homes, and they do not want anyone to express his opinion, they do not want anyone to tell the truth,” Nabil told Associated Press by phone. “They want to silence us.”
Video posted on social media showed Muna being taken from the home in handcuffs. “Don’t be afraid,” she is seen telling her family, as she is being led out of the house by the Israeli police.