Israeli forces have been arresting more Palestinian women under the claim of “incitement” on social media, according to Palestinian rights groups.
The Commission of Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club say these arrests are part of a wider effort to pressure Palestinian families.
In a joint statement, the organizations said that Israel recently extended the detention of five Palestinian women, bringing the total number of female prisoners to 25 following the release of journalist Latifa Abdul-Latif from Jerusalem. They noted that women from various Palestinian areas, including minors, have been affected.
The arrests are reportedly being used as a tactic to force family members to surrender. Since the start of the war on Gaza in October 2023, this strategy has intensified, with nearly 500 Palestinian women arrested. Most of the detainees are held in Damon Prison in northern Israel. Among them is a woman in her third month of pregnancy, three administrative detainees, and a prisoner battling cancer.
Many of these women face charges of “incitement,” a vague accusation often linked to social media activity. Rights groups argue that these arrests are politically motivated and part of a broader crackdown on Palestinian voices.