Israeli police arrest 12 protesters in East Jerusalem

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) - An anti-government demonstration in East Jerusalem on Monday culminated in the arrest of 12 protesters by Israeli police.

The police, in a statement, said that they initially detained and questioned eight individuals, before arresting four more, whom they labeled as “rioters.”

The protesters, according to police, attempted to block the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway.

They further alleged that one of their officers sustained minor facial injuries during the arrests.

The protest was held by the Israeli group, Brothers in Arms.

Participants were seen holding images of Israeli hostages in Gaza and waving Israeli flags.

The group took to X to voice their grievances, saying: “This is Netanyahu’s legacy: hostages, burned vehicles and homes, displacement of northern residents, wasting time on exempting religious Jews from military service, and political calculations at the expense of our forces.”

The group further urged the public to rise and dismantle what they referred to as the “government of destruction,” alluding to Netanyahu’s administration.

Brothers in Arms, a right-wing faction composed mainly of former military personnel, emerged last year amid protests against controversial judicial amendment bills, as reported by Anadolu.

In recent weeks, protests against the Israeli government have intensified. Protesters are demanding a prisoner swap deal with Hamas, a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, the repeal of a law exempting religious Jews from military service, and the dissolution of the government for early elections.

Israel continues its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the enclave.

Nearly 35,400 Palestinians have since been killed, the vast majority of whom have been women and children, and over 79,300 others injured since last October following a Hamas attack.

More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel is accused of “genocide” at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio