World · Middle East · 1 hr ago
Israel releases Palestinian journalist Abed Abou Shhadeh after five days
Israeli authorities released Abed Abou Shhadeh on Sunday after detaining him for five days without charge.
The Palestinian journalist, a citizen of Israel, was detained on Tuesday and held at an intelligence facility in Petah Tikva.
Authorities suspected him of contact with a foreign agent, and Adalah said the allegation involved receiving foreign money to support Israel’s Arab voters.
His lawyer said the suspicion relied on a public conversation and argued that political discussion by Palestinians was being treated as criminal.
Adalah’s founder said the detention was part of a campaign against the votes of Arabs and Palestinians in Israel.
Abou Shhadeh said he would continue his journalism, while Israeli authorities’ next steps were not stated.
Israeli authorities released Palestinian journalist Abed Abou Shhadeh without charge after five days in detention.
He had been detained on suspicion of contact with a foreign agent after travelling to Qatar for an interview with Azmi Bishara.
Abou Shhadeh said his detention was intended to intimidate Arab society and said he would continue working as a journalist.
His lawyer and the rights group Adalah said the suspicion was based on his public political discussion and argued that Palestinian political analysis was being criminalised.
Police did not seek an extension of his remand, and the Shin Bet did not respond to a request for comment on whether the case was closed.
- Who
- Abed Abou Shhadeh, a Palestinian journalist and Palestinian citizen of Israel.
- What
- Israeli authorities released him without charge after detaining him for five days on suspicion of contact with a foreign agent.
- When
- He was detained on Tuesday and released on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
- Where
- He was held in Petah Tikva and released from a police station there. He lives in Jaffa.
- Why
- He was suspected of contact with a foreign agent after travelling to Qatar to interview Azmi Bishara. Adalah said the suspicion concerned alleged receipt of foreign money to support Arab voters in Israel.
Israeli police
Abed Abou Shhadeh and his legal team
Reason for detention
Israeli police
Police detained him on suspicion of contact with a foreign agent after he travelled to Qatar for an interview with Azmi Bishara.
Abed Abou Shhadeh and his legal team
Abou Shhadeh said his detention was intended to intimidate Arab society; his lawyer said the suspicion relied on a public conversation and that political discussion by Palestinians was being criminalised.
Abou Shhadeh had travelled to Qatar for an interview with Azmi Bishara ahead of the election.
Israeli security officers raided Abou Shhadeh’s home in Jaffa and detained him on suspicion of contact with a foreign agent.
Authorities released Abou Shhadeh without charge after five days in detention.
- Detention
- Five days
- Suspected offence
- Contact with a foreign agent
- Detention location
- Shin Bet facility in Petah Tikva
- Home raid
- About 15 officers raided his Jaffa home
- Podcast
- Al-Midan, hosted for the Arab48 news site
2 sources
What people are saying
In my view, the most appropriate response is to reaffirm among ourselves that we are on the right side, that our path is the path of truth
but to intimidate Arab society as a whole
You start to appreciate the things we take for granted — our children, partners and parents, but also each other
This is now being criminalised only because the speakers are Palestinians
Posts on X
Supporters greet journalist Abed Abou Shahadeh @AbedYaffa with a chorus of 'Janna Ya Watanna' (Heaven our Homeland) in Jaffa after police released him without charge.
Journalist Abed Abou Shahadeh @AbedYaffa addresses international supporters in English during a reception in Jaffa after he was released without charge