Between August 31 and September 9, 2024, at least 127 demonstrators across the country were arrested during anti-government protests. Of these arrests, at least 56 individuals were held overnight in detention and subsequently brought before a judge for a remand hearing. Another 10 were released only after spending a night in detention. Notably, all those who faced remand hearings were eventually released by the courts, which found no substantial grounds for their arrest. This indicates not only a high volume of arrests but also a troubling pattern of extending detentions without justification.
On September 9, 2024, we sent legal correspondence (Hebrew) to the State Prosecutor demanding immediate action to address the police conduct. In our correspondence, Attorney Gil Gan-Mor and Freedom of Protest Coordinator Sivan Tahel called for the appointment of a supervising attorney to oversee, in real time, any decision to extend the detention of demonstrators. We also requested an investigation into whether there were orders to make unnecessary arrests or to use overnight detention as a form of intimidation, punishment, or deterrence.
We highlighted that this issue is part of a recurring pattern of police abuse, with demonstrators frequently held in overnight detention without proper justification. Furthermore, we cited troubling statements from police officers on the ground that suggest directives from higher authorities to arrest as many demonstrators as possible. These officers have also asked irrelevant questions during interrogations, indicating potential political bias. Additionally, there have been reports of unlawful interference by the Minister of National Security in demonstrations, contrary to an interim injunction issued by the High Court of Justice.
We underscored that these actions by the police not only undermine freedom of expression but also create a chilling effect on public participation in demonstrations. This behavior fosters a perception among the public that the police are motivated by a political agenda to suppress dissenting voices.