Israeli police detained Palestinian women’s national team player Rand Halawani after summoning her to Telpiot police station in West Jerusalem, according to the Palestinian Football Association. The Jerusalem governorate office reported she was referred to court, which extended her detention until Friday.
The Israeli army also arrested former national team player and Birzeit University media student Natalie Abu Diya, 21, after raiding her home north of Ramallah. Birzeit University confirmed the arrest of students Jolan Abu Awad and Sama Safi, along with graduate Layla Nael Khalil. The army claimed the four were suspected of promoting hostile activities and involvement in terrorism.
The Palestinian Football Association condemned the arrests of Halawani and Abu Diya as “a blatant violation of sports values and international law,” urging FIFA to take immediate measures to hold Israel accountable. Evangelical Lutheran Bishop Imad Haddad demanded Abu Diya’s release, noting she is a member of the Reformation Church in Beit Jala, and expressed concern over Palestinians detained without charges.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club reported that the number of female detainees in Israeli prisons has risen to 89, including three minors, three pregnant women, and two cancer patients, most held in Damon Prison in Haifa. It said detainees face harsh conditions including starvation, medical neglect, isolation, assaults, humiliating searches, and overcrowding, forcing some to sleep on the floor.
Israel currently detains over 9,400 Palestinians, according to figures released by the Prisoners’ Club ahead of Eid al-Adha last month.
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