Hamas Arrests Palestinians for Zoom Chats With Israelis

On April 9, Hamas arrested several Palestinians in the Gaza Strip for having a Zoom call with Israelis.

The UK Guardian reported that among those arrested was Rami Aman, a Gaza activist and journalist who has been critical of Hamas and is the founder of the peace organization Gaza Youth Committee.

Hamas-run Interior Ministry’s spokesman Eyad al-Bozom said in a statement, “The Israeli occupation has not stopped using various methods to recruit Palestinians as informants in order to harm our people and its resistance and beautify its criminal image in front of the public opinion. Any activity or communication with the Israeli occupation under any cover is a crime punishable by law, and a betrayal of our people and their sacrifices.”

According to The Jerusalem Post, Aman said during the nearly two-hour call that the Gaza peace activists are aiming for “internal peace. We want to help the people find themselves, to follow their dreams, to follow their goals, and not to follow others’ dreams and goals.”

Aman also said the coronavirus is just one of many viruses infecting Gaza, citing “the blockade, unemployment, cancer, pollution, [lack of] electricity. We already have a lot of viruses.”

Throughout the call, Israelis reportedly asked about what daily life is like in Gaza; one Palestinian said music and parties are banned in Gaza.

Parody account The Mossad tweeted, “People in Gaza are being arrested by Hamas for having Zoom calls with Israelis. This should calm most Gazans’ worries that it’s not actually us watching you use the Internet.”

People in Gaza are being arrested by Hamas for having Zoom calls with Israelis.

This should calm most Gazans’ worries that it’s not actually us watching you use the internet. https://t.co/di8OCGxA46

— The Mossad: Espionage at ≥ 2 metres (@TheMossadIL) April 9, 2020

Twice in March, Hamas arrested Palestinian cartoonist Ismael el-Bozom, reportedly for criticizing the terror group in his cartoon and writings. UN Watch tweeted at the time, “Why is the U.N. Human Rights Council silent?”

Hamas arrests and harasses Palestinian cartoonist for criticizing its oppressive rule in Gaza.

Why is the U.N. Human Rights Council silent?
https://t.co/F33308diGJ

— UN Watch (@UNWatch) April 3, 2020