Israel arrests, interrogates journalist who said ‘world is better’ after death of soldiers

Israel has arrested and interrogated a prominent journalist who was key in debunking false claims about the 7 October attacks, following a post where he said the "world was better" after five soldiers were killed in Gaza.

Israel Frey, who has previously been summoned for questioning over his highly critical comments on social media about the war on Gaza, told Haaretz he is being subjected to "political persecution" due to his views.

He is currently being investigated for incitement and support for terrorism after commenting on the deaths of five soldiers killed in an assault by Palestinian fighters in Gaza this week.

"The world is better this morning without five young people who participated in one of the cruellest crimes against humanity," his comment on social media read.

The soldiers were killed after a series of explosives planted by Hamas in Gaza detonated, with Palestinian fighters also opening fire on the party, an Israeli army probe stated.

Frey doubled down on his comments, telling reporters: "We have already caused enough suffering, blood and tears. Liberate Gaza. Enough." He added that he has no intention of "bowing his head" following his arrest and interrogation.

Frey has been critical of Israel since the start of the war in Gaza, defending Palestinians’ right to fight against occupation.

In a series of posts on social media platform X, he has raised awareness on the dire conditions in Gaza as a result of Israel’s relentless bombardment of civilian areas, hospitals, displacement shelters, and schools.

"Unfortunately, for the boy in Gaza now being operated on without anaesthesia, the girl starving to death and the family huddling in a tent under bombardment — this is not enough," he wrote, referring to the killed Israeli soldiers who were operating in the Strip.

"This is a call to every Israeli mother: Do not be the next to receive your son in a coffin as a war criminal. Refuse," he added.

According to Israeli media, he is currently being held in custody and will be brought to the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on Thursday for an extension of his remand.

Criticism of Israel

Prior to the war, in February 2022, Frey was questioned for "expressing support for a terrorist organisation and incitement to terrorism", linked to social media posts he had made.

At the time, he refused to appear for questioning, and the court issued an arrest warrant. He was later released following the interrogation, and the case was closed.

The journalist has since been attacked by far-right Israelis and settlers, sometimes physically, such as in 2023 when a gang launched flares at his home in a Tel Aviv suburb.

In October 2023, Frey published a video message where he spoke about how Israel is intimidating Jewish journalists who are speaking out against the occupation, as well as Palestinian citizens of Israel.

"In the West Bank, the war is being used to banish and expel Palestinians,"  he said, adding that Israel is committing "apartheid and ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians.  

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed over 61,700 Palestinians since October 2023, plunging the enclave into a deep humanitarian crisis. It has been described as a genocide by leading rights groups such as Amnesty International.