You’ve probably already heard of a Palestinian freelance journalist and producer named Mirvat al-Azzeh. She was one of several who were picked up for additional war coverage by various American news outlets, in her case, NBC News. She was also one of the ones who appeared to be far too “cozy” with Hamas. The level of that coziness reportedly ran deeper than anyone originally suspected. She was arrested in Israel on Thursday on some vague charges about inciting terror and identifying with a terrorist organization (Hamas, obviously). She allegedly shared at least four Facebook posts about the October 7 attack, “inciting and glorifying the attacks.” The Israeli government didn’t share the posts, but they must have been pretty awful. After the first day of arrest, her detainment was extended for another four days. (NY Post)

A Palestinian freelancer working for NBC News was arrested in Israel on suspicion of inciting terror and identifying with a terrorist organization, according to local reports.

Mirvat al-Azzeh, who lives in East Jerusalem, was jailed Thursday after sharing four recent Facebook posts regarding Hamas’ sneak attack on Israel on Oct. 7 that killed more than 1,200 people, according to the Jerusalem Post.

It’s unclear what al-Azzeh, 45, wrote in those posts, though police described them at a hearing at the Jerusalem Magistrate Court as “inciting and glorying the horrible acts committed against civilians,” per the outlet.

NBC had only picked up al-Azzeh recently and said that they had been unaware of her online social media activity. (Shouldn’t all networks have learned to check that sort of thing by now?) Rather than rushing to her defense as a journalist based on free speech or whatever, the network said that they had “cut ties” with her today. They also said that Israel led them to understand that the offensive material in question was not related to any work she had done for them.

The arrest itself sounds like it played out rather oddly. It was apparently agreed to in advance and al-Azzeh showed up to turn herself in. But she didn’t bring her cell phone with her and instead had some phone numbers written on her leg with a marker. (Huh?) But the Israeli police said that she still “cooperated fully” with them.

al-Azzeh’s attorney said that his client did not try to deny making the social media posts or claim that her account was hacked and took responsibility for what she had done. But this reportedly wasn’t the first bizarre incident involving the journalist and her social media adventures. Reporters turned up a YouTube video she posted earlier this year where she claimed to have been sexually assaulted by an x-ray technician at a hospital in the West Bank who “grabbed her breasts.” But when she tried to bring the matter forward, she said she was pressured by authorities to drop her complaint and undergo a mental health evaluation. It’s hard to say what’s going on with her.

One interesting takeaway from this event is that it reminds us that other countries do not offer the same broad rights to free speech or freedom of the press that the United States does. For example, to this day in Germany, you can still be arrested for displaying Nazi symbolism or spouting pro-Nazi rhetoric. And in Israel, supporting antisemitic terrorism can land you in legal hot water as well. There is no word how much time al-Azzeh could be facing when she goes to court, but the Jewish government clearly doesn’t take such matters lightly. So any of you pro-Hamas protesters out there in America who are thinking of traveling overseas to support your fellow travelers should probably keep that in mind. If you chase down the actual Hamas fighters to “support” them, they will probably kill you. And if you decide to take your protest over into Israel itself, they may well throw you in prison. Just don’t call us looking for bail money.