As Israel continues its unprecedented military campaign against Iran, incidents of open support for the enemy among some Arab citizens and residents within Israel have prompted a series of swift police responses.
Since the outbreak of hostilities on Thursday night, Israeli police have reported numerous acts of incitement, celebration, and even violence tied to Iranian missile attacks. On Saturday night, police intercepted a convoy of dozens of vehicles planning to hold a so-called “convoy of joy and praise” in solidarity with the Iranian bombardment. Police forces arrived en masse, confiscated the vehicles, and arrested 22 suspects. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced that the detainees were transferred to a security prison for further investigation.
22 ערבים מאום אל פאחם נעצרו כשניסו לארגן “שיירת שמחה” על הפגיעה בישראל על ידי אירן.
מה לדעתכם צריך לעשות להם? pic.twitter.com/PHyeA8SCQQ
— Ron Yemanibaa (@Subject2732023) June 13, 2025
In a separate incident in the Abu Tor neighborhood of Jerusalem, emergency services received a report of a missile strike. The call turned out to be false and was allegedly a ruse to lure security forces to the area, where they were met with a Molotov cocktail attack by local Arab residents, according to a report by Ynet journalist Liran Tamari.
Elsewhere, a 20-year-old Arab resident of Silwan was arrested for posting online messages praising the Iranian missile attacks. In Kafr Kana, police detained another individual after he posted an image of the Iranian flag alongside a song of support and a salute emoji.
In Be’er Sheva, several Bedouins posted TikTok videos claiming the city as theirs in the wake of increased police enforcement under Minister Ben-Gvir. One video showed a Bedouin coercing a Jewish youth with a disability into stating that Be’er Sheva belongs to the Bedouin. Police later arrested a suspect in Rahat who had uploaded a video during the missile strikes harassing the same individual and blocking his access to a protected shelter.
Dozens of similar celebratory videos have emerged from towns and villages in Judea and Samaria, showing processions, fireworks, and crowds cheering during Iranian missile barrages.
Despite these developments, security forces have yet to crack down on public displays of support for Iran in many towns. While a general closure was imposed at the outset of the campaign and IDF checkpoints were tightened, by Sunday morning, several crossings had reopened. The IDF Spokesperson confirmed that the Judea and Samaria Division had been reinforced by 40 companies but declined to comment on whether the military intends to address the wave of celebratory events.
The incidents have heightened concerns about internal unrest during a time of growing regional instability, as Israel remains on high alert amid ongoing attacks from Iran.
