Hundreds protest in Jaffa after Arab woman allegedly pepper-sprayed by Jews
Demonstrators denounce ‘racist’ violence, say they’re ‘not afraid of conflict’ with security services; former Knesset member blames police, government
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Hundreds of Arab residents of Jaffa marched in protest Saturday after a pregnant woman from the community was allegedly pepper-sprayed by Jews while she was driving her car in the city’s Ajami neighborhood.
The Israel Police said in a statement that an altercation developed between the woman and several others, who apparently sprayed her and then fled the area in southern Tel Aviv-Jaffa.
Footage published by the Arab48 news site showed protesters marching to the site of the attack while chanting: “Tell the Shin Bet dogs we’re not afraid of conflict,” referring to Israel’s internal security agency.
Speaking to the protesters, former Knesset member and former Tel Aviv-Jaffa council member Sami Abu Shehadeh accused the government of complicity in the attack, which he said included verbal abuse and spitting on the woman, according to Arab48.
“This assault is not an individual incident, but rather a new episode in a systematic policy targeting the people of Jaffa and our Palestinian nation at large,” said Abu Shehadeh, head of the Palestinian nationalist Balad party.
“We hold the police and Israeli government fully responsible for this assault, and for every assault like it,” said Abu Shehadeh. “Official silence is complicity in the crime.”
يافا: المئات يتظاهرون إثر اعتداء عنصري لمستوطنين على امرأة عربية وأطفالها ورشهم بغاز الفلفل
التفاصيل: https://t.co/88D7581jls pic.twitter.com/bHdKn1XMKv
— موقع عرب 48 (@arab48website) December 13, 2025
Abu Shehadeh referred to the assailants as settlers. It was unclear if his intention was to Jews living in the West Bank, in Jaffa, or in Israel generally.
According to Arab48, the protest march followed a public gathering called shortly after the woman was pepper-sprayed.
Police said that the woman had gone to a hospital to seek medical care. Officers were searching for suspects but did not make any arrests, according to the police statement, which did not specify the nationality of either the victim or the assailants.
كلمة رئيس حزب التجمع الوطني الديمقراطي، سامي أبو شحادة، خلال تظاهرة منددة باعتداء مستوطنين على امرأة عربية وأطفالها في مدينة يافا
التفاصيل: https://t.co/88D7581Rb0 pic.twitter.com/4koa5u4kAb
— موقع عرب 48 (@arab48website) December 13, 2025
Police said that all possible motives for the incident were being looked into.
They later announced that a Muslim cleric was arrested Sunday morning in Jaffa on suspicion of inciting violence at the march. The suspect, in his 30s, was not named.
“During the march, racist chants were heard that could cause a disturbance of order and harm public order,” police said. “Later that night, the suspect was heard on social media calling for a disturbance of order, including racist chants against Jews.”
The Times of Israel Community.