Palestinian women’s soccer player detained in Jerusalem released to house arrest

Israeli authorities released a player on the Palestinian national women’s soccer team after six days in detention in Jerusalem, her mother and police tell AFP.

Wissam Halawani say Israeli police released her daughter Rand Halawani, 20, on Sunday evening, with an order to remain under house arrest for five days.

Halawani tells AFP that she had “gone through very difficult times over the past few days” following her daughter’s detention, and that she now feels “overwhelming joy” after her return home.

Israeli authorities released Rand Halawani, 20, a player on the Palestinian national women's football team, after six days in detention in Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/y66Sstrkrx

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) June 8, 2026

An Israeli police spokesperson tells AFP that “the court has ordered that the suspect remain under house arrest,” and stresses that “this ruling does not indicate or determine the outcome of any future legal proceedings.”

Police had said last week that Halawani was arrested along with an 18-year-old man in relation to an incident in Jerusalem in which objects were allegedly thrown from a balcony at demonstrators marching on a street below.

“The investigation remains ongoing, and evidentiary material continues to be collected and assessed,” police tell AFP.

The Palestinian Football Association celebrates Halawani’s release in a statemen.

“Rand Halawani breathes freedom,” the association says in a social media post, accompanied by an image showing her wearing the Palestinian national team’s red kit.