Police chief says ‘zero tolerance’ for pro-Hamas demonstrations in Israel
Amy Spiro is a reporter and writer with The Times of Israel
Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai attends a Rosh Hashanah ceremony at police headquarters in Jerusalem on September 13, 2023. (Arie Leib Abrams/ Flash90)
Israel Police chief Kobi Shabtai said the police force would have “zero tolerance” for pro-Hamas demonstrations within Israel, suggesting that those expressing solidarity with Gaza should go to the Strip instead.
“Whoever wants to be a citizen of Israel, ahalan wasahlan,” Shabtai says in a video posted on Tuesday to the Israel Police’s Arabic TikTok channel, using common Arabic slang meaning, “Welcome.”
“Anyone who wants to identify with Gaza is welcome — I’ll put them on buses that will send them there. I’ll help them get there,” Shabtai added.
