Police release all 23 protesters arrested at last night’s anti-war rally in Haifa

All 23 demonstrators arrested in Haifa last night at an anti-war protest have gone free as of this morning.

Earlier today, the Haifa Magistrate’s Court rejected the police’s request to extend the detention of three protesters they held overnight.

Officers released the other 20 demonstrators a few hours after their arrest but sought to detain the remaining three for another five days.

Police claimed in court that the three assaulted police officers and disturbed the public peace, among other charges. However, Judge Eran Zeller rejected the request and ordered the protesters’ release without conditions.

מעצרים בהפגנה נגד המלחמה בחיפה, היום pic.twitter.com/2I8UCHKowl

— הארץ חדשות (@haaretznewsvid) April 10, 2025

In his decision, Zeller writes that “participating in a demonstration does not indicate a danger to anyone… unless during the participation serious offenses are carried out such as aggravated assault.”

“[However] it seems that this is not the issue before me,” he continues, as quoted by Haaretz.

Zeller adds that police forcefully shut down the demonstration soon after it began, concurring with those who partook in last night’s protest.

“The police dispersed the protest not even a minute after it started, says a demonstrator, who wishes to remain anonymous, to The Times of Israel.

She and the others detained were held in a police station until midnight, while the other three were held Kishon Detention Center.