Reporter arrested for post cheering killings of IDF troops is released to house arrest

Israel Frey, a far-left Haredi journalist who was arrested after rejoicing over the deaths of five IDF soldiers, was released to house arrest earlier today.

He will remain in house arrest until Friday, police say.

Frey was detained last week and in a rare move, transferred to a security prison at the behest of Israel Prison Service chief Kobi Yaakobi.

“At the direction of the prosecution, the police requested today to transfer the suspect to complete house arrest with additional restrictions,” police say. It is unclear what these restrictions are.

Yaakobi’s decision to define Frey as a security prisoner had received backing from far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

Frey was investigated and detained last week over his tweet saying “the world is a better place” after five soldiers were fatally hit by roadside bombs in Gaza.

“The world is a better place this morning, without five young men who partook in one of the most brutal crimes against humanity,” Frey had tweeted about the slain soldiers, four of whom served in the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda battalion.

“Unfortunately, for the boy in Gaza now being operated on without anesthesia, the girl starving to death and the family huddling in a tent under bombardment — this is not enough,” he continued. “This is a call to every Israeli mother: Do not be the next to receive your son in a coffin as a war criminal. Refuse.”