Who is Raja Eghbarieh?

The story of a 63-year-old Palestinian political leader who was arrested by Israeli police without charge

Raja Eghbarieh is a prominent political leader, one of the founders of Abnaa el-Balad, a Palestinian movement in Israel, aimed to counteract Israeli "divide and rule" policies by unifying Arab communities and prioritizing the national Palestinian cause. Rejecting participation in the Knesset, the movement focused its activities on building power from the grassroots. This included establishing a network of local groups like al-Nahda and al-Bayadir, setting up cultural centers with libraries and public meeting spaces, and empowering communities through local municipal councils. A key activity was their instrumental role in organizing the 1976 Land Day demonstration, a significant protest against Israeli land confiscation policies,

reflecting their commitment to Palestinian self-

determination and the eventual establishment of a

single democratic state in all of historic Palestine.

What happened in April?

In the early hours of April 8, 2025, Israeli police and Shin Bet agents raided Raja’s home in Umm al-Fahm. The police attempted to charge him with “contacting a foreign agent”, an accusation that is vague and has obvious political connotations. The arrest came following his participation in a protest against the war and the fact that police confiscated Palestinian flags and flyers reveal that their true intentions is to stifle protest. The dramatic charges against him were soon dropped, but he was not released. Instead, he was placed under “administrative detention”

What is administrative detention - and why is it so dangerous?

Administrative detention is one of the most extreme tools of political repression: a person is held without charges, without seeing the evidence against them, and with very limited judicial supervision. Neither the detainee nor their lawyer is allowed to know the reason for the arrest.

The practice stems from old British colonial regulations and originally used by the Israeli military in the occupied territories. This practice is now being expanded into 1948 territories - against Palestinian citizens of Israel. It is under ‘emergency provisions’ and therefore not subject to normal laws and regulations. It effectively allows security services to detain anyone without any legal recourse.

In plain terms: they disappeared him.

After the arrest, Eghbarieh was transferred repeatedly between prisons - Megiddo, Ohalei Keidar, Ramon—without informing his lawyers, family, or even the judge.

He was beaten, injured, shackled, blindfolded, and denied medical care. At one point he fell down stairs while handcuffed and wasn’t given pain relief for days. To this day, he struggles to walk and needs help showering and dressing.

For weeks, he was denied contact with his lawyer—based on false claims of “scabies outbreaks” or that he had “waived” his right to a meeting. In truth, he had no idea what he was being asked to sign, and feared more violence outside his cell.

He’s not the only one.

Since October 7, 2023, hundreds of Palestinians inside Israel have been arrested for social media posts, waving a flag, or simply showing solidarity with Gaza.Students have been expelled, workers fired, lawyers and activists detained.

Left-wing Jewish activists have not suffered such treatment, yet. However they have lost their jobs and suffered violent attacks. Meantime, Jews can freely incite for violence and call for genocide, and despite this being agaisnt the law, the police never even questioned any of them. The minister incharge of the police, Kahanist Itamar Ben Gvir, has called for genocide several times himself.

This is no accident - it’s policy.

Raja was not arrested because he committed a crime. He was arrested because he represents a political voice Israel wants to erase. He is elderly, in fragile health, and hasn’t led public campaigns in years - but his name and presence still symbolize steadfast resistance. His most recent activity? Supporting humanitarian aid for Gaza during Ramadan.

This arrest is meant to break him - and sends a message to all of us:

Don't protest.

Don't speak the truth.

Stay silent and compliant.

The demands of The Solidarity Committee for Raja

The struggle to free Raja Eghbarieh is being led by the Solidarity Committee for Raja, formed by his family, comrades, and activists from across Palestine and beyond.

The following demands were issued by the Committee - and we join them:

• Immediate release of Raja Eghbarieh.

• Cancellation of all administrative detention orders.

• Release of all Palestinian political prisoners.

• Dismantling the system of administrative detention and secret evidence.

• Full protection of political freedoms for all Palestinians, including in 1948 territories.

Stand with Raja. Raise your voice. Share the truth.

Resist the silence.