What’s happening:

Mohammad Shweiki, a 21-year-old wedding singer from Jerusalem, faces charges of incitement to terror and identification with a terrorist organization for his performances and social media activity.

Why it matters:

The charges underscore the ongoing concern over incitement to violence and the use of social media platforms to propagate support for terror groups among Israeli and Palestinian communities.

Details:

The indictment, filed at the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court, accuses Shweiki of singing songs and posting video clips on TikTok that show support for the military leader of the Hamas terror group and incite violence.

Case Examples:

In one instance, Shweiki’s video on TikTok included a song praising Mohammed Deif, the leader of Hamas’s military wing. In another, at a wedding in Al-Ram, he referenced the Palestinian terrorist responsible for the fatal shooting in Jerusalem’s Neve Yaakov neighborhood and taunted National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir with lyrics about the incident.

Prosecution’s Actions:

The State Attorney’s Office has requested the singer be detained until proceedings conclude. This request follows a broader crackdown on incitement in the wake of a significant Hamas terror attack on October 7 that led to the deaths of over 1,200 people, primarily civilians.

Bigger Picture:

Since the October attack, the State Attorney’s Office has indicted dozens for incitement to terrorism, particularly for social media praise of Hamas and Hezbollah. These actions are part of Israel’s comprehensive efforts to curb the propagation of terrorist propaganda and incitement to violence within its borders.

This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.