Arab journalist and football announcer arrested for statements praising Hamas & Nasrallah

Said Hassanein, an Israeli-Arab journalist who serves as the announcer for the Bnei Sakhnin football [soccer] team, was arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of incitement after an investigation, according to a police statement Wednesday morning. 

The police investigation came following an interview Said Hassanein recently gave with the Hamas-run “Al-Aqsa” channel, in which he praised Hamas’s treatment of hostages, claiming that hostage Omer Shem Tov willingly kissed his captors out of appreciation and respect. 

According to the police statement, "In the course of his remarks, he expressed praise and glorification of the Hamas terror organization and spoke against the IDF and the State of Israel, using phrases such as 'the occupation army, the enemy army.’” 

The police also said that Hassanein attacked Israeli-Arabs who join the military, calling them “weak-minded.” 

“There are weak-minded individuals who join the ranks of the army and serve the enemy army,” Hassanein was quoted as saying. 

Upon receiving several reports regarding problematic statements, an investigation was opened by Northern District Police.

The police said that after gathering and reviewing evidence, it was determined that his statements raised suspicions of incitement, and Hassanein was arrested and brought in for questioning at the police station. He was later brought to court for a hearing on the police’s request to extend his detention. 

His statements sparked an uproar over the past few days, especially after more details about his views came out. 

On Tuesday, public broadcaster Kan’s Reshet Bet “This Morning” revealed that Hassanein expressed admiration for Hassan Nasrallah shortly after his killing. 

In a video clip aired on the program, Hassanein is heard saying, "He couldn’t have died in any other way. He sought to die a martyr’s death, and he achieved it. He said many times, 'I move secretly from one place to another not out of fear of death—after all, we all seek a martyr’s death—but so that the enemy cannot claim a victory through my elimination.’" 

In the same interview, Hassanein called Nasrallah, “a first-rate man, a man of faith, a fighter, a man who believed in justice, a man who believed in the Palestinian cause and the Arab cause.” 

After the football leagues’ administration demanded that the Bnei Sakhnin football team immediately disavow his statements, the club fired him from his announcer position. 

Erez Kalfon, chairman of the football league, said in a statement, “We were surprised to see the serious, false and unacceptable statements made by Mr. Sa'id Hassanein, a member of the Sakhnin Football Club, as expressed in an interview given on the television channel of the despicable terrorist organization Hamas.” 

“The statements are unacceptable, to say the least, in Israeli society and not in Israeli football. In light of the above, and before we take further concrete steps, it is expected that the Bnei Sakhnin Football Club will immediately and irrevocably disavow both the statements and the words.” 

The Government Press Office also announced the revocation of his journalist credentials, pending a hearing, and the results of the police investigation. Hassanein also worked for Radio Al-Nas, but was dismissed from that position as well, over his statements. 

Hassanein had called himself a “journalist from the occupied Galilee.” 

Shai Glick, head of the right-wing human rights group B’Tsalmo, filed a complaint with the police and the Attorney General regarding the issue. After the announcement of Hassanein’s arrest  Glick stated, “I welcome the arrest and now call for an indictment to be filed soon. Anyone who incites the murder of Jews, glorifies terrorism, or incites against the IDF belongs in prison.” 

Glick also filed complaints about the Israeli-Arab comedian Nidal Badarny, who was arrested on Monday regarding jokes in his stand-up routine involving the returned hostages and events surrounding the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.