Israeli authorities have extended the detention of Palestinian women’s football player Rand Halawani following her arrest in Jerusalem, according to Palestinian officials.
Israeli authorities have extended the detention of Palestinian women’s football player Rand Halawani after she was taken into custody following questioning in Jerusalem, according to Palestinian officials.
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) strongly criticized the arrest of the 20-year-old athlete, describing the incident as part of what it called a broader pattern of actions targeting Palestinian sports figures.
In an official statement, the association said the detention of Halawani and another former national team player reflected ongoing pressure faced by Palestinian athletes. The organization argued that such incidents continue without sufficient international accountability.
According to officials from the Jerusalem governorate, an Israeli court decided on Wednesday to extend Halawani’s detention until Friday while investigations continue.
Israeli forces also arrested former Palestinian football player Natalie Abu Diyeh along with three other young Palestinian women in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday. Abu Diyeh is currently a student at Birzeit University.
The Israeli military stated that the women were suspected of involvement in activities related to promoting terrorism and other security-related offenses.
Birzeit University condemned the arrests and accused Israel of targeting Palestinian students and educational institutions through systematic policies that affect academic life and student freedoms.
Religious leaders also reacted to the arrest of Abu Diyeh. Bishop Imad Haddad of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land expressed concern over the situation and called for her immediate release.
In a statement, Haddad said church officials were deeply disturbed by reports surrounding the arrest and noted that Abu Diyeh’s family had initially been unable to determine her whereabouts.
The latest arrests come amid continuing tensions across the occupied Palestinian territories, where human rights groups and Palestinian organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about detentions involving students, activists, and public figures.
Israeli authorities have not yet released additional details regarding the ongoing investigation
