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WASHINGTON — The family of a Palestinian American woman being tried in an Israeli military court for Facebook posts wants the Biden administration to recognize her detention as wrongful.
The Israeli military arrested Louisiana resident Samaher Esmail last month in what rights groups say is part of a broader crackdown on online speech since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Esmail, 46, spent three weeks in Israeli custody before her release on bail, and is barred from returning to the United States before her trial begins on March 31.
Esmail was charged with "incitement" and "support of a hostile organization," a reference to 10 Facebook posts between October and the end of January, some of which appeared to express support for Hamas using emojis. They include a photo of the spokesperson for the group's military wing, Abu Ubaida, with text that translates “Victory or death of saints, God willing.” Esmail also shared videos showing apparent rocket fire toward Israel and people purportedly celebrating in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack.
