The Attorney General's office filed an indictment Wednesday against Saeed Hasanein, a former announcer for the Bnei Sakhnin soccer team and a resident of Shefa-Amr, for offenses involving contact with a foreign agent and expressing support for a terrorist organization. Hasanein is also accused of illegally disposing of evidence after destroying the phone he used to communicate with figures from the Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV channel during an interview. Hasanein was arrested two weeks ago by officers from the Northern District Police.
During statements made on the Al-Aqsa channel, Hasanein spoke against the IDF and the State of Israel, using phrases such as "the occupation army, the enemy army," and "there are weak-minded individuals who join the army and serve the enemy army."
Deputy Senior Attorney at the Haifa District Prosecutor's Office, Maya Matzliach, said in a statement: "The potential harm to state security caused by the defendant's actions, particularly his statements on a channel defined as a terrorist organization, whose sole purpose is to undermine the State of Israel and its very existence, is real, significant and severe. Not only did the defendant express solidarity and praise for the Hamas terrorist organization and its actions on October 7, but since then, he has echoed the false narrative that the terrorist organization spreads regarding its treatment of Israeli captives, the circumstances of their abduction, and more. Moreover, he went further and called on Israeli Arabs not to serve in the IDF and spread false messages that could harm the delicate social fabric of Israeli society —messages that are clearly and unequivocally aligned with and serve the terrorist organizations fighting against Israel."
Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play: https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store: https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv
She added that "all of this was done while he was a journalist, a citizen of the state, and a well-known and influential figure within Arab society in Israel. This makes the potential damage and threat to state security even greater. His actions demonstrate boldness and audacity, showing that he does not respect the laws of the state and actively works against it, just as he supports the terrorist organization he praised."
Following reports of Hasanein's statements, an investigation was launched in the Northern District. After gathering evidence and reviewing it with relevant authorities, it was determined that his statements raised suspicions of incitement offenses. As a result, two weeks ago, Northern District police officers raided his home and arrested him for questioning at the police station. Additionally, the Bnei Sakhnin soccer team decided to fire Hasanein immediately after the incident.
Hasanein's arraignment was extended several times by the court, and three days ago, a prosecutor's declaration was submitted to the court. Today, as stated, an indictment was filed against him in the Haifa District Court by the Haifa District Prosecutor's Office.