Young Communist activist Itamar Greenberg, who previously served six months in prison for refusing military service, was forced to wear clothing bearing a chauvinist slogan while in detention following his arrest at an anti-genocide protest held in Tel-Aviv, last Sunday evening, May 25. The anti-war protester was forced by prison guards to wear a shirt reading “Am Yisrael Chai” [“The people of Israel live!”] and bearing a Star of David after his arrest in Tel Aviv.

“While waiting for a court hearing, the prison guards took a sweater, wrote ‘Am Yisrael Chai!’ and the Israeli flag on it, forced me to wear it, took a picture of me, and told me that the next time I will be arrested they will tattoo a Star of David on my face,” he wrote on X. “We will continue to rise up for life, justice, and equality,” he agreed.

Young Communist activist Itamar Greenberg arrested at an anti-genocide protest held in Tel-Aviv, last Sunday evening, May 25 (Video Footage)

Greenberg, 19 from Bnei Brak, was forcefully arrested while blocking a road as part of an anti-war demonstration near Azrieli Junction in central Tel Aviv. He was questioned at the Lev Tel Aviv police station on suspicion of taking part in an illegal gathering, then held overnight at Glilot police station.

Police had brought him to the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning seeking to keep him behind bars for three more days but were denied by the court. “They said that the anti-war protesters are leftists, terrorists, and enemies from within,” he told Haaretz. Ramzi Ktilat, the attorney representing Greenberg, told the newspaper the incident was “an attempt to humiliate detainees who do not support the war.”

Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=32499