Court convicts journalist Said Hasaneen of all charges against him

The Haifa District Court convicted journalist Said Hasaneen from Shafa'amr on all counts of the indictment, in a case stemming from a media interview he conducted with Al-Aqsa TV and Radio in February 2025, amid human rights criticism and warnings about the trial's implications for press freedom.

The Haifa District Court on Sunday convicted journalist Said Hasaneen from the city of Shafa'amr on all counts of the indictment filed against him. The case dates back to February 2025, stemming from a media interview he conducted with Al-Aqsa TV and Radio, and included charges of "contact with a foreign agent" and "support for a terrorist organization." Attorney Nimir Idelbi, Hasaneen's defense lawyer, deemed the court's decision unjustified, questioning how a public media interview could be considered "contact with a foreign agent," and stressed that the decision comes amid a campaign of incitement that accompanied the case. Idelbi explained that the next phase will include a sentencing hearing in February 2025, before the court issues its final verdict, with the possibility of an appeal.