A 19-year-old anti-war protester has accused Israeli prison guards of threatening to forcibly tattoo a Star of David onto his face during his detention following a demonstration in Tel Aviv.
Itamar Greenberg, from Bnei Brak, was arrested on Sunday after allegedly blocking a road during a protest near the Azrieli Junction. He was detained overnight at Glilot police station and brought before the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning.
Greenberg later posted on social media platform X that prison guards had drawn the phrase “Am Yisrael Chai!” (“The Jewish nation lives!”) and an Israeli flag on a sweater, which they then forced him to wear. He also claimed guards told him, “Next time you’re arrested, we’ll tattoo a Star of David on your face.” The guards reportedly photographed him wearing the shirt.
Greenberg was initially questioned at Lev Tel Aviv police station on suspicion of participating in an illegal gathering. At his hearing, police sought to extend his detention by three days, but the court denied the request. The presiding judge reportedly asked that the matter involving the shirt be referred to senior officials within the Israel Prison Service (IPS).
Greenberg told Haaretz that prior to his hearing, guards noticed the shirt he had been wearing, which featured the slogan “No to war, yes to peace” in both Hebrew and Arabic. He said the guards cursed at him, accused anti-war protesters of being “leftists, terrorists, and enemies from within,” and insisted he change his shirt before entering the holding cell.
His attorney, Ramzi Ktilat, described the incident as “an attempt to humiliate detainees who… do not support the war.”
In a statement to Haaretz, the IPS confirmed that Greenberg was asked to change his shirt, citing concerns over “his personal safety and to prevent friction with other detainees” due to the Arabic writing. However, the IPS added that the incident would be “thoroughly examined,” and if the claims were substantiated, disciplinary action would follow.
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