As the kingdom indicates that it is willing to accept diplomatic relations with the Jewish state—provided that it commits to Palestinian statehood—Saudi Arabia has increased the number of arrests of its citizens for posting on social media about the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Restrictions on free speech and political expression, as well as detentions for online remarks made by anyone, even those older than ten years, are commonplace in Saudi Arabia. However, diplomats and human rights organizations based in Riyadh claim that security concerns related to the fatal Oct. 7 Hamas incursion into Israel and its aftermath are the reason behind the new wave of arrests.
Authorities in the Hamas-run enclave claim that over 34,000 Palestinians have died as a result of Israel’s retaliatory shelling of the Gaza Strip, and many more are in critical need of food and medical attention. This has led to widespread anti-Israel sentiment in the Arab world and in Western nations, such as the US, where there have been violent riots on college campuses.
According to several of the persons who asked not to be named because of the sensitive nature of the situation, Saudi Arabia and its regional allies, including Egypt and Jordan, have been concerned about the trend and fear that Iran and Islamist organizations could use the conflict to fuel a wave of protests. Regional leaders are anxious to prevent a recurrence of the Arab Spring, which occurred more than ten years ago.
People inside and outside Saudi Arabia with knowledge of the situation report that among the recent detentions in Saudi Arabia was an executive of a company participating in the kingdom’s Vision 2030 economic reform plan, a key component of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s agenda. According to the authorities, the detainee expressed opinions about the Gaza conflict that were considered provocative.
According to the people, an individual advocating for the boycott of American fast food outlets in the kingdom, as well as a media figure who stated that Israel should never be forgiven, had been jailed. The people agreed to offer information as long as their identities and those of the arrested were kept anonymous.
Requests for comments were not answered by the Human Rights Commission of the government or the Saudi Ministry of Interior.
The arrests were confirmed by a person with knowledge of the Saudi government’s thinking, who also credited the authorities for trying to prevent people from expressing comments about the war online that could jeopardize national security and for being on high alert following October 7.
Rigid Line
The kingdom was working with the US on repairing ties with Israel before the events of October 7 clouded the waters. The Saudi arrests for posting content relating to Gaza suggest Crown Prince Mohammed’s regime will take a tough stance against individuals who do not toe the line. With a deal near, Riyadh and Washington will invite Israel to join a three-way accord or risk being left behind. Riyadh and Washington renewed their negotiations earlier this year on a defense treaty and U.S. help in beginning a civilian nuclear program.
Saudi Arabia has been strongly denouncing Israel for its assault in Gaza since October 7 and calling for an immediate cease-fire. However, Saudi Arabia has also stated that it is ready to improving relations with Israel provided Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu withdraws forces and agrees to the creation of a Palestinian state. But the latter scenario is still unlikely, particularly as long as Netanyahu’s far-right government holds power.
According to Jane Kinninmont, policy and impact director at the European Leadership Network and a Gulf expert, Riyadh’s efforts to quell pro-Palestinian sentiment on social media could be an indication that the country is sincere about normalizing relations with Israel.
“They do not want there to be a kind of established pro-Palestinian movement that would be protesting at that sort of thing if they want to change their policy and go and visit Israel and have Israelis come to Riyadh when the war looks different,” she stated.
Broader Arrests
The exact number of people Saudi Arabia has detained since October 7 is unknown.
One Saudi citizen, who visits his family member imprisoned for a pre-war internet post on a regular basis in a maximum-security facility south of Riyadh, claimed he has been informed by his relative that the number of inmates at the facility has significantly increased over the last six months. Human rights organizations and a number of diplomats stationed in the Saudi capital have confirmed this, stating that they have been monitoring an increase in arrests linked to social media since October 7.
Nonetheless, they claimed that criticism of the monarchy or its leaders as well as remarks regarding other Saudi concerns, such the expense of living, were among the causes.
Amnesty International and Saudi rights group ALQST said that Manahel Al-Otaibi, a fitness instructor and women’s rights activist from Saudi Arabia, was sentenced to 11 years in prison in January and accused of “terrorist offenses” for her social media posts calling for greater freedoms for women and her videos of herself in public without the traditional abaya cloak.
“People expect a strong response from their country but they don’t see it,” said Yahya Assiri, a Saudi opposition leader living in London who started a group that monitors human rights abuses in the kingdom. “People are very upset about what’s happening in Palestine.” According to Assiri, who was given political shelter by the UK in 2017, anger over the Gaza War is frequently connected to dissatisfaction over other government policies, especially those pertaining to the economy.
He stated of the Saudi security agencies, “These links are very worrisome for them but their fears are exaggerated.”
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