Alleged arrest and release of Gaza Now Telegram adminstrator in Singapore

Update: The Internal Security Department (ISD) confirmed with the Straits Times on 22 November that a Singaporean woman is under investigation for suspected terrorism-related activities. ISD stated that investigations are ongoing and declined to provide further details

On Tuesday, 19 November, the English version of the Telegram channel “Gaza Now”  made a startling claim that one of its administrators, a Singaporean woman identified as “Mizah,” was arrested by Singaporean authorities. The channel alleged that her electronic devices were confiscated, and attempts to communicate with the authorities had been unsuccessful.

Gaza Now stated in their post: “The Singaporean authorities arrested one of the administrators of the Gaza Now English channel on Telegram and confiscated electronic devices. Gaza Now tried to communicate with the security authorities to find out the reasons, but there was no response.”

Later that same evening, Gaza Now provided an update, announcing Mizah’s release and an apology from the authorities.

The channel wrote: “Hours after the arrest of one of the supervisors of the Gaza Now English channel on Telegram, the Singaporean authorities released the channel supervisor and apologized for the mistake, indicating that all electronic devices had been released, and Gaza Now thanks the Singaporean Ministry of Information.”

Gaza Now is a Palestinian news agency based in Gaza, known for covering daily events in Palestine, including political, cultural, and sports news.

The agency, which has over 1.8 million followers on Telegram, grew rapidly in popularity during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war as a key source of updates on the conflict.

In 2024, Gaza Now and its founder, Mustafa Ayyash, were sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom, with allegations that the platform was used for fundraising in support of Hamas.

Context of Broader Crackdowns

This incident comes amidst growing scrutiny of individuals in Singapore who publicly express solidarity with Palestinians during the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Earlier this year, on 2 February, around 70 participants marched to the Istana to deliver letters addressed to the Prime Minister in solidarity with the Palestinian cause. The procession included participants carrying umbrellas painted with watermelon imagery, a symbol of Palestinian resistance.

The event, allegedly organized without a permit, led to charges on 27 June under the Public Order Act against three women who were part of the organizing group.

Separately, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) is investigating a private gathering on 2 February, where a participant was live-streamed chanting the phrase, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” The SPF noted that certain phrases used during the event are associated with calls for the destruction of the State of Israel, and warned that the use of such language could lead to racial tensions.

The SPF added that this may constitute an offence under Section 298A(a) of the Penal Code 1871.

Additionally, on 23 February, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) confirmed that advisories had been issued to two social media influencers, Ms Camira Asrori—one of the women charged in June—and Ms Dahlia Mohd, regarding their comments on the Gaza conflict. The advisories reflect the authorities’ monitoring of online discourse on politically sensitive issues.

Unanswered Queries

Efforts to seek clarification from the Singapore Police Force, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Minister for Home Affairs regarding Mizah’s alleged arrest and release have so far gone unanswered.

Without official responses, several questions remain:

• Did the Singapore police actually arrest Mizah?
• If true, was Mizah’s arrest and the confiscation of her devices justified?
• What led to the reported apology and release?
• Does this incident indicate broader enforcement measures against those perceived to support Palestinian solidarity in Singapore?

The silence from the authorities leaves the public in the dark, fueling concerns about transparency and the treatment of individuals engaging in advocacy or solidarity efforts.

As this is a developing story, we remain committed to updating our coverage should the authorities respond to our queries. Any official statements or clarifications will be included in future reports.