The last Gaza war in 2021 saw sometimes violent pro-Palestinian protests among the Arab citizens who make up 21% of Israel's population. Israeli police have arrested dozens of Arab citizens on suspicion of incitement and support for Hamas, based on social media posts. An additional measure has been the setting up of volunteer security squads to patrol the streets and back up police. Shabtai said security squads would be subordinate to police. "It is good that there will be a lot of security squads and force, but caution must be exercised with this," he said.

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Persons: Ammar Awad, Israel's, Kobi Shabtai, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Shabtai, Ben, Eliezer Rosenbaum, Naella, Dan Williams, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, West Bank, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Old City, Jerusalem, Israel, Gaza, Lebanese, Haifa