Trending Now - Israeli Police Probe Incident Involving Flag-emblazoned Kippah

WHO:

CNN - Alex Sinclair, a 53-year-old author and adjunct lecturer at the Hebrew University.

CNN - Israeli police.

CNN - Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s far-right minister of national security.

BBC News - A British Israeli man.

WHAT:

CNN - Israeli police detained Sinclair for wearing a kippah embroidered with an Israeli and a Palestinian flag.

CNN - Police cut the Palestinian flag from Sinclair's kippah.

CNN - Sinclair was taken to a local police station, searched, and detained for about 20 minutes.

CNN - Sinclair filed a complaint with the Department for Internal Police Investigations alleging unlawful detention and damage to property.

WHERE:

CNN - The incident occurred in Modiin, approximately 22 miles southeast of Tel Aviv.

CNN - Sinclair was sitting at a cafe in Modiin when approached by police.

WHEN:

CNN - The incident occurred on Monday, April 20th, 2026.

CNN - Sinclair has worn the kippah for 20 years.

WHY:

CNN - A religious man complained to police that Sinclair's kippah was against the law.

CNN - Israeli law allows authorities to restrict or remove Palestinian flags if they are deemed to support a terrorist organization or pose a risk of public disorder.

HOW:

CNN - Police approached Sinclair after receiving a call about a man wearing a kippah with a Palestinian flag.

CNN - Sinclair described being frisked and locked in a cell without water or a phone during his detention.

(UPDATED April 24, 2026 19:20 UTC)

on Monday, Israeli police detained Alex Sinclair, a 53-year-old author, at a cafe in Modiin for wearing a kippah embroidered with both Israeli and Palestinian flags. The police cut the Palestinian flag from his kippah and held him for about 20 minutes, during which he was searched and locked in a cell without water or a phone. Sinclair has since filed a complaint with the Department for Internal Police Investigations, alleging unlawful detention and damage to property.