An unusual incident in Modi’in has triggered public backlash after a local resident was detained by police over a yarmulka he was wearing, which featured both Israeli and Palestinian flags.

According to a report by N12, Dr. Alex Sinclair, who regularly wears a yarmulka, found himself in a confrontation with police due to the design of the head covering, which displayed the two flags side by side.

Sinclair said the incident began while he was sitting at a café near his home, when another individual noticed the symbols on his yarmulka and objected, telling him he intended to call the police.

Police officers arrived shortly afterward, and according to Sinclair, one of them told him that wearing such a yarmulka could constitute a violation of the law and that he needed to accompany them to the station for questioning.

During the encounter at the police station, Sinclair said officers attempted to persuade him to surrender the yarmulka. He told N12 that he was informed he could be released if he agreed to leave the item with police as evidence or as a prohibited object. Sinclair refused, explaining that he had worn the yarmulka for years and that it held personal significance. He alleges that after he declined to hand it over voluntarily, an officer took the yarmulka and later returned it to him after cutting it, physically removing the Palestinian flag.

Sinclair described the experience as deeply unsettling, saying he initially thought it might be a misunderstanding or even a joke, as he was unaware of any law prohibiting such imagery on a religious or personal garment. He added that the incident undermined his sense of security in dealing with law enforcement authorities.

Israel Police responded that, contrary to some reports, the individual was neither arrested nor formally questioned. According to the police statement, officers from the Modi’in station responded on April 20, 2026, to a report about a man sitting in a business wearing a yarmulka bearing a Palestinian flag. He was brought to the station for clarification and was released afterward. Police added that since a complaint has been filed with the department responsible for investigating police conduct, they cannot provide further details at this time.

{Matzav.com}