Theia Chatelle
@theiachatelle
Followers
15K
Following
2K
Media
127
Statuses
1K
Investigative journalist; words in @theintercept, @thenation, @dropsitenews, @madamasr, etc. Have a tip? Signal is theiachatelle.73
Joined April 2022
I sued Yale to get this. Yale took infrared images of its peaceful student protesters during its spring encampment. They bought it from Skydio, a military weapons manufacturer, that has been one of the primary suppliers of drones to Israel since October 7th.
430
17K
90K
I believe this is what many would call "hostage taking"
427
21K
84K
I was sexually harassed by an Israeli soldier at the Erez crossing last week. Imagine the sense of impunity Israeli soldiers must feel to harass a white Western journalist (I was wearing a bulletproof press vest). Then think about what that means for the women in Gaza. .
2K
26K
79K
I've spent months thinking about the approach of the pro-Palestine movement at Harvard. I've finally written about it. Harvard’s Pro-Palestine Protesters Have to Stop Weakening Their Cause.
36
7K
41K
I was waiting in my car at an Israeli checkpoint yesterday when I saw a green dot on my chest. I assumed it was a child playing with a laser pointer until I realized it was an Israeli sniper with his rifle trained on me. There wasn’t any reason, just because he could. .
535
5K
35K
Your monthly reminder that the @nytimes owns a house stolen from a Palestinian family during the Nakba.
96
8K
29K
I was arrested by an Israeli soldier in Hebron today--despite identifying myself as a journalist and showing my credentials. Maybe @StateDept will have something to say about this? I repeatedly asked why I was under arrest, and he refused to answer. My passport in his hands:
648
7K
26K
The New York Times owns a building in Jerusalem stolen from a Palestinian family during the Nakba
219
7K
18K
Stars and Bucks has to be one of my favorite things about Palestine. It started as a ‘fuck you’ to Starbucks during the Second Intifada. But then the parody was so successful it’s now a chain with locations in Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Nablus.
53
2K
9K
I'm an American journalist and literally got arrested by an Israeli soldier yesterday. But yes, "press freedom.".
110
2K
9K
Sexual advances come across differently when you're a woman alone in a conflict zone with an Israeli soldier holding a very, very large gun.
152
897
8K
Yale's only class on media/conflict is taught by the guy who wrote "children can be killed legally" in the Atlantic. His students will go on to work at the WaPo, NYT, Atlantic, etc. and spread the same lies he taught them in class.
22
2K
8K
The @nytimes is manufacturing consent for Israel's killing of American activist, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi. The only violence at these demonstrations is from settlers who attack and harass activists with impunity.
110
2K
7K
This was after Israeli settlers had shut down a road from Jenin to Ramallah, so I and every other driver, had to take a one hour detour through village backroads just to get back on the highway.
12
237
5K
During my reporting, I documented cases of explicit photos, Grindr chats, sex tapes, etc. used by Israeli intelligence to force queer Palestinians into collaboration. My latest in @DropSiteNews .
51
2K
4K
[Thread] Fun fact! Your private university's police department is likely subject to FOIA disclosure. Would sure be a shame if everyone requested records from the departments in the thread below and *all* their emails about pro-Palestine encampments and rallies.
45
2K
4K
This has been in the works for a while, but I just sued the Yale Police Department for failing to comply with the Freedom of Information Act--they've stalled for months after I requested documents pertaining to their surveillance of pro-Palestine students.
28
587
3K
@StateDept I was getting a tour of the city with two Palestinian friends. We were stopped at a checkpoint and then detained, here's the crowd of soldiers. Hardly feels necessary for three unarmed journalists.
54
358
3K
This has been on an Israeli sniper outpost above Palestine's busiest highway for eight weeks. I know that because I've driven past it at least a dozen times. And if you're wondering, yes that is a mosque on fire.
27
1K
2K
It isn't lost on me that I very well could've been killed just like Aysenur Ezgi Eygi. In the wake of her death, I've been reflecting on my time in Palestine and the limits of discourse about Israel's killing of Americans/journalists/activists. A thread.
18
574
2K
Not the first time.
This Palestinian journalist in the occupied West Bank remained calm and cracked a joke while Israeli sniper lasers were pointed at him.
23
229
2K
The Times' strategy has been to "break" the story four months too late always from the perspective of the Israeli soldier, and then implicitly explain away the death and destruction Israel has wrought by describing its "procedures and protocols," absolutely worthless journalism.
It is a truly important piece in the NYT today about how the Israeli army waged the first few months of the massacre in Gaza. It is also worth mentioning that many of their findings first appeared in investigations by @yuval_abraham on @mekomit and @972mag - some over a year ago.
3
411
2K
Conversation I had with an Israeli soldier after I was stopped for another “security check” in Modi’in. Me: I’m a journalist, why did you stop me?. Soldier: We are at war, and you are coming from Ramallah. Me: Are you at war with Ramallah or Hamas?. Soldier: Uh…. Me: 🙃✨.
72
318
1K
A 🧵, reflections on Jenin. The Palestinian youth who witnessed Palestinian Authority security forces shoot at Mariam Barghouti and I, walked us out of the refugee camp and told the soldiers to back off. They acted as human shields, putting themselves between us and the soldiers.
13
509
1K
The Histadrut---as a reminder---was formed before the Nakba, and was instrumental in organizing Jewish laborers to exclude Palestinians from the labor force pre-Nakba and in ethnically cleansing them during and after.
As Histadrut has moved to organize a general strike tomorrow in Israel, here are some of its historical posters :)
13
282
1K
30-40% of Israels don't enlist in IDF, they get an exemption. The reality is that if you don't want to serve, you don't have to. You can find an excuse, or pay someone to find an exemption for you. .
19
161
1K
I was in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights yesterday, and to say the project of "Greater Israel" has begun would be to put it lightly. Israeli troops have swarmed Druze villages and now declared they will indefinitely occupy the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.
38
671
1K
The U.S.-sanctioned Israeli paramilitary organization, Tzav 9, just threatened to sue me for writing about their ties to a nonprofit fundraising for Israel's war on Gaza. I'm honored! . I was in their WhatsApp channel all summer and watched as they advertised Gaza resettlement.
9
377
1K
I was fired at with live ammunition today by Palestinian Authority forces in Jenin. They are trained and funded by Israel and instructed to crush resistance in the refugee camps in the West Bank. They were aware journalists and civilians were in the area and fired anyway.
23
592
1K
I fought with Yale for four months, sent 47 emails, and filed a lawsuit to get these documents. It turns out Yale isn’t very interested in Lux or Veritas, especially for its “accountable” and “fully transparent” Yale Police Department.
Documents reveal a pattern of targeted monitoring of pro-Palestine students at Yale University: administrator presence at rallies, police surveillance of social media, and coordination between campus, local, and state police.
5
279
1K
After this incident and what happened at Erez, I keep thinking to myself, "wow, I just can't catch a break." . But this is life under occupation. And as an American, I've only gotten a very small taste of it. If this happens to me, imagine what life is like for Palestinians.
I was arrested by an Israeli soldier in Hebron today--despite identifying myself as a journalist and showing my credentials. Maybe @StateDept will have something to say about this? I repeatedly asked why I was under arrest, and he refused to answer. My passport in his hands:
41
338
999
So this went a little viral. A reminder that the point of the Tweet wasn't that I was harassed by an Israeli soldier. It was a reminder that the women/men/children of Gaza are experiencing far worse, and the fact it can happen to me is proof of it.
I was sexually harassed by an Israeli soldier at the Erez crossing last week. Imagine the sense of impunity Israeli soldiers must feel to harass a white Western journalist (I was wearing a bulletproof press vest). Then think about what that means for the women in Gaza. .
19
248
825
Shireen Abu Akleh was killed just a few hundred feet from where I was shot at today. I was holed up in a corner in an almost identical position. Shots rang out, then tear gas, then stun grenades.
8
291
887
This is what Tzav 9 did to aid destined for Gaza . You then threatened to sue me for writing the truth . Call me an unprofessional journalist but I won’t be legitimizing you/your organization’s work by requesting comment from you
@theiachatelle I am all for investigative journalism. What you are doing is publishing lies - you have not even contacted us to confront us with your ludicrous claims. Tzav 9 has always acted to prevent hamas’s hijack of humanitarian convoys in Gaza- a fact that is now publically known to all.
6
306
787
Don't let them tell you it's about believing women. When I Tweeted about a creepy interaction I had with an Israeli soldier, this was their response. If they believe women, why not me? . Women, as always, are just a tool for them to get what they want: for you to condemn Hamas
31
180
674
I just got back from living in Ramallah for three weeks. I can count the number of foreign journalists I encountered on my two hands. Stories don't get told because foreign journalists refuse to leave their cushy Jerusalem/Tel Aviv apartments and do the reporting that matters.
Trey Yingst is based in. can you guess where? Like almost every other foreign journalist, Trey lives in Tel Aviv. The West Bank isn't "making many headlines" because foreign journalists don't go there. That's your job, Trey, go to the West Bank.
12
210
655
As soon as Gaza is open to foreign journalists, I will be there. There's a ceasefire now, so where's the pressure on Israel to allow access?.
8
115
521
Video I obtained shows teenagers ripping down Pride flags yesterday in Rehovot, Israel. Yet for some reason, it's always "But what if you're gay in Gaza?" . Funny how Israel also doesn't mention that same-sex marriage still isn't permitted there.
36
163
460
The West loves to paint Hamas and any other form of Palestinian resistance as irrational. When in reality, it's the logical consequence of decades of colonial violence wrought by Israel
37
130
455
@DropSiteNews Israel says that it's an "LGBTQ+ safe haven in the Middle East," if so, why has it made life a living hell for queer Palestinians? I asked the IDF, and they replied, "no comment.".
6
99
464
🧵Storytime from Ramallah. and why the kindness of Palestinians is unmatched. I was feeling incredibly worn out and sad after working in the West Bank this past winter. I had witnessed atrocity after atrocity, was almost killed in Jenin, then my electricity went out. ⬇️.
5
134
485
@DropSiteNews "An Israeli official scrolled through his chats and intimate pictures on Grindr and asked him about encounters with other Palestinians. He asked Mohammed to work as a collaborator. When Mohammed refused, Israeli soldiers beat him for two hours.".
2
87
404
@DropSiteNews No Western journalist had taken the time to talk with those who had themselves been blackmailed. It's been 10 years since that letter was published, and Israel continues its practice of targeting any and every form of queer love and life in Palestine. Many have died as a result.
5
70
401
Universities like Yale are hedge funds first and schools second. I sued Yale for breaking the Freedom of Information Act. Instead of acknowledging wrongdoing, they hired a fancy corporate lawyer for a hearing against their own student (self-represented). Embarrassing for them. .
4
76
417
The first thing I learned in Palestine was as soon as Israel *perceives* you to be aligning yourself with Palestinians, the limited protections you have as an American/journalist/activist go out the window. This could be having Palestinian friends or knowing Arabic.
1
87
393
You can't make this stuff up
This aged well. Wonder how we'll feel about today's NYT headline 20 years from now, "Actually, We Absolutely Do Need to Escalate in Iran"
6
100
387
This is how Israel treats Palestinians when a journalist is watching, imagine what they’re doing in Gaza where journalists aren’t allowed . I took this video today in the West Bank
10
217
384
Yale's motto is "light and truth" except when it comes to complying with the Freedom of Information Act. I requested information about Yale's surveillance of pro-Palestine students, and they refused. Now we have our day in court.
2
83
379
At the end of the day, holding up your American passport isn't going to stop a bullet fired by a soldier who views himself as having complete immunity from prosecution and/or accountability.
4
75
363
I also knew that if I was killed or injured by the security forces, the world would view it as just another example of Palestinians being “terrorists.” But the youth of the camp made sure I knew that as long as they were there, we were safe.
5
63
384
If Israel views you as a threat to its Zionist project, then any/every means is justified to put you in line. What we should learn from Eygi's death is that one's position in relation to Zionism is, in many ways, more important than one's national identification.
2
78
365
A 🧵. Yale University has secret societies that host fancy dinner parties, guest lectures, etc. in buildings they call "tombs". Most have endowments of >$1 million . It turns out that many have *direct investments in military weapons manufacturers,* according to tax fillings. .
3
87
375
"Israel isn't scared of a war with Hezbollah". Visited Haifa this weekend and learned that the GPS system is completely shut off, like for everyone. And it's only going to get worse if Israel continues to escalate . *If you enter Haifa, your location switches to Beirut
17
111
341
As a foreign journalist, I was there to bear witness to what was happening in the camp, and they knew that. They told me it meant the world to them to know that someone from the outside was in the camp.
1
66
363
Tldr: I leave for the West Bank in six days. My Substack link is in bio, please support independent journalism (and accountability for Israel's crimes).
30
41
335
As we were walking out, one man said, “You know you will always have a home here, stay if you need to.” I still feel sick about what happened, watching children cowering in their homes as Palestinian soldiers shot at their own people.
1
61
361
Before a Western journalist writes a word about Palestine, they should have to cross through a checkpoint in the West Bank. After they've had guns pointed at them, sit in the heat for hours, walk through fenced-in cages, etc. they won't be able to say it's not apartheid.
12
125
338
People have been talking about Israel's blackmailing of queer Palestinians on Twitter for years, but it's likely even worse than you thought. This is the result of a yearlong investigation in the West Bank, read it in @DropSiteNews.
5
175
333
In failing to hold Israel accountable for the deaths of Rachel Corrie and Shireen, obviously among other things, what I learned from experiences on the ground, is that soldiers will use any justification to enforce their will through violence.
1
68
340
@DropSiteNews This story has been circulating in the West for years, after a letter from Israeli intelligence officials mentioned blackmail against gay Palestinians.
2
40
321
As an American journalist who travels to the West Bank, it worries me how fast the world forgot about Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi.
2
81
328
They were so worried about our safety that they offered to drive in front of Mariam and me to Nablus, halfway across the West Bank, which they did.
1
52
325
Before they returned to Jenin (they couldn’t cross the checkpoint, otherwise they would likely be arrested, solely because they are Palestinian boys between 18 and 25), they bought Mariam and me food and asked if they could help with anything else.
1
51
324
This is the last I heard from American journalist Jeremy Loffredo. He was arrested by Israeli forces in the West Bank on October 8th---and still hasn't been released. Journalists, whether you agree with their writing or not, deserve protection in conflict zones.
4
104
311
If it's really the "Israel-Palestine" conflict, and Western outlets want to cover "both sides," then why don't they station a staff reporter in the West Bank? . Why only Jerusalem and Tel Aviv?.
13
70
295
Trey Yingst is based in. can you guess where? Like almost every other foreign journalist, Trey lives in Tel Aviv. The West Bank isn't "making many headlines" because foreign journalists don't go there. That's your job, Trey, go to the West Bank.
It’s not making many headlines, but keep an eye on what’s happening in the West Bank. Palestinian Authority security forces are battling Islamic Jihad and Hamas cells in densely populated areas. Overnight, a Palestinian journalist was killed in Jenin. Tensions are boiling.
10
77
314
I'm still fuming. I left Palestine a few days ago, and I can't stop thinking about how my best friend invited me to her family's home in Tulkarem for lunch. We spent five hours trying to find a way there, but Israel closed down all the roads. Why? Because they can. .
5
87
300
My guess is that when I was detained by an Israeli soldier in Hebron, he was likely bored and wanted something to do---so he harassed the American journalist walking with her Palestinian colleagues. I showed him my passport and credentials, and he didn't care.
1
49
292
There are caveats to this of course, but this is what I have learned from living and working in Palestine for months at a time.
7
30
286
A 🧵. If you’re looking to obtain records from a university police department on. harassment of pro-Palestine students.the clearing of encampments.communications with university administrators.collaboration with outside law enforcement.etc. use the Freedom of Information Act.
3
79
264
Disgusting headline. Yonah calls himself a journalist yet only travels on embeds with the Israeli Defense Forces,. while Palestinian journalists are sacrificing their lives to tell the truth.
8
94
261
Had my car searched without my consent today at the Jerusalem checkpoint . I identified myself as a journalist, and the soldier said, I kid you not, "So what?". For those you didn't believe me last time, *I secretly recorded the interaction.* Evidence in the reply.
10
50
226
Yet again, @nytimes headline makes no mention that Israeli "strike" is in direct violation of international law. The family of an enemy combatant (if the combatant is not present) cannot be targeted legally during war.
9
83
223
Emory University. Complete the required information on the form and either bring it in person to the Emory Police Department, mail it to the address on the form, or email the completed form to police@emory.edu.
0
38
217
There isn't a single staff journalist at a Western publication stationed in the West Bank. why is that?. Maybe it's because living under occupation is awful and they have the privilege to avoid it.
4
50
208
Why would Israel possibly fear an American journalist traveling from Ramallah? Probably because I'm there to tell the world what I see.
@theiachatelle What is wrong with that? If you are coming from Ramallah it would make sense they ask you. The question is what happened after.
9
41
201
I watched Israel detain, threaten, and harass thirteen Palestinian men in Jerusalem today. What's scariest is the similarity between these pictures. The first I took today, the other was taken in Gaza.
5
101
211
For those who didn't believe me last time. this is 100% systemic. Another Israeli soldier made an advance and asked for my phone number (he was armed, couldn't say No) while I was at Israel's border with Lebanon. Here's the screenshot of him texting me after I left
19
64
197
Israel doesn't want journalists witnessing what they're doing to Gaza, so they're killing the Palestinians who can report live and limiting access for foreign journalists. Entry to Gaza is still cut off and has been since the first day of the war.
4
60
183
I was 1km from Gaza today, this is what I witnessed. Israel's bombs rattle your chest. You can feel it in your ears and lungs. After a while, you start to lose count of the 'booms.' It's constant, and with every sound, you know Israel has just killed civilians,.
4
56
186
Wonder how hard it was for Columbia SJP, yalies4palestine, etc. to build a mass movement? Take a look at this leaked email from your typical Yale student to the *Chief of Yale Police*, the subject of concern? a potential disruption to their beloved Harvard Yale football game
6
20
188
This is a time lapse of my drive from Nablus to Ramallah. It's a 22 mile drive, and it took us 2 hours thanks to Israeli checkpoints and blockades
7
49
183
Happy to announce that I officially have an Israeli intelligence file. Went through customs earlier this week and the officer slapped it down on the counter before he started quizzing me about my "relationship with Judaism". Big win.
3
11
190
Israel---not Hezbollah---is using "human shields." . I traveled within 1km of the Israel/Lebanon border in August where I was told repeatedly that Israel is stationing its troops in schools and villages, putting its own civilians in harms way.
4
64
179
Israel is creating the largest cohort of child amputees in history. My friend's little sister had her right leg amputated below the knee. If you can, please contribute to her medical treatment fund. She and her family are currently in Qatar. This is her brother's PayPal
3
66
168
Princeton University. Complete the Records Request Form(Link downloads document). and send it via email to ldeshaw@princeton.edu. Send Discovery Requests to discovery@princeton.edu.
0
35
158
"Yale is in possession of an arsenal of at least three drones, one of which is a military-grade weapon manufactured by Skydio—a company that sold at least 100 drones to the Israeli army in the weeks following October 7th, 2023.".
4
64
172
I went to Cuba last year and have lived in Palestine off and on for the past few years. The Israeli occupation of Palestine and US embargo of Cuba are part of the same project, and having visited both, I can personally attest to this.
1
30
167
Did you know that the US State Department gives funds to LGBTQ+ organizations in Israel? . Not only is the US complicit in pink-washing, it's actively funding it. This is via an anonymous staffer at Jerusalem's LGBTQ+ center.
11
40
145