FIA student Gabriela Saldana faces charges after a sarcastic WhatsApp message referencing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led to arrest and legal action. [Getty]
A US student was arrested after a joke referencing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was interpreted as a bomb threat, resulting in criminal charges and a court appearance.
Gabriela Saldana, a 23-year-old student at Florida International University (FIU), was arrested last week after posting a message in a WhatsApp group chat involving hundreds of students.
In the message, she wrote jokingly: “Netanyahu, if you can hear me, drop some bonbons for us Capstone students in Ocean Bank Convocation Center.”
The remark appeared to echo a wider social media trend in which users jokingly call on the Israeli leader – who is currently facing arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the war in Gaza – to “bomb” or “strike” locations, often in traffic-related videos.
According to NBC 6 South Florida, citing arrest reports, Saldana was accused of making “a threat to kill or do bodily harm to individuals regarding a scheduled event on Friday, April 10, 2026, via a WhatsApp group chat.”.
Police said she acknowledged sending the messages but insisted she did not intend any harm and that the comments were made in jest.
In a statement, FIU said: “An FIU student has been arrested for making a credible and imminent threat of violence at a planned university event. According to the investigation, the suspect identified a specific date, time, and venue. Given the ongoing investigation and federal student privacy laws, FIU has no further comment. There is no further threat to the university community.”
Appearing in court on Monday, Judge Mindy S. Glazer addressed Saldana’s claim that the message was a joke, noting it could be interpreted differently by “an objective person.”
“I can understand your position when you are saying this is a joke, but to an objective person, it’s not a joke, and it would be enough for probable cause,” she said.
“I’m not saying it’s enough for beyond a reasonable doubt. I don’t know if the state is going to be able to prove it in trial, but for purposes of this hearing, I believe there is enough for probable cause.”
Glazer dismissed the prejudice enhancement but set bail at $5,000, adding that while a conviction at trial is not guaranteed, the case will proceed through the Miami-Dade court system.
Saldana now faces a second-degree felony charge of making written threats to kill or cause bodily harm.
On Monday, her brother, Alan Saldana, launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover her legal costs, aiming to support the 23-year-old “during a very difficult and unexpected situation that has impacted her life, education, and future.”
The New Arab has approached FIU for comment.
The case has sparked debate on social media, with many raising concerns about potential implications for freedom of expression.
Among those commenting was American singer Lauren Jauregui, who criticised the arrest.
