US student arrested for calling on Benjamin Netanyahu to bomb her college, saying it was a joke

News Topical, Digital Desk : A Florida university student was arrested and jailed on Thursday after she allegedly posted a message in a WhatsApp group chat urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "bomb" her college.

Although the student told authorities it was just a joke, officials took the threat seriously. According to a report by 7News, 23-year-old student Gabriela Saldana made the threat in a WhatsApp group chat of about 215 students. The students were discussing an event scheduled for Friday at the university's Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

'Threatened to kill'

Meanwhile, according to a report by NBC Miami, the arrest report revealed that he “threatened to kill or cause bodily harm to people via a WhatsApp group chat regarding a scheduled event on Friday, April 10, 2026.”

"The defendant did this in a way that could be seen by anyone else and intended the threat to appear as a real threat," the report added.

What was written in the WhatsApp chat?

The message was sent Wednesday night to a chat reportedly involving approximately 215 students. The message came as students were discussing an upcoming event at the university's Ocean Bank Convocation Center. Saldana's message read, "Netanyahu, can you please bomb FIU? Final exams are next week and I'm not ready."

What did the judge say?

When she appeared in court, Judge Mindy Glazer said, "I understand you saying it's a joke, but to an unbiased person, it's not a joke, and that would be enough to constitute 'probable cause.'"

The judge added, "I am not saying that this is enough to prove 'beyond a reasonable doubt.' I don't know if the state will be able to prove it at trial, but for the purposes of this hearing, I believe there is enough evidence to prove 'probable cause.'" His bail has been set at $5,000, according to reports.

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