Israel deports pro-Palestine activists from the West Bank, the government said on Sunday, after detaining 14 foreign volunteers who were visiting to support Palestinians facing attacks by Israeli settlers.
The activists had come from the United States, Canada, Italy and Germany. They had hoped to protect Palestinian farmers during the annual olive harvest, which has been hit by a surge of attacks by Israeli settlers.
Israeli authorities arrested the activists near Ramallah on Friday, after an altercation with settlers, according to the Human Rights Defenders Fund.
“Fourteen foreigners who were staying in Israel on tourist visas were deported after being detained by security forces,” Israeli authorities said. They were deported for “having violated legal provisions” of their visas and “disrupting public order”.
Israeli police said three Palestinians were also arrested.
Activists were with farmers when settlers attacked
Sharona Weiss, the head of international advocacy at the Human Rights Defenders Fund, said the activists had been accompanying Palestinian farmers on their land “when settlers arrived and began attacking them”.
The activists were part of solidarity missions that bring foreign volunteers to the West Bank during the olive harvest. The harvest is a key season for Palestinian farming families, and volunteers often stay with farmers to deter attacks while they pick olives.
Dawn reported that the deportations took place on Sunday, two days after the arrests near Ramallah.
Journalist freed after five days in detention
Israeli authorities on Sunday also released without charge an Arab-Israeli journalist who had been detained for five days. Abed Abu Shehadeh was held over an interview he conducted in Qatar with Azmi Bishara, a former lawmaker and founder of the Arab, hard-left Balad party.
Brought before a judge, Abu Shehadeh was accused of having “contacted a foreign agent”, a rights group said.
His release came on the same day as the deportations, but the two cases were separate. The journalist was freed without charge after five days in detention.
Israel deports pro-Palestine activists: what it means
The deportations show how the olive harvest has become a flashpoint in the West Bank. Each year, Palestinian farmers depend on the harvest for income, and each year the season brings reports of settler attacks on farmers, trees and land.
Foreign volunteers have joined the harvest for years, and their presence is meant to give farmers some protection. When Israel detains and deports those volunteers, it removes that protection and leaves farmers more exposed.
The case of the journalist adds a second concern. Abu Shehadeh was detained over an interview, which raises questions about press freedom for Arab journalists working in Israel.
What happens next
The 14 activists have left Israel, and the three Palestinians arrested with them remain in custody. It is not yet clear what charges, if any, they will face.
The olive harvest continues through the autumn, so further confrontations between settlers, farmers and volunteers are likely. The Human Rights Defenders Fund and other groups are expected to keep sending volunteers to the West Bank for the rest of the season.
For Pakistan, the story is part of a wider picture. Turkiye’s president has spoken out over attacks in the West Bank, and Gaza’s tents were flooded in heavy rain as conditions for Palestinians worsened. Eisenkot is seeking to oust Netanyahu in Israel, while the Senate opposition leader urged Pakistan to stay out of the Yemen conflict and seek mediation. El-Sayed wants a ban on US military aid to Pakistan, and Turkiye and Azerbaijan have vowed unity after recent tensions.
Frequently asked questions
How many activists did Israel deport?
Israel deported 14 foreign activists. They came from the United States, Canada, Italy and Germany.
Why were the activists in the West Bank?
They were on solidarity missions to protect Palestinian farmers during the annual olive harvest, which has been hit by a surge of attacks by Israeli settlers.
Where were the activists arrested?
Israeli authorities arrested them near Ramallah on Friday, after an altercation with settlers, according to the Human Rights Defenders Fund.
Who is the journalist Israel freed?
Abed Abu Shehadeh, an Arab-Israeli journalist, was released without charge after five days in detention over an interview he conducted in Qatar with former lawmaker Azmi Bishara.
What is the olive harvest?
The olive harvest is the annual season when Palestinian farmers pick olives, a key source of income. It takes place in the autumn and has become a flashpoint for settler attacks.
