Israel’s ‘silent war’ on foreign activists in occupied West Bank

Andrey is still suffering from the effects of the Israeli army and settlers’ attack three months ago while he was trying to defend the Palestinians near Jericho in the occupied West Bank.

He and other foreign activists who sympathise with the Palestinians are constantly subjected to Israeli oppression, such as beatings, arrests, and even killings, without any international concern.

A few days ago, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz published an extensive report documented by testimonies that reveals an increase in deportations of foreign pro-Palestinian activists by the Israeli authorities, as part of a new and clear policy led by the extremist Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir.

According to the report, three major Israeli bodies cooperate directly in implementing this policy: the army, the police, and the civil administration, which enhances coordination of efforts to expel activists and prevent them from participating in activities supporting the Palestinians.

‘They hit me on the head’

At the beginning of 2023, Andrey, 26, from Russia began his activity in the occupied West Bank, defending the rights of the Palestinians after he realised the reality of the colonialism and oppression they are experiencing.

But he paid a price for that, as he was attacked and arrested several times while working with human rights organisations to provide protection for villages located in Area C.

“On 18 August, I was beaten by settlers near the Auja Spring. A settler by the name of Yehuda Friedman hit me on the head with a stick, rupturing my ear drum and compromising my hearing for the next two months,” he told The New Arab.

On 8 October, with four other journalists, Andrey was beaten and kidnapped by the Israeli army. They were blindfolded and held at a military base and insulted, held in the sun, deprived of food.

“I can’t count how many times I had a gun pointed at me, how many times soldiers and police officers pushed and hit me at demonstrations,” he remarked. 

“You can read about it on the internet, but you won’t really understand it until you’re on the ground,” as he said. “Solidarity activists are essential for this exact reason; we are often able to prevent violence, and where that’s impossible, we document it and try to increase the international pressure.”

According to him, the fact that Israel now spends so much energy on suppressing and deporting activists shows that international solidarity on the ground works.

“Every activist in Palestine is worth their weight in gold,” Andrey asserted. 

Increasing pace of repression

Haaretz‘s report stated that during the past year, the Israeli authorities arrested at least 30 foreign activists, most of whom were interrogated on minor charges such as “obstructing the work of soldiers” or “violating military closure orders.”

Despite the simplicity of these charges, these arrests were a prelude to deporting them or forcing them to leave, as the police confiscated their passports and asked them to present travel tickets for immediate departure.

In some cases, Israel resorted to direct pressure, by giving activists two options: either long detention or immediate departure.

Issa Amr, coordinator of the Youth Against Settlements Gathering, told TNA that the foreign sympathisers proved that they were loyal and able to create international public opinion against Israel’s racism and deliver the Palestinian narrative to the world.

According to Amr, Repression of solidarity activists was always present, as they were always targeted by expulsion from the occupied West Bank and dozens of them were prevented from entering, but the pace increased after Ben-Gvir’s arrival.

“It is a war in the novel and a war on the ground, and this doesn’t affect the activists’ position towards the Palestinian issue. Rather, they become fiercer and work harder to make a difference, and therefore targeting them doesn’t weaken them,” Amr added.

‘Without pretext’

This policy wasn’t limited to foreign activists, but went beyond it to include any visitor from other countries, especially if they were Muslim.

Zayed Hasan, 22, a British student and a teacher’s assistant, tried to visit Jerusalem in August, but he was deported upon his arrival at Israel‘s Ben Gurion Airport.

As soon as he arrived, he was met by security officers who checked his ticket and passport then escorted him away to a private security room, they checked his bags, coat pockets and shoes, then forced him to take off his clothes. 

“They made me wait for hours, that included interviews in which they asked me about my work and study, then they opened my phone and read my private chats. At the end, I was told I wouldn’t be granted entry and would be banned from any future entry,” he told TNA.

The Israeli authorities didn’t give him a clear pretext, simply saying it was a discretionary decision.

“What happened gave me a more first-hand insight into how the justification for such atrocities exists in the mentalities of otherwise normal and even personable, seemingly moral individuals,” he concluded.