Israeli forces arrest 3 HRDs at Land Day march

On 3 April 2017, Badie Dweik, Anan Dana, and Younes Arar were released following their arrest by Israeli forces during a Land Day peaceful march on 30 March as part of the ‘Dismantle the Ghetto, Take Settlers Out of Hebron’ non-violent campaign against illegal Israeli settlements in Hebron. The three Palestinian human rights defenders, who were arrested on 30 March 2017, were released on bail of 3,500 ILS (approximately 970 USD) and are accused of organising a peaceful march and planting trees on occupied Palestinian land.

Badie Dweik is a human rights defender who currently leads a campaign called 'Dismantle the Ghetto, Take Settlers Out of Hebron'. He organises campaigns against the Israeli occupation, documents violations committed against Palestinians in Hebron, and provides training on protection for human rights defenders. Badie Dweik is also a leading member of the Human Rights Defenders Network. Anan Dana is a human rights defender and founding member of the 'Dismantle the Ghetto, Take Settlers Out of Hebron' campaign. He is also a member of the Hebron Defense Committee (HDC). The HDC is an organisation which mobilises people to engage in non-violent resistance for freedom of movement and the evacuation of Israeli settlements in Hebron as a means to “end the occupation and all forms of colonialism and racism in Palestine”. Younes Arar is a human rights defender also involved in the founding and activities of the 'Dismantle the Ghetto, Take Settlers Out of Hebron' campaign. He is the director of the Hebron section of the Colonisation and Wall Resistance Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation – a grassroots extension of the Palestinian Ministry on the Wall and Settlements Affairs – which opposes the human rights violations resulting from the illegal annexation.

On 30 March 2017, the human rights defenders were taken to an Israeli police station in the illegal settlement of Kiryat Arba’ in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. They  were left to wait without being provided with food or water for several hours. Badie Dweik, Anan Dana, and Younes Arar were then taken to a detention centre in ‘Asyoun known as Etzion Detention Centre. Upon arrival they were asked to remove their clothes for inspection, including their underwear. They were asked to turn around, spread their legs, and pace up and down. The human rights defenders were then taken to cells in Etzion Detention Centre. According to the human rights defenders, the conditions there were unsanitary – infested with cockroaches and mice and lacking shower facilities. The beds had no mattresses and the food consisted of leftovers. On 31 March 2017, Badie Dweik and Anan Dana were transferred to a hospital in Jerusalem for a medical assessment regarding pre-existing medical conditions. When he was returned to the prison, Badie Dweik explained that the Israeli military failed to administer the prescribed medicine that he urgently needed. Badie Dweik was taken to Ofer prison where he was placed in a crowded cell. On the second day of his detention, the human rights defender was moved to a different cell where he slept on the floor. Anan Dana was also taken to Ofer prison.

On 3 April 2017, Badie Dweik, Anan Dana, and Younes Arar were brought to Ofer military court, where they were charged with planting trees on occupied Palestinian land and marching peacefully as part of the ‘Dismantle the Ghetto, Take Settlers Out of Hebron’ campaign action which took place on 30 March 2017. The Military Judge made the decision to release the human rights defenders on bail of 3,500 ILS (approximately 970 USD) and they were subsequently released at 10.30pm that night. The human rights defenders’ money and belts were confiscated and they are expecting an upcoming court hearing on their case. The Israeli military court system has a conviction rate of almost 100 per cent for Palestinians.

On 2 April 2017, the human rights defenders attended their first hearing following their arrest at Ofer military court where the Israeli military prosecutor accused the three of participating in an illegal demonstration and blocking a street that, at the time of the protest, had been declared a military zone by the Israeli army. According to Badie Dwiek, the human rights defenders evacuated the street once it was declared a military zone but were still arrested as is shown in this video. The human rights defenders expressed concern that during the court hearings, the military prosecutor requested that the human rights defenders remain in administrative detention on account of a secret file against them. This may be a new tactic used by the Israeli authorities to prevent human rights defenders from carrying out their work in Palestine.

Human rights defenders in Palestine are regularly targeted by Israeli forces – both inside and outside military courts – in an attempt to deter them from their legitimate and peaceful work to promote and protect human rights in Palestine. On 24 February 2017, Israeli soldiers threatened Badie Dweik and his colleagues with arrest at his home, if they participated in a peaceful protest taking place that day as part of the 'Dismantle the Ghetto, Take Settlers Out of Hebron' campaign.

Front Line Defenders condemns the arrest of, and the issuing of charges against, Badie Dweik, Anan Dana, and Younes Arar and believes that the continued judicial harassment against them by Israeli forces is directly related to their legitimate and peaceful work to protect and promote human rights.

Front Line Defenders urges the Israeli authorities to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against Badie Dweik, Anan Dana, and Younes Arar;

2. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the arrests of Badie Dweik, Anan Dana, and Younes Arar, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

3. Stop all forms of harassment against Badie Dweik, Anan Dana, and Younes Arar and all other human rights defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Territory;

4. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.