Activists’ legal adviser describes what’s next for seized Madleen crew
Suhad Bishara, legal director at Adalah, a Palestinian-run legal centre in Israel representing the seized activists, says the 12 detainees have been unable to make contact yet with the outside world.
She explained the likely scenario over the coming hours, noting Israel’s “preventing the entry of humanitarian supplies is illegal under international law”.
“As with foreigners on flotillas in the past who were detained under these same conditions, they were never charged in Israel. However, deportation orders were issued for most cases for 10 years,” Bishara said.
“We are insisting to see them tonight immediately upon their arrival at the detention centre to give them consultation on what are the next steps. I would expect they’ll be deported within 24 to 48 hours to their homes,” she told Al Jazeera.
Activists’ lawyers call on states to demand release of 12 Madleen crew
After the commandeered Freedom Flotilla’s ship arrived in Israel, a Palestinian legal centre representing the detained activists called for the international community to demand their immediate release.
All 12 volunteers aboard are currently in Israeli custody and expected to be taken to a detention facility. It remains unclear what repercussions they face or when they’ll be freed.
In a statement Adalah said: “Israeli authorities are using the continued enforcement of an illegal blockade on Gaza to justify the detention of international activists, including medical professionals, a journalist, and a parliamentarian, from multiple countries.
“These individuals undertook their mission in protest of Israel’s egregious, ongoing crimes against Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
“States and the international community must immediately demand both the release of the 12 detained activists and an immediate end to the crimes that compelled their action.”
