Israeli activist detained, then released, for taking part in 'Free Gaza' boat action

Thursday August 28, 2008 10:38 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

After being held overnight in Ashkelon Prison, Israeli peace activist Jeff Halper was released Wednesday. While the 44 international activists on the two 'Free Gaza' boats were allowed by the Israeli military occupation to enter the Gaza Strip with humanitarian supplies, Halper, an Israeli citizen born in the US, was the only one detained.

Jeff Halper being led from Ashkelon Prison

Israelis are forbidden by their government from having contact with Palestinians, who live in Israeli military-controlled enclaves in the West Bank and Gaza Strip behind Israeli-constructed Walls.

Halper had attempted to cross a border between Israel and the Gaza Strip to return to his home in Jerusalem, after having entered Gaza by boat with 44 other activists. According to Halper, he was charged with 'being a nuisance', and released on $500 bond. Halper told reporters that the soldiers who arrested him at the border crossing said that he was a 'nuisance' because they would have had to rescue him if he had been kidnapped while in Gaza.

But Halper said there was no chance of him being kidnapped. He and the other activists were welcomed as heroes by thousands of cheering Palestinians on the Gaza beach when the boats pulled in to dock. The Palestinian population of Gaza has been under an Israeli-imposed siege since last summer, unable to exit the crowded territory, and cut off from most supplies of food, medicine and fuel. Nearly 150 Palestinian patients have died in that time period, having been denied permission to leave Gaza for needed medical care.

The Israeli activist, who heads the Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions – a group that helps rebuild Palestinian homes demolished by the Israeli army, was also charged with “having entered a restricted territory illegally."

gaza strip | prisoners | news report saed at imemc dot org