UK raises case of British activist detained by settlers in West Bank with Israel

The UK Foreign Office has informed Israeli authorities of its concern regarding the detention of a British citizen in the occupied West Bank.

Finn Joughin, a 22-year-old student activist, was apprehended in Umm Al-Kheir on Saturday. His arrest followed his forceful detention by Israeli settlers who had advanced on the Palestinian village.

Since the commencement of the Gaza war, initiated by the Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, there has been a notable increase in attacks by settlers against Palestinians and their property in the West Bank.

All settlements are considered unlawful under international law. Additionally, outposts are illegal under Israeli law, despite frequently receiving support from state services and funding.

The confrontation on Saturday occurred in a town near Hebron, an area recently encircled by settlers.

According to accounts from other activists present, Palestinian children were playing football when children from settler families began to intervene. Subsequently, they ran to a house and commenced dismantling a fence.

Online footage, posted by both settlers and activists and reviewed by the BBC, appears to show Joughin standing by the fence, attempting to shield it with his body as a child pushed against him.

Settlers forcibly removed Joughin and transported the London-based student to an outpost.

Israeli police stated that a foreign national was detained by security personnel from a settler community, who suspected him of an indecent act against a minor.

In a subsequent statement issued on Sunday, police elaborated: "The suspect was transferred to the police for questioning, which included, among other things, taking statements that raised suspicion of an assault against a minor. Following his questioning, the suspect was taken into custody, and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing."

However, Joughin's family informed the BBC that he was scheduled for deportation from Israel on Monday.

Activists who were with Joughin at the time deny any inappropriate behavior occurred.

"In every single instance, it was the settler kids who approached Finn," fellow activist Matthew, who chose not to disclose his surname, told the BBC.

The Foreign Office confirmed to the BBC its awareness of the incident.

A spokesperson stated, "Officials from the British embassy [in] Tel Aviv have raised the case with the Israeli authorities and are seeking further information."

Weekend violence across several areas of the occupied West Bank even drew condemnation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accused settlers of damaging Israel's international standing. President Isaac Herzog described it as "the crossing of a red line."

Beyond the incident at Umm Al-Kheir, dozens of settlers attacked the West Bank village of Qusra on Saturday before the military was dispatched to remove them. Foreign journalists were also injured by masked settlers during an attack in the West Bank town of Jalud.

"The half-million Israelis living peacefully … are most disgusted by a small group of thugs," commented US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who welcomed the condemnation from Israeli leaders.