The employee of a German organization was arrested by Israeli authorities. But evidence is lacking, says human rights activist Sahar Francis.
Since October 7, the Israeli army has detained an increasing number of Palestinians. Photo: Raneen Sawafta/Reuters
taz: Mrs. Francis, the Israeli authorities have detained Baraa Odeh. The Palestinian worked as a local employee of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) in the West Bank. What is she accused of?
Sahar Francisco: Baraa was placed in administrative detention, that is important. This is a military request based on the widespread suspicion that the person in question represents a security threat. The military can issue such arrest warrants for a specific period of time. In the case of Odeh it is three months.
Why would it represent a danger?
There are no specific accusations or evidence presented in court. The applications are based on secret information. A political affiliation is often mentioned. However, in Odeh's case, the military prosecutor only argued that she belonged to a political organization during a judicial review of the application.
In March Israeli authorities have arrested Baraa Odeh. In response to a question from Taz, GIZ said it does not employ local staff who are on a sanctions list to combat terrorism. In addition, people will be monitored based on accessible sources. “Israel controls the external borders of Israel and the Palestinian territories and therefore the travel activities of all those entering or leaving,” a spokesperson said. (witch)
Which?
He mentioned the Popular Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, PFLP; editor). Baraa has denied being a member of any party.
No evidence presented?
Nothing at all.
What do you know about Odeh's activities?
As far as I know, he worked with GIZ youth groups. She was also able to travel and had previously visited the Gaza Strip for work.
Is this the first time that an employee of a German organization has been placed in administrative detention?
As far as I know, yes. But Odeh is not the only one arrested. Many students, journalists and human rights defenders face administrative detention due to their social media activism.
The 54-year-old is director of the Ramallah-based NGO Addameer, which advocates for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
What is your criticism of this type of arrests?
Those affected are detained based on secret information and are not charged. There is no process like that of common prisoners, who are accused, charged and, where appropriate, convicted. The procedure violates international human rights standards. No one is imprisoned without clear evidence. When detention requests are renewed, those affected are usually detained for an indefinite period of time. Administrative detention should only be used in very exceptional circumstances.
Are there not currently extraordinary circumstances in Israel and Palestine?
Administratively there has not been one since October 7. This instrument has been used since the beginning of the occupation. Whenever there are confrontations, when the State is interested in arresting thousands of people in a short period of time, it uses it. Administrative detention has become the main instrument of the occupation and serves to oppress and control people. This was already the case during the first and second Intifada, but also during the Oslo period. (in the 1990s; editor), when people who were against the Oslo Accords were arrested. Simply design two pages with classified information and you're done.
Why should Israel have any interest in imprisoning thousands of people?
To show the public that the government is taking seriously the state of special emergency it declared after October 7. Furthermore, prisoners are used in the negotiation process. After October 7, there was a sharp increase in administrative detention orders.
Are you accusing Israel of deliberately taking Palestinian prisoners only to exchange them for hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip?
Yes of course. Before October 7 there were 5,000 Palestinian prisoners, now there are 9,500. We have never had such a high number. They have even re-imprisoned more than ten people, mostly children, who were freed during the first round of exchanges in November.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs He did not comment on the case, but said: “The federal government criticizes the practice of administrative detention, that is, the ability to detain people on suspicion and without trial, even for a longer period of time.” mostly Palestinians *inside, are currently under Israeli administrative detention. (witch)
Why are you so sure that Baraa Odeh was also arrested only to be traded?
Why was Baraa arrested? Because right now? Between October and March he spent most of his time in Germany. She returned for Christmas and then traveled back to Germany before being arrested when she returned to the West Bank in March. How could she have posed a security threat if she wasn't even in the area? I think the PFLP accusation is ridiculous because Odeh was able to travel. She was apparently not known to be a security threat.
Odeh's lawyer says she was beaten. What do you know about it?
She was subjected to humiliating strip searches and was pushed and kicked by police officers. She reported it to the court. This should be taken seriously because almost every prisoner we spoke to claims to have been strip-searched during her arrest or when transferred to another prison. In some cases, this could amount to sexual harassment. Some prisoners also reported verbal or physical sexual harassment, including men. Last week we received news of a doctor who was physically attacked and died in prison. We know of 18 people who lost their lives (in Israeli custody) lost. Haaretz reported that more than 27 Gaza prisoners have died in detention centers. In my 27 years of experience working with prisoners, I have never seen so many deaths in such a short time.
Where is Odeh currently located?
In Damon's prison. The prison is overcrowded and family visits have been cancelled. Even Red Cross visits were completely cancelled. Before October 7, the Red Cross was the only international organization with free access. The visits were monthly. Basically, prisoners are now isolated from the outside world unless they are visited by their lawyer, for which there are also many restrictions.