A 19-year-old Hebron resident was detained by Israeli forces Tuesday night, removed from the West Bank, and expelled into Gaza, security sources said.
The young man, identified as Fadi Aiada Al-Azazma, had lived with his family in Hebron for 15 years. His identity card was reportedly issued in Gaza before he moved to the West Bank.
According to witnesses, Israeli forces took Al-Azazma from his workplace in Hebron and detained him for hours before deporting him to Gaza via the Erez crossing.
Al-Azazma refused to enter the Strip, remaining with a growing number of expelled West Bankers at a tent set up by the de facto government near the crossing point.
Wa’ed Prisoners Society representative Abdulla Qandil said the expulsion was carried out using Israel's controversial military order 1650. He demanded a task force be created with officials from the West Bank and Gaza to "counter this threat which has now become a terrible reality."
Infiltrator order no. 1650
On 13 April, Israel's expanded definition of an "infiltrator" took effect under military order number 1650. The new order defines any and all persons residing in the West Bank without Israeli permission as "infiltrators" who can be removed without court proceedings.
Since the order was implemented, four Palestinians with identity cards registered in Gaza were taken from their homes, the streets, or hospitals, and expelled to the Gaza Strip.
At least one man successfully appealed the move and was returned to his family in the Palestinian town of Yaffa, inside Israel's Tel Aviv. A Beersheba man and a freed prisoner from Tulkarem were also expelled.
The de facto government has refused entry of the men into Gaza, saying deportation is not an option, and that they should be returned to their families.
Last week, the government of South Africa called the military orders "reminiscent of past laws under apartheid South Africa," and described the situation as "unacceptable."
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