Ramallah, West Bank
Dozens of Palestinians protested outside the German diplomatic office in the West Bank on Tuesday, seeking to draw attention to Israel’s arrest of a leading coordinator of the Palestinian-led boycott movement against Israel.
Mahmoud Nawajaa was arrested on July 30 and remains in Israeli custody. He has not been charged. Protesters gathered outside the German office in downtown Ramallah, where they handed a letter to the office calling on the European Union to press for Nawajaa’s release. Germany is the current president of the EU.
Global human rights group Amnesty International has also called on Israel to “immediately and unconditionally” release Nawajaa.
The protesters held signs accusing Israel of illegally holding Nawajaa without charges. His wife, Ruba Nawajaa, said more than 20 soldiers with dogs raided their house after midnight to arrest her husband, frightening their three children.
She said he hasn’t seen a lawyer since he was arrested. Mahmoud Nawajaa is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, according to his supporters.
After that, he could be released, his detention could be extended further or charges against him could be raised.—AP
