Israeli authorities have deported British activist Finn Joughin and imposed a 10-year ban on his return, agency reports said. Joughin, a pro-Palestinian volunteer, has said he was seized by Israeli settlers in the West Bank while working to protect Palestinian children.
Joughin has been involved in volunteer efforts aimed at protecting Palestinians in parts of the West Bank, according to accounts from his supporters. The circumstances that led to his detention and removal were described by him and his associates as an incident in which settlers detained him; Israeli officials announced the deportation and the length of the ban.
The deportation comes amid ongoing tensions in the West Bank, where clashes between Israeli settlers, Palestinian residents and activists have periodically escalated. International volunteers and local activists have in recent years taken part in protective and monitoring activities in various West Bank communities.
Details about the legal basis for the ban, whether Joughin will appeal the decision, and any statements from British or Israeli authorities were not immediately available. The case underscores the fraught environment for foreign activists working in the area and is likely to draw attention from human rights groups and diplomatic channels.