Four Palestinian activists deported by Israel last week have found shelter in the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, a spokeswoman for the Geneva-based organization reported Tuesday.
The spokeswoman could not say how long they will remain there. But the Red Cross delegates at the office have agreed to pass messages between the Palestinians and their families in the Israeli-administered territories, she said.
The four deportees, all from the West Bank, were the first of nine Palestinians ordered expelled by the Israeli military authorities on Jan. 3. They were deported to Lebanon on Jan. 13, after waiving their right to appeal to the Israeli Supreme Court.
Deportation orders have not yet been implemented against a fifth Palestinian from the West Bank. Four from the Gaza Strip have appealed to the Supreme Court. Deportation proceedings against them were halted Sunday, when the court issued a temporary stay.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
