Christian Teen Detained at Ben Gurion Airport for Alleged IDF Desertion

Lia Fredella, a 19-year-old Christian resident of East Jerusalem with Polish citizenship, was detained at Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday by military police who accused her of deserting the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Fredella was attempting to travel abroad with her family for a vacation when she was apprehended. Her mother, Gabriel, described the incident as a "terrible mistake," stating that Lia was "pulled from the line in front of her younger sister and taken in a police car to prison." Gabriel explained that Lia, who grew up in the Beit Hanina neighborhood of East Jerusalem and attended an American school, does not speak Hebrew and was unaware of any military service obligations.

According to Israeli law, permanent residents over 18 are theoretically required to enlist in the IDF. However, the article notes that East Jerusalem residents who are permanent residents but not citizens often do not receive draft orders due to security policies, despite the legal obligation. Gabriel suggested that draft notices might have been sent to a previous address in Petah Tikva where the family lived 14 years ago, which Lia would not have received.

Fredella's mother claims that Lia is being denied contact with her family and their lawyer. During a brief phone call from military prison, Lia reportedly stated that she was told she was obligated to enlist. Gabriel expressed distress over her daughter's situation, calling it a "horror movie" and emphasizing that Lia is innocent and traumatized by being held in an unfamiliar environment without understanding why.

The IDF stated that the matter is under review and that they issue draft orders according to the law. Gabriel added that this detention is also traumatizing her younger daughter and that she is struggling to obtain information about Lia's whereabouts and condition.