Three Israelis Detained in Egypt for Six Months on Security Charges

Three Israeli Bedouin citizens from the Negev have been held in Egypt for approximately six months under unclear circumstances, according to Israeli public broadcaster Kan. The men, identified as Bilal Hassan Masoudin Al-Walidi, Bilal Al-Afashaq, and Ahmed Al-Duji, were detained at the Taba border crossing while returning to Israel from a tourist trip.

Family members reported that the three young men traveled to Egypt in March and maintained contact with their families until shortly before their arrest, after which all communication ceased. The families received a message from Cairo indicating that the detention was not for criminal reasons but was related to Egyptian national security concerns.

Throughout their detention, families have been unable to contact the men, and their lawyer has not been permitted to visit them. The families also stated they have no information on whether the detainees have appeared before a judge, nor have they received any consular visit from an Israeli representative.

A relative of the detainees mentioned that their lawyer submitted requests to Egyptian authorities to ascertain their location, but received no response. Searches have failed to locate them in known police stations, prisons, hospitals, or any other official entity.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed its awareness of the case and stated it is actively working on the issue. No official response has yet been issued by the Egyptian side regarding the circumstances of the three Israelis' detention.