Israeli Lawyers Claim Detained Citizens Not Held by Police, Cite Foreign Ministry Neglect

Three Israeli Bedouin citizens from the Negev have been held in Egypt for approximately six months under unclear circumstances, according to reports from Kan News. Their families were informed that the detentions are not criminal but related to Egyptian national security. Lawyer Yitzhak Meltzer, representing one of the detainees, stated in an interview that based on legal inquiries in Egypt, the investigation appears to be security-related, not criminal. He was informed by Egyptian lawyers that the individuals are not being held by the police. Meltzer expressed frustration with the Israeli Foreign Ministry's response, stating he received only a standard reply to his inquiries about consular access and the detainees' well-being.

Lawyer Motlaq Badran, also representing a detainee, emphasized that while the three are not part of any security apparatus, they have relatives serving in Israeli security forces. He criticized the lack of equal treatment compared to other Israeli citizens detained abroad, referencing Prime Minister Netanyahu's intervention in a case in Thailand. Badran believes Israeli authorities, including the Mossad, Foreign Ministry, and Prime Minister, should intervene to secure their release, asserting that every Israeli citizen is paramount regardless of ethnicity.

The families reported that the three men, named as Blial Masoudian Al-Walidi, Bilal Al-Afash, and Ahmed Adouji, were detained at the Taba crossing while returning to Israel in March after a vacation. Contact was lost immediately after their detention. Efforts by their Israeli lawyer eventually led the Foreign Ministry to confirm their detention in Egypt. The families claim they have had no contact with the detainees and that consular visits have not been permitted. They also stated that it is unclear if the detainees have appeared before a judge.

According to a family relative, Egyptian authorities have not provided information on the detainees' whereabouts, and they are not officially registered as being held by police, in known prisons, or hospitals. The lack of official confirmation from Egypt and no mention in Egyptian media further deepens the mystery surrounding their detention. The Foreign Ministry acknowledged awareness of the issue and stated it is being handled, but no official response has been received from Egypt.