Three Israeli Citizens Detained in Egypt for Six Months Without Explanation

Three Israeli Bedouin citizens have been held in Egypt for six months since their sudden detention in Sinai on March 21. The men, Ahmed Aldogi, Bilal Salem Abu Ayish, and Bilal Masaudin, all from the Negev town of Segev Shalom, were on their way back to Israel from a vacation in Sharm El Sheikh when their taxi was stopped near the Taba border crossing. They were reportedly asked to exit the vehicle and were then taken into Egyptian intelligence vehicles, after which all contact was lost.

Family members have been kept in the dark about their whereabouts, the reasons for their detention, and their condition. Despite efforts by the families to maintain media silence in hopes of their loved ones' release, neither the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Prime Minister's Office, nor the President's Office have been able to obtain any concrete information. Egyptian lawyers hired by the families have also resigned after failing to gather any details.

One of the detainees managed to call a relative in Israel shortly before losing contact, stating they were being detained and would return the next day, or they would be in Egyptian custody. The families have been informed that the detentions are not related to criminal offenses but to "matters related to Egypt's national security." Relatives expressed frustration, stating they want to know if the men broke Egyptian law and, if so, to have them prosecuted and be allowed to visit.

Former Knesset member Talab El-Sana, a lawyer representing the families, has appealed to top Israeli officials without success. He criticized the lack of a substantive response and the inability to ascertain the circumstances of the case, contrasting it with the treatment of Israelis detained elsewhere. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that their representatives have received confirmation of the detentions but have no further information, despite numerous inquiries to Egyptian authorities. The Israeli ambassador to Egypt has not yet been officially approved by Egypt, and the Egyptian Consulate in Tel Aviv only confirmed that the three are in detention.