Israeli deportation order against French-Palestinian activist could constitute war crime: UN experts

By Peter Kenny

GENEVA (AA) - Israel’s decision to deport French-Palestinian human rights defender and lawyer Salah Hammouri to France against his will may constitute a war crime under the Geneva Convention, UN experts said Friday.

Israel reaffirmed the revocation of Hammouri’s permanent residency in Jerusalem on Nov. 30.

Authorities said Hammouri would be deported Dec. 4 to France because of his alleged “breach of allegiance to the State of Israel” and based on secret evidence.

“Such unilateral, arbitrary measures taken by Israeli authorities in retaliation against Mr. Hammouri as a human rights defender violate every principle and the very spirit of international law,” said experts.

The experts are Francesca Albanese, special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967 and Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, special rapporteur on the protection of human rights while countering terrorism.

Special rapporteurs are part of the Human Rights Council’s Special Procedures, the largest body of independent UN human rights experts.

The deportation of protected persons from an occupied territory is prohibited under Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, said experts.

“These measures set an extremely dangerous precedent for all Palestinians in Jerusalem. The international community must not remain silent and quietly watch this umpteenth violation,” they said.

Hammouri is a human rights lawyer known for advocating for the rights of prisoners, including torture survivors.

He works with the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association -- an internationally respected human rights organization -- and the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture grantee.

Israel designated Addameer and other Palestinian civil society organizations as “terrorist” and “unlawful” in October 2021.

Hammouri was placed in administrative detention on March 7 without charge or trial.

Since July, Hammouri has been detained at a high-security prison under degrading conditions as a form of punishment after he engaged in a hunger strike and appealed to French President Emmanuel Macron to urge Israel to end his detention.

Experts said Hammouri was at risk of expulsion due to his alleged involvement in “terrorist activities” and “breach of allegiance” to Israel.

The allegations are based on secret information that he cannot challenge.