Occupied West Bank (QNN)- Israeli forces abducted two US activists on Dec. 12 in the occupied West Bank while they opposed the forced displacement of a Palestinian family, the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) told .
The activists are Irene Cho from New York and Trudi Frost from Boston. They were volunteering with the ISM in the village of al-Mughayyer, northeast of Ramallah.
The ISM said Israeli forces abducted the two activists while they were staying with the Abu Hamam family. The group said the family has faced repeated harassment and assaults by Israeli settlers and armed forces for more than a year.
According to the ISM, Israeli authorities revoked the activists’ staying permits through a summary procedure. Forces then transferred them to Givon prison near Ramla.
The ISM said the detentions followed Israeli claims of a month-long military order sealing the area. However, the movement said maps attached to the order did not include the Abu Hamam home within the restricted zone.
The group said this makes the detentions unlawful.
The ISM said the two US activists are refusing to cooperate with deportation. Their lawyers are challenging the legality of the deportation orders.
The activists are expected to appear before a custody review panel within 72 hours.
