The Palestinian Center for Prisoner Affairs has condemned the arrest of Mohammed Jihad Al-Shorbagi, a 24-year-old resident of the Nuseirat camp, by Israeli occupation forces. The incident occurred while Al-Shorbagi was returning from Egypt to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah Border Crossing.
Denunciation of Crossing as Trap
In a statement issued on Friday, the Center characterized the detention as a serious development that raises grave concerns regarding the safety of Palestinians attempting to reunite with their families. The organization argued that the Rafah crossing is increasingly becoming a trap for returnees rather than a safe passage.
The Center emphasized that the right of Palestinians to return, travel, and move freely must not be transformed into a journey fraught with the risks of arrest and detention. It stressed that these fundamental rights are being undermined by the current security measures implemented at the border.
Demands for Transparency and Release
The organization called for the immediate disclosure of Al-Shorbagi’s location, as well as his health and legal status. It demanded that a lawyer be allowed to communicate with him and secured his release without further delay.
Furthermore, the Center questioned the role and responsibility of the European Union Monitoring Station (EUMS) stationed at the Rafah crossing. It asked how the mission fulfills its duty to monitor arrests and ensure the safety of citizens during transit.
The statement asserted that the presence of an international mission must be accompanied by real guarantees to protect travelers from arrest or harassment. The Center insisted that the existence of such a body should translate into tangible protection for passengers, ensuring they do not face arbitrary detention or complicate their passage.
