UK raises case of British activist detained by settlers in West Bank with Israel
The UK Foreign Office is engaging with Israeli authorities regarding the detention of British student activist Finn Joughin in the West Bank. Joughin was arrested following a confrontation with Israeli settlers, with conflicting accounts regarding the nature of the incident.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the escalating tensions in the West Bank and the diplomatic complexities involving foreign nationals in the region.
Image source, Handout Image caption, Finn Joughin, the student activist arrested in Umm Al-Kheir on Saturday
The UK Foreign Office says it has raised the detention of a British national in the occupied West Bank with Israeli authorities.
Finn Joughin, a 22-year-old student activist, was arrested in Umm Al-Kheir on Saturday after he was forcibly detained by Israeli settlers who had advanced on the Palestinian village.
There has been a surge in attacks by settlers on Palestinians and their property in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war, which was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.
All settlements are illegal under international law. Outposts are also illegal under Israeli law, although they are often supported by state services and funding.
The confrontation on Saturday took place in a town near Hebron that has been recently surrounded by settlers.
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