Israel Expels Beersheba Man To Gaza
By Ma'an News Agency
26 April, 2010
Maannews.net
Gaza – Ma'an – Israeli authorities expelled Ahmad Au’da Abu Shalluf, married to a Palestinian woman from the Israeli city of Beersheba, and deported him to the Gaza Strip on Sunday, witnesses said.
Abu Shalluf, born to refugee parents in the Gaza Strip, but living in Israel with is wife for the past several years, was visiting an eye clinic in Jerusalem when Israeli forces entered the building, handcuffed the man and walked him out to a police vehicle, eyewitnesses described.
De facto government security officials confirmed that he was taken to the Erez crossing, between Israel and Gaza, and forced to enter the besieged enclave.
The security officials said they refused to receive Abu Shalluf, as they refused to accept Ahmad As-Sabah, a Palestinian man freed from Israeli prison and deported to Gaza. As-Sabah's wife and children live in the West Bank city of Tulkarem.
Officials from the Wa'ed Prisoners Society said that on his arrival, Abu Sahlluf refused to enter Gaza and returned to the Israeli side of the checkpoint, demanding his release.
Last week, Israeli forces detained a Gaza-born man in the Palestinian city of Yaffa, inside Israel, and deported him to Gaza as he underwent medical tests in a local hospital. He also demanded to be released, and following several hours, Israeli officials reversed their decision and allowed the man to return to his family.
While the details of the cases have been closely guarded by Israeli officials, rights groups believe the expulsions are related to Israel's military order number 1650, which went into effect on 13 April. The orders expanded the definition of an "infiltrator" to any individual residing in an area under Israeli control who does not have express permission to be in the area from the Israeli government.
The law does not specify what kind of permission individuals need in order to remain in their homes, and has been called "reminiscent of past laws under apartheid South Africa," by the South African government.
