Akka Court Releases Protestors Against War on Gaza to House Arrest

(Haifa, Israel) In hearings held today, 22 November 2012, the Magistrates’ Court in Akka (Acre) refused a request by the police to extend the detention of four minors and five adults detained for participating in protest demonstrations held earlier this week in Akka against the War in Gaza. The court ordered the minors to be held under house arrest until Tuesday, 27 November 2012, allowing them only to go to work and to school between the hours of 7am and 3pm. The court also ordered five adult protestors to be held in house arrest.

The police did not make arrests during the demonstrations, but instead raided some of the protestors’ homes the day after the event and arrested them, while summoning the rest of the protestors for questioning and then detaining them. The police accused the protestors of endangering the public and attacking a vehicle. One protestor was arrested for allegedly inciting to violence.

Adalah Attorneys Orna Kohn and Jalal Dakwar represented the protestors, together with private attorneys Ayman Zeidan, Sama ‘Areed, Fadi Sharqawi and Mohammad Ali.

Read Adalah's report on violations against protestors during Operation Cast Lead, "Prohibited Protest'