Palestine Chronicle: Israel detains Muslim Aid Australia workers on humanitarian mission
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 7/11/2002

Two Australian aid workers representing Muslim Aid Australia who were detained by Israel at Tel Aviv's airport as they attempted to enter the country have been released after intervention by Australian diplomats.

The on-line Palestine Chronicle reports that the two men, Mohammed Mayat and Suleiman Domingo, both Australian nationals, were detained without explanation on Monday when they arrived at Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion Airport with the aim of going to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The men were planning to visit the Palestinian territories to review a number of current aid projects conducted by Muslim Aid Australia and distribute much needed funds.

Muslim Aid Australia, the first and only Australian Muslim overseas aid organization to be granted Deductible Gift Recipient status by the Australian Government, has been distributing aid and conducting projects in Palestine for a number of years and has previously sent delegates to Palestine without incidence.

Muslim Aid Australia had informed the Israeli embassy in Australia of its trip, submitted a detailed itinerary, and had been assured of complete assistance from Israeli authorities.

Banning entrance to the men is most likely part of a recent Israeli government policy of hindering aid from reaching the Palestinian populations in the occupied territories. On July 3 international relief agencies issued a statement accusing Israel of hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians to the point where they can "no longer adequately" do their job.

Thirty-two relief agencies, including CARE International, Oxfam and Medecins du Monde, demanded Israel to provide access to aid workers and allow relief to reach people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The groups, members of the Association of International Development Agencies, also asked the world community to "put pressure on the Israeli government to ensure humanitarian access is unrestricted as guaranteed under international law."

The Israeli occupation authorities' are obliged, under international law, to guarantee all humanitarian agencies unfettered access to the Palestinian civilian populations now in dire need for assistance.

Australian embassy officials in Israel visited the men, and after the Israeli Embassy in Canberra intervened, the two were released on a short visit visa but prevented from entering the West Bank and Gaza Strip. No explanation was given as to why they the were detained. Muslim Aid Australia has made arrangements to fly the men back to Australia.

Previous Stories:
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  International NGOs accuse Israel of hindering their activities in West Bank   (7/5/2002)
  Al-Qabas: Abd Rabbu denies Maareve's statements   (7/2/2002)

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