UK raises case of British activist detained by settlers in West Bank with Israel

The UK Foreign Office has raised the case of a British activist detained by Israeli settlers 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 being forcibly taken by settlers who had recently established a presence in the Palestinian village. Since the Gaza war began following the Hamas‑led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, settler violence against Palestinians and their property in the West Bank has increased. All settlements are illegal under international law; outposts are also illegal under Israeli law, although they frequently receive support from state services and funding. The incident occurred on Saturday in a municipality near Hebron that has recently been encircled by settlers. Witnessing activists said Palestinian children were playing football when children from settler families intervened, ran to a nearby site and began dismantling a fence. Footage circulated online by settlers and activists, and viewed by the BBC, shows Joughin standing by the fence and attempting to hold it with his body as a child pushes against him. Settlers then removed him forcefully and transported the London‑based student to an outpost. Israeli police stated that a foreign national was detained by a security unit of a settler community on suspicion of committing an indecent act against a minor. In a statement issued on Sunday they said: "The suspect was transferred to the police for questioning, which included, among other things, taking statements that raised suspicion of an act against a minor." "Following his questioning, the suspect was taken into custody, and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing." Joughin’s family told the BBC that he was scheduled to be deported from Israel on Monday. Activists who were with Joughin at the scene denied any inappropriate behaviour on his part. "In every single instance, it was the settler kids who approached Finn," fellow activist Matthew, who declined to give his surname, told the BBC.