The United Kingdom's Foreign Office has raised the case of a British national detained by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank with Israeli authorities. Finn Joughin, a 22-year-old student activist, was arrested on Saturday in the Palestinian village of Umm Al-Kheir after being forcibly detained by settlers who had advanced on the village.
According to witnesses, Joughin was attempting to protect a fence in the town, which is located near Hebron and has recently been surrounded by settlers. Footage appearing to show the incident depicts Joughin standing by a fence and using his body to shield it as a child pushes against him. Settlers then forcefully removed Joughin and took him to a nearby outpost.
Israeli police stated that Joughin was detained by security personnel of a settler community who suspected him of an indecent act against a minor. In a subsequent statement, police confirmed that the suspect was transferred for questioning, which included statements raising suspicion of an assault against a minor. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, and Joughin has been taken into custody.
However, Joughin's family informed the BBC that he was scheduled to be deported from Israel on Monday. Activists present during the arrest denied any inappropriate behavior by Joughin, stating that settler children initiated the confrontation.
Since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, there has been an observed increase in attacks by settlers on Palestinians and their property in the West Bank. International law considers all settlements in the occupied West Bank to be illegal, with outposts also being illegal under Israeli law, despite often receiving state support and funding.