After the Affair Came to Light - Egyptian Source Speaks About the Arrest of Israelis in Sinai

An Egyptian security source confirmed for the first time the arrest of three Israelis from the Bedouin diaspora, held in Egypt for about six months. The report does not detail the suspicions against them or their legal status. The affair remained confidential for months, and only recently did the Israeli Foreign Ministry announce it is handling the matter.

An Egyptian security source spoke for the first time about the affair of the arrest of three Israelis from the Bedouin diaspora, held in Egypt for about six months. The report, published in an Egyptian media outlet, does not provide the reason for the arrest or the suspicions against the three. According to the report, one of the detainees managed to contact his family before disappearing and told a friend that if he did not return, they should know he is "in the hands of the Egyptians." Since then, family members have been unable to establish direct contact with them. The affair remained confidential for months, partly because the families preferred quiet contacts. Only in recent days, following increased coverage in Israel, did the Foreign Ministry announce it is handling their case and contacted Egyptian authorities demanding information on their legal status and place of detention. The Egyptian report does not specify whether an indictment has been filed against them, whether they have been brought before a court, or where they are being held. The brief statement from the Egyptian security source is the only direct statement from an Egyptian official published on the matter.