Israel deports 14 foreign nationals for violating closed military zone order in West Bank

Israeli authorities arrested and deported 14 foreign nationals over the weekend for entering a closed military zone near Luban al-Sharqiya in the West Bank. The individuals, on tourist visas, were given hearings before removal.

Fourteen foreign nationals were arrested over the weekend near a farm in the area of Luban al-Sharqiya in Samaria, on suspicion of violating a legal order and being in a closed military zone. They were transferred to the Population and Immigration Authority, which is expected to hold a hearing and decide on their deportation from Israel. The Judea and Samaria District Police stated that the incident is part of a broader effort against provocative activities and incitement that lead to friction and disturbances in Judea and Samaria. The article links the arrest to a previous uproar about two weeks ago, when an alleged attack on diplomats and foreign activists was reported in the southern Hebron Hills. Settlement sources then claimed it was a planned provocation, and that the diplomats arrived in the area without coordination with security forces. The article also includes additional claims from settlement sources about the lack of an official police complaint and partial footage that was circulated.