PALESTINIANS protested outside the German diplomatic office in the West Bank today over the ongoing detention of a leading boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaigner.

Mahmoud Nawajaa was arrested on July 30 and remains in Israeli custody. He has not been charged. BDS founder Omar Barghouti said: “We are here to tell Germany — as the president of the EU council — that its time to apply real pressure on Israel.”

Mr Nawajaa’s wife Ruba said that he has been denied access to a lawyer. Israeli security agency Shin Bet denied that his arrest was connected to his boycott activities, claiming that he is is suspected of unspecified “security offences.” 

The BDS movement calls for a boycott of goods and services produced in, or produced by companies linked to, Israel’s illegal settlements on Palestinian land, in order to press Israel to end its occupation and colonisation programme.

In Gaza, thousands of Palestinians who had been stranded on either side of the Egyptian border were able to cross today after Cairo opened it.

Crossings were halted due to Covid-19 in March.