Tunisian Journalist and Activist Detained in Israeli Prisons
Yacine Gaidi and Wael Naouar's Only "Crime" Was Showing Solidarity with Palestine
The photojournalist and member of the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) Yacine Gaidi, as well as Wael Naouar, one of the organizers of the "Soumoud" flotilla, and other Tunisian nationals, are still imprisoned in Israeli jails. Their only "crime" was to carry the voice of solidarity and dignity to Palestine.
Arrested During a Peaceful Humanitarian Mission
Yacine and Wael were arrested while participating in a peaceful humanitarian mission. They are suffering from the injustice of an occupation system that wants to silence any form of resistance. Their loved ones denounce the extreme violence of their captors and arbitrary detention, contrary to the most fundamental human rights. Immediate mobilization is necessary in many ways.
Mobilization in Tunisia
In Tunisia, citizen collectives, artists, associations, and unions have risen to demand their release. On social media, the hashtag #FreeYacineEtWael has become a symbol of a youth that refuses silence and indifference.
International Humanitarian Law
If the "Soumoud" flotilla was intervening as part of a humanitarian mission to Gaza or the occupied Palestinian territories, it falls under the protections provided by the Geneva Conventions. These conventions stipulate:
- Civilians cannot be arrested or detained except for specific and legitimate security reasons, not for their opinions or humanitarian actions (Convention IV, articles 42 and 78).
- In case of detention, they must be treated humanely, have access to a lawyer, their consulate, and be informed of the charges against them.
- Any "arbitrary" detention without a fair trial constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law (article 147 of Convention IV).
International Human Rights Law
The occupier, being a signatory to several fundamental treaties (including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights), is required to respect:
- The right to liberty and security (article 9 of the ICCPR), the prohibition of arbitrary detention, the right to a fair trial (article 14), and the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly (articles 19 and 21).
- The UN Human Rights Commission and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention have repeatedly reminded Israel that arresting or detaining foreign civilians for political or humanitarian reasons constitutes a direct violation of international law.
Tunisia's Role in Securing the Release
To save its citizens, Tunisia has a duty to protect its nationals abroad and can demand their immediate release through diplomatic channels or the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
- The United Nations, particularly the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), can be seized to examine the case and demand respect for international law.
- International NGOs (Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, etc.) can document the violations and exert public pressure to obtain their release.
Conclusion
The detention of Yacine Gaidi and Wael Naouar, if related to their peaceful participation in a humanitarian mission, would be contrary to international humanitarian law and human rights. The Israeli state would then have the obligation to release them immediately or justify their arrest legally before an independent jurisdiction, which is rarely the case in such files.
