The Supreme Court called on the Israeli security agencies to give an opinion on the suspension procedures; the security apparatus contended that Mr Hamouri is a threat to Israel, based on a secret national security file, and urged the Court to move quickly to eliminate Mr Hamouri’s supposed threat to the national security of Israel. The Court is expected to issue a decision shortly, in the last instance. Mr Hamouri’s defence team has also filed a petition to suspend associated measures—most notably the travel ban and the suspension of his social security and insurance benefits.
FIDH condemns these abusive and arbitrary measures, which are based on vaguely-worded allegations, against the esteemed human rights defender. The attacks on Mr Hamouri seem to be aimed solely at punishing him for his legitimate human rights activities, in particular in favour of Palestinian political prisoners.
Mr Hamouri, a lawyer and field researcher for Addameer Prisoner Support, a prisoners’ rights group, has been targeted by Israeli authorities for over 15 years, facing imprisonment, judicial harassment and periods of arbitrary detention. Since his release in September 2018, Mr Hamouri has been subjected to continuous harassment by Israeli authorities, including arbitrary arrests, travel bans, exorbitant bail and fines, house arrests, and separation from his family. He is not permitted to leave Kufur Aqab, where he lives.