Situation of Salah Hamouri - Q&A (15 Jun. 2022)

Q: Hello, it’s been 10 days now since the French-Palestinian lawyer Salah Hamouri began his latest administrative detention. As far as we know, Israel has not responded to your requests for explanations, which isn’t surprising, given that the file is secret. It might even be blank. That wouldn’t change anything. Has your Ministry summoned the Israeli Ambassador to France to lodge a protest and obtain those famous explanations?
As you are well aware, the Israeli authorities have also decided not to renew Salah Hamouri’s Jerusalem residency card. Legal proceedings are under way, and the Supreme Court must issue a ruling in February 2023. In other words, if nothing is done, he could remain in prison until next February and then be expelled from his home town!
Ten days ago, you said you wanted Salah Hamouri “to be released and allowed to lead a normal life in Jerusalem where he was born and where he resides, and for his wife and children to be allowed to rejoin him there.”
Salah Hamouri’s family is suffering. The situation has gotten to a point where it has serious repercussions on the daily lives of his wife and children.
Are you asking that the procedure to rescind his Jerusalem residency card be dropped?

A: The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is mobilizing all its efforts in Paris, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with regard to the situation of Salah Hamouri and endeavoring to provide him with all possible assistance.

Just today, staff from the French Consulate-General in Jerusalem paid him a visit under the terms of consular protection, as they had done on March 21 and May 19. They also systematically attend court hearings where Mr. Hamouri appears, including the latest hearing on March 9.

We have approached Israeli officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President numerous times in recent months to demand that all of Mr. Hamouri’s rights be respected and that he be able to exercise all legal remedies.

We want Salah Hamouri to be able to lead a normal life in Jerusalem, where he was born and where he resides, and for his wife and children to be allowed to rejoin him there.