Palestinian activists face detention and release in Syria and West Bank

Palestinian activists Adel Abdulfattah Natour and Alaa al-Araj are facing different forms of detention in Syria and the West Bank, respectively.

Adel Abdulfattah Natour has been released in Damascus after being held for over 11 months. The Palestinian Syrians Initiative for Popular Oversight verified his release and return to his family, noting that there was no evidence his release was linked to a deportation order. Natour’s family had previously raised concerns regarding the lack of formal charges or legal representation during his detention, which began in September 2025.

In the West Bank, political activist Alaa al-Araj remains in custody held by Palestinian Authority security forces. His detention has been extended for an additional 15 days, marking over a month since he was summoned for interrogation in Nablus. Lawyers for Justice have criticized the detention, describing it as an illegal restriction on civil work related to an investigation into the Hadatha Training Company. Al-Araj recently suspended a hunger strike, and his legal team has noted humanitarian concerns following the birth of his son during his imprisonment.