Palestinian Islamic Jihad co-founder faces deportation from Syria

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Syrian authorities announced they would deport 71-year-old Adel al-Natour, a co-founder of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), within 10 days, following eight months of detention without charge. Natour, who reportedly left the PIJ in 1995, was detained in December 2024 by interim authorities led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. His family stated that legal representatives and courts refused to intervene because no formal charges were filed, and his daughter reported that he was unaware of the end of the war in Gaza during his incarceration.

Consequences

The deportation order leaves Natour in a state of legal limbo, as he has no formal charges to contest and local legal institutions have declined to hear appeals. His removal occurs amidst ongoing security negotiations between Damascus and Israel and follows U.S. government statements indicating they would monitor the status of Palestinian militant groups within Syria.

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