The Israeli Supreme Court, sitting as the High Court of Justice, today received the petition of the Physicians for Human Rights organization and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society seeking to force the Israeli government to provide free gas masks to Arabs detained or imprisoned on terrorism charges, to all Arabs throughout Judea, Samaria and Gaza, to foreign workers and their children, and to all residents of unrecognized or illegal Bedouin villages. In addition, the petitioners are seeking to force the government to provide sealed shelters in all unrecognized villages and in all detention centers under Israeli control. At the same time, the petitioners also want to forbid immigration authorities from deporting foreign workers who turn up at gas mask distribution points.
In response, the IDF has indicated that there currently are plans to distribute 60,000 masks to Arabs living in Judea and Samaria, in areas under Israeli control. According to the petition presented to the court, however, since the IDF's return to Palestinian Authority areas, Israel is responsible to furnish masks to all PA residents. This would require the IDF to distribute over 3 million masks free of charge.
In response, the IDF has indicated that there currently are plans to distribute 60,000 masks to Arabs living in Judea and Samaria, in areas under Israeli control. According to the petition presented to the court, however, since the IDF's return to Palestinian Authority areas, Israel is responsible to furnish masks to all PA residents. This would require the IDF to distribute over 3 million masks free of charge.