Shadi Sukiya
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Shadi Sukiya is a Palestinian who was captured by the Israeli Defence Force in Jenin on March 27, 2003. The Israeli government claimed he was a senior Islamic Jihad leader.
The main reason this is of interest to the wider world is that he was arrested in a building used by the International Solidarity Movement. It has been alleged that this implicates the ISM as supporters of terrorism.
The ISM's statements and those of the Israeli government both state that Sukiya arrived at the ISM's office as he was being pursued through the streets of Jenin by IDF soldiers during an Israeli-imposed curfew. According to the ISM's account, he had being going door to door looking for a place to go, arrived at the building (which is also used by the Red Cross and Medecins Sans Frontieres) cold and wet, and was offered a chance to dry and warm up by an ISM volunteer.
The IDF originally suggested that two Kalashnikov assault rifles and a handgun were found on the premises, but subsequently backtracked on the allegation (it appears the weapons were found during the operation, but not in the ISM's building).
In May 2003 the ISM's Adam Shapiro stated that Sukiya was not named a "senior Islamic Jihad terrorist" by any official Israeli military or government source, and was being held in administrative detention in Israel without any charge. However, ISM members have admitted to they knowingly works with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad activists [1] (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/113302_shield20.shtml). It should be noted that the position of the ISM regarding suicide bombings is condemns all violence that targets civilians, regardless of the religion or race of the target.
Following the incident, the International Committee for the Red Cross, which has an office in the same compound, asked the ISM to move out their offices from that building. [2] (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1329/is_5_28/ai_107897303/pg_5)
External links
- IDF Press Release, March 27, 2003 (http://mfa.gov.il/mfa/go.asp?MFAH0n8c0)
- Adam Shapiro on the Shadi Sukiya incident (http://www.diamondbackonline.com/News/Diamondback/archives/2003/05/09/commentary4.html)