Israeli Teen Arrested After Confrontation in Sinai Peninsula
Nahorai Yitzchak, an 18-year-old Israeli Chabad Hassid from the Jordan Valley, was arrested on Saturday evening in Nueva in the Sinai Peninsula, after getting into a physical confrontation with a local resident.
Following his arrest, Yitzchak was tried and held in custody awaiting sentencing. However, late last night, after midnight, he was released and returned to Israel.
An eyewitness who was present during the incident shared details with Haredim 10. According to the witness, Yitzchak had traveled to Sinai to provide kosher food for Israeli travelers. On the last Shabbat, he proposed to have a communal Shabbat gathering for religious and kosher keepers. After the Shabbat ended, all the Israeli travelers wanted to take a group photo, and Yitzchak, a Chabadnik, wanted to hold a “Messiah” flag. However, the owner of the establishment did not allow it. Yitzchak apologized and attempted to return the flag, but a staff member confronted him aggressively, pushing him in front of everyone.
Yitzchak pushed back defensively and asked to be let go, but the Egyptian staff member continued to attack him, ignoring attempts to separate them from the Israeli tourists. The camp staff then blocked the exit while the owner turned off the wifi, preventing any communication about the incident.
However, some Israelis had Egyptian SIM cards, allowing them to contact their families in Israel for assistance. When these families reached out to high-level officials, the Egyptian police were finally dispatched to the camp.
Yitzchak was taken to the police station, believing he would be released shortly after a discussion with the police. However, he was detained for a day and coerced into signing documents under the false promise of immediate release. Yitzchak, who does not speak Arabic or English, signed the documents unknowingly, leading to his continued detention without access to a phone, kosher food, or basic necessities.
The eyewitness reports that Israeli tourists contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately after the incident began, but the ministry did not provide the necessary assistance.
Shiran Alamdo, a lawyer representing Yitzchak’s family, stated that the situation was not a provocation but a misunderstanding. Yitzchak had volunteered to cook kosher food for travelers in Sinai and had been doing so for the past two months. Alamdo suggested that neighboring guest house owners may have felt threatened by the increase in visitors at the camp.
Yitzchak’s mother expressed concerns about his well-being, as she has been unable to communicate with him since his arrest. She emphasized that his actions were driven by a desire to provide Jewish activities and kosher food in the area.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the incident, stating that they are in contact with Yitzchak’s family and working with the Israeli consul in Egypt to address the situation.
The case highlights the need for better communication and support for Israeli travelers abroad, especially in situations where misunderstandings can lead to prolonged detainment without proper legal representation.