Key facts
- Adel al-Natour, a co-founder of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, has been detained in Syria since December 18.
- His family has only been allowed to visit him four times since his detention.
- Natour has reportedly lost 20 kilograms and was unaware of the end of the Gaza war.
- Syrian authorities informed his family that Natour would be deported within 10 days.
- Human rights organizations describe his detention as unlawful and arbitrary.
Adel al-Natour, a 71-year-old co-founder of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), has been detained by Syrian authorities since December 18, with his family now reporting he faces imminent deportation. His daughter, Israa, told Middle East Eye that her father, who left PIJ in 1995, has had limited contact with the outside world since his arrest, losing 20 kilograms and being unaware of recent events in Gaza.
Natour's family has only been permitted four visits since his detention. They were informed by security forces that he would be deported within 10 days and are currently attempting to appeal the order, though they report being turned away by lawyers and courts due to a lack of formal charges. Human rights organizations have condemned his detention as unlawful and arbitrary, citing it as one of many such cases since the current interim authorities took power.
Born in a Gaza refugee camp in 1955, Natour was a founding member of PIJ in 1981. He has a history of detention and deportation, having been previously held by Israel and deported from Gaza, Egypt, and Greece before finding refuge in Algeria and later Syria. He reportedly ceased political and military activities with PIJ in 1995, disagreeing with Iranian interference and the effectiveness of armed resistance.
During the Syrian revolution, Natour reportedly sheltered opposition activists and advocated for Palestinian factions to remain neutral. He was known as the "Godfather of Yarmouk camp" for his belief in peaceful resistance and humanitarian aid. Despite holding Syrian residency papers, Natour and his family face uncertainty regarding their future, as most countries deny Palestinians visas and their travel documents were confiscated.
Human rights advocates, including Bassam Alahmad of Syrians for Truth and Justice, emphasize Natour's right to a fair trial, regardless of his nationality. The organization has documented numerous cases of enforced disappearance and deaths under torture since the new authorities assumed power in 2024. Natour's son, Muamen, expressed concern that his father's deportation could set a precedent for other Palestinian refugees in Syria.