Protective presence activists faced a sharp Israeli crackdown this year. On March 24, Sophie Drukman-Feldstein hissed at settlers’ sheep grazing on a Palestinian family’s land, and police arrested her. She spent five nights in jail, but immigration authorities then deported her to Egypt. The 28-year-old New York City freelance editor had joined Hineinu, a Center for Jewish Nonviolence program that places Jewish volunteers alongside Palestinians.
Hineinu Program Meets New Barriers
Hineinu, meaning “here we are,” brings Jewish activists from around the world to practice protective presence. Participants live near Palestinian communities, share meals, and accompany daily routines. But the latest cohort faced obstacles not seen since the program began five years ago. One participant was denied entry, two were deported, six lost digital entry passes, and others saw their permissions suddenly curtailed.
Israel Expands Deportations and Entry Revocations
Israeli authorities have increasingly arrested and swiftly deported international activists, often labeling them security threats. Since Jan. 1, 2025, at least 52 international activists have been deported, according to the Human Rights Defenders Fund. Dozens more received emails saying their Electronic Travel Authorizations were revoked, so reentry would likely be blocked. Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority did not respond to a request for comment by publication.
Witnessing Violence in Masafer Yatta
The cohort spent much of its stay in Masafer Yatta in the South Hebron Hills, where activists lodged in homes or guesthouses. The area was featured in the 2024 Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land.” Activists described heightened surveillance and repeated photographing of passports by police, soldiers, and settlers. One activist said a settler struck a 5-year-old Palestinian girl with a car on March 13, and she demanded medical help. Police arrived, but the driver demanded her deportation, and authorities removed her.
Competing Claims Over Safety, Dissent, and Accountability
Supporters say protective presence matters because it documents abuses and deters violence, but they now see that deterrence is fading. Detractors and Israeli officials often frame these volunteers as disruptive outsiders or security risks, and they argue that deportations protect public order. Activists counter that hearings probed political views, protests, and online activity, so they fear Israel aims to limit witnesses. Some say the response will shift their work to U.S.-based pressure, including arms embargo advocacy, boycott, and sanctions campaigns.
These US Jews wanted to show solidarity with Palestinians. Israel deported them.
Photo by Cole Keister on Unsplash
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