Protest group tells voters to save hotline numbers for airport detention

The Detainee Support Network, a group aligned with Israel's protest movement, distributed a message on WhatsApp urging Israelis returning from abroad to save specific phone numbers. The group recommends that travelers keep these numbers in their passports in case officers confiscate their mobile devices.

The message, sent to users this week, asks people coming home to vote to store the hotline details. It instructs travelers to print the numbers and place them inside their passports. The group states that individuals should contact the network immediately if border police or the Israel Police detain or arrest them at Ben-Gurion Airport. The directive also covers detentions at polling stations on Election Day or after the vote.

A representative for the network explained that the group anticipates police might act on discretionary grounds. She stated that officers could detain voters because they have the legal authority to do so. She noted that while such incidents have not occurred in previous elections, the group wants to be prepared. The representative suggested that a social media post could serve as a reason for detention.

The network believes that some travelers face scrutiny because they plan to vote for opposition parties. The representative said police may be unhappy with the volume of people returning to the country. She acknowledged that no unusual incidents have happened in recent days. She expressed confidence that police will conduct their duties properly. The group emphasized that the hotline is an advance precaution for every possible scenario.