Students for Palestine

Israeli soldier attacking a demonstration in Nilin

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

A Canadian student who took part in a protest against the security wall Israel’s building in the West Bank has been arrested and faces deportation from the Jewish state.

Victor McDiarmid, a volunteer for the International Solidarity Movement, had been living in the West Bank for nearly a month when he was arrested Wednesday at a demonstration by women from the village of Nilin, where Israel plans to build the next section of its security barrier.

McDiarmid, 23, was arrested after taking photographs of Israeli soldiers who were breaking up the protest by villagers, who say the barrier will separate them from their farmland.

“He was taken by Israeli soldiers whilst at the front of the demonstration and was taken off towards the jeep. And then he has reported to us that for 20 minutes they were punching, kicking and spitting in his face,” said Adam Taylor, ISM’s media co-ordinator.

The organization’s lawyers say they were told McDiarmid, who is from Kingston, Ont., was to be released Thursday from the Israeli military prison where he was being held. Instead, he has been transferred to a detention centre for people facing deportation.

An Israeli Defence Force spokesperson said officials won’t be able to comment until they check details after the Jewish Sabbath.

His parents told CBC News they support their son and the work he was doing in Israel to expose human rights violations.

Robert McDiarmid said he is outraged his son could still be sitting in a detention centre.

“I’m angry at the human rights abuses in the West Bank. I’m angry that the Canadian government’s aborting,” McDiarmid said, adding that his son has said he wants to stay in Israel and fight his deportation.

The International Solidarity Movement describes itself on its website as a “Palestinian-led movement committed to resisting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land using nonviolent, direct-action methods and principles.”