Italy Refuses to Extradite Palestinian to Israel Due to Fears of Mistreatment

An Italian appeals court on Wednesday rejected the extradition of a Palestinian suspected of involvement in planning attacks to Israel, stating he faces the risk of "cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment" if extradited. The man, identified by the court as Kamal Afif Yahya (36), was arrested alongside two other Palestinians in central Italy on charges of planning attacks in a country that was not named. Israel requested his extradition, but Yahya's lawyer contested the request, citing reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch regarding the conditions of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. In a written ruling, a panel of three judges in the city of L'Aquila in central Italy acknowledged the defense's arguments, stating that Yahya would face "acts that constitute violations of human rights" if the extradition request were approved. The court ruled to keep him in custody in Italy as he is under investigation by the public prosecutor's office regarding the charges for which Israel sought his extradition.