Israeli court extends Gazan engineer's remand

Dirar Abu Sisi, who was seized by Israeli security forces in Ukraine, will be detained for two more days despite defense's claim that he is in poor health

Raanan Ben-Zur|Published: 03.22.11 , 17:05

The Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court on Tuesday extended by two days the remand of a Palestinian engineer from Gaza who, according to foreign reports, was abducted by Israeli security forces after boarding a train in the eastern Ukraine city of Kharkiv last month.

Dirar Abu Sisi's attorneys claim he is in poor physical and mental condition, but is cooperating with investigators.

Following the hearing, which was closed to the media, Abu Sisi's laywers Smadar Ben-Natan and Tal Linoi said the engineer told them that he was forcibly removed from his train compartment and brought handcuffed and hooded to an apartment. He said at least six Israeli agents interrogated him before flying him to Israel.

Israel confirmed on Sunday that it was holding Abu Sisi, but much of the remaining details surrounding the case remain under a gag order.

According to the defense attorneys, Abu Sisi (42) is a civil engineer who has been working as the deputy manager of the only power plant in the Gaza Strip since 2000. They claim he does not have any direct ties with Hamas, which rose to power in Gaza in 2006.

The attorneys said Abu Sisi was abducted while he was applying for citizenship in Ukraine.

In interviews with foreign media outlets, Abu Sisi’s wife Veronica, blamed the kidnapping on the Mossad, claiming they did it to sabotage the Gazan power plant.