ICE uses private jet linked to Trump ally to deport Palestinians to West Bank

ICE uses private jet linked to Trump ally to deport Palestinians to West Bank

On February 7, 2026, investigations revealed that United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) used a private jet owned by Florida real estate developer Gil Dezer to deport Palestinian men to the Israeli‑occupied West Bank. The flights transported detainees from a U.S. detention facility in Arizona to Tel Aviv.

The jet was chartered through a Florida aviation company contracted by federal agencies. It made refueling stops on international routes before landing in Israel. After arrival, the deportees were reportedly taken by Israeli authorities to checkpoints in the West Bank.

Reports indicated the detainees were shackled during the flights and included individuals who had lived in the United States for years. Human rights organizations and political figures raised concerns over transparency and due process in the deportations, while U.S. and Israeli officials declined to comment on details of the operations.