Administrative Detainees Continue Boycott of Israeli Courts for 67th Day

Hunger strike to protest administrative detention.

Ramallah, MINA — About 500 Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons without charge or trial are continuing their open-ended boycott of Israeli military courts for the 67th consecutive day, Palestiniian news Agency WAFA reported Sunday.

The detainees started their strike in protest against their illegal detention, as well as due to the increasing use of administrative detention orders by Israeli authorities.

A statement by the detainees on February 15, when the strike kick-started, said: “The core of resisting administrative detention policy comes from boycotting this Israeli legal system.”

“The Israeli judicial system is always trying to beautify the face of the occupation, which continues turning Palestinian prisoners to arbitrary administrative detainees,” the statement said, stressing that all the Israeli courts, including the High Court, adopt the recommendations of the Israeli intelligence agencies.

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“We put our faith and trust in our people, their power and institutions, and in the civil society which will not leave us alone in this fight.”

Israel’s widely condemned policy of administrative detention allows detention of Palestinian detainees without charge or trial for renewable intervals, usually ranging between three and six months, based on undisclosed evidence that even a detainee’s lawyer is barred from viewing.

Rights groups say that Israel’s administrative detention policy has been used as an attempt to disrupt Palestinian political processes, notably targeting Palestinian politicians, activists, and journalists. (T/RS5/R1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)