PALESTINIAN DETAINEES CONTINUE THEIR HUNGER STRIKE

Tel Aviv, 28 Jumadil Akhir 1435/28 April 2014 (MINA) – At least 186 Palestinian detainees continued their hunger strike for the fourth day, as Israel held them under arbitrary detention orders without charges or trial.

In a press release, Sunday, the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) stated that the Administrative Detainees expressed that their hunger strike is their way to demand their legitimate rights, and called for wide public support, according to International Middle East Media Center (IMEMC) reports as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

On Thursday, the Administrative Detainees started their open-ended strike demanding their release as they are held in direct violation of International Law.

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The detainees are also demanding Israel to stop this illegitimate policy, to stop the ongoing renewal of detention orders against them, or send them to court where the military prosecution will have to press charges.

There are around 186 Administrative Detainees illegally held by Israel, they are all participating in this hunger strike.

In a report about the Palestinian detainees held by Israel, the Palestinian Ministry Of Detainees said that more than 800,000 Palestinians, including children, have been kidnapped and imprisoned by Israel since 1967, while at least 5,000 Palestinians are currently held by Israel.

The number includes detainees held under Administrative Detention orders.

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“Administrative Detention is the ‘unknown enemy’ which the detainees face, as it is a punishment without a charge, without an indictment,” the Ministry said in its report.

Administrative detainees are held without trial. Neither they or their lawyers are allowed to defend themselves, simply because they face what Israel calls a ‘secret file’ that no one is allowed to see.

Each arbitrary Administrative Detention order is usually 1 to 6 months, issued by military commanders in the occupied Palestinian territories. Such orders target both men and women of different ages, young and old, including physicians, engineers, professors, teachers, journalists and elected legislators and officials.

Such orders are repeatedly renewed and, in many cases, just as the detainees are about to step out of prison, they are informed of a new order, often spending months and years under such orders without even knowing when, or if, they will ever be freed.” (T/Nidiya/P03/P04)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)