RAMALLAH, July 29, 2015 (WAFA) – The Israeli military court of Ofer issued administrative detention orders against 11 Palestinian detainees, reported the Palestinian Prisoner’s club (PPC) on Wednesday.   

PPC said that seven detainees received detention orders without charge or trial for a period of six months, while six others received detention orders for four months, and the remaining detainee was sentenced for three months. 

According to the Israeli human rights center B’Tselem, “Administrative detention is detention without charge or trial that is authorized by administrative order rather than by judicial decree.”

However, “Due to the substantial injury to due process inherent in this measure, international law stipulates that it may be exercised only in very exceptional cases – and then only as a last possible resort, when there are no other means available to prevent the danger.”

Nevertheless, the Israeli authorities routinely employ administrative detention, noted the center, adding that, “Over the years, thousands of Palestinians have been held in Israeli custody as administrative detainees for extended periods of time.”  

“Israel carries it out in a highly classified manner that denies detainees the possibility of mounting a proper defense. Moreover, the detention has no upper time limit,” said the center.

Over the years, Israel has placed thousands of Palestinians in administrative detention for prolonged periods of time, without trying them, or informing them of the charges against them, and without allowing them or their counsel to examine the evidence, added the center.

“In this way, the military judicial system ignores the right to freedom and due process, the right of defendants to state their case, and the presumption of innocence, all of which are protections clearly enshrined in both Israeli and international law.”

In April 2015, the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) expressed concern by the continued and increasing use of administrative detention by Israeli authorities against Palestinians.

There are around 500 detainees serving administrative detention in several Israeli jails. 18 of the Palestinian Legislative Council members are currently held in Israeli detention without charge or trial, including the most recent arrest of Khalida Jarrar.

“Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) member Khalida Jarrar was arrested on April 2, 2015 and subsequently detained pursuant to an administrative detention order issued by an Israeli military commander in the West Bank on Sunday 5 April,” said the UN News Center.

“The Israeli practice of administrative detention has been condemned on numerous occasions by the UN Human Rights Office and the Human Rights Committee that oversees implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Israel has ratified, added the center.

“OHCHR reiterates it call on Israel to end its practice of administrative detention and to either release without delay or to promptly charge all administrative detainees and prosecute them with all the judicial guarantees required by international human rights law,” OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.

According to a report issued by the European Parliament, “The highest number of administrative detainees was documented during the first intifada, with 1,794 Palestinians placed under administrative detention on 5 November 1989.”

There are four Palestinian prisoners currently on a hunger strike to protest their illegal detention without charge or trial and the policy of solitary confinement.

On July 12, Israeli authorities released political prisoner Khader Adnan, who went on a hunger strike for 55 consecutive days to protest his administrative detention, after he reached a deal with the latter to end his strike in return for his release.

Following are the names of the 11 detainees who received administrative detention orders:

T.R/M.H