RAMALLAH, January 31, 2016 (WAFA) – Israeli authorities Sunday issued administrative detention orders, without charge or trial, against 55 Palestinian detainees, including a former minister of local government and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS).

PPS said that 32 detainees received administrative detention orders for the first time, noting that the rest of detainees, who have been held without charge or trial for years, had their sentences renewed.

It said that former minister, Issa al-Ja’abari, and PLC member, Hatem Qafesheh, received  imprisonment sentences without charge or trial for a period of four months.

Administrative detention is a procedure that allows the Israeli military to hold prisoners indefinitely on secret information without charging them or allowing them to stand trial.

 Israel routinely uses administrative detention against Palestinians. Statistics show that over the years, thousands of Palestinians have been held in Israeli custody as administrative detainees for extended periods of time.

 The Israel human rights group B’Tselem says that, “International law stipulates that [administrative detention] 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.”

“Israel‘s use of administrative detention blatantly violates the restrictions of international law. Israel carries it out in a highly classified manner that denies detainees the possibility of mounting a proper defense.”

 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.

Following are the names of the 55 detainees who received administrative detention orders:

T.R.