RAMALLAH, March 5, 2016 (WAFA) – Israeli military renewed the administrative detention of a Palestinian hunger striking detainee in Israeli jails, despite an Israeli Supreme Court’s order to end it. 

A lawyer representing the Palestinian Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs Commission, Fadi Obaidat, informed WAFA that Israeli authorities renewed the administrative detention of detainee Mahmoud al-Fasfous, who has been  on an open-ended hunger strike since the 20th of February 2016 to protest his detention without charge or trial.

This is the third time the Israeli military renews al-Fasfous’s detention without charge or trial.

Al-Fasfous said  the Israeli military‘s renewal of his administrative detention, despite the Israeli Supreme Court’s order to end it, proves that the latter is not a decision maker and abides by decisions and orders of the Israeli military’s intelligence.

Regarding Obaidat’s health condition following at least 14 consecutive days of hunger strike, the commission’s lawyer said that he has lost six kilograms. Obaidat suffers from a previous injury – a broken nose and eyesight weakness -  he sustained at the hands of Israeli soldiers who physically attacked him prior to his detention.

In late February 2016, Palestinian detainee in Israeli jails Mohammed al-Qiq ended   94 consecutive days of hunger strike in protest of his administrative detention, after reaching a deal for his release – given the severe deterioration in his health which almost claimed his life - with Israeli authorities.

According to al-Monitor, “The 33-year-old began his hunger strike on Nov. 24, 2015, three days after being arrested by Israel on charges of “incitement.”

According to Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Addameer, “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.”

In late January 2016, The EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah expressed their longstanding concern about the extensive use by Israel of administrative detention without formal charge.

“The EU calls for the full respect of international human rights obligations towards all prisoners. Detainees have the right to be informed about the charges underlying any detention, must be granted access to legal assistance, and be subject to a fair trial.”

T.R.