Hunger strike planned by hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held without trial
Inmates jailed under controversial administrative detention orders demand release; protest measures to include boycotting military court system
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Some 500 Palestinians held without trial are planning to launch a hunger strike next week in protest of their incarceration by Israeli authorities, a Palestinian Authority official said Thursday.
Issa Karaka, the PA minister of prisoners’ affairs, told Voice of Palestine radio that the strike will be implemented in stages with increasing numbers of prisoners participating.
In addition, prisoners held under administrative detention orders will boycott the Israeli military court system.
Administrative detention allows Israel to detain people without charge or trial for renewable six-month periods. When their terms are renewed, detainees appear before Israeli military courts — often without full knowledge of the allegations against them.
Israel says the use of administrative detention is intended to allow authorities to hold dangerous suspects while continuing to gather evidence, in order to prevent attacks in the meantime.
But the measure has been criticized by Palestinians, human rights groups, and members of the international community who claim Israel abuses the policy. Far-right Israeli activists have also complained about the use of administrative orders against them.
Agencies contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.