Court orders release of 8 Huwara riot suspects; 2 sent to administrative detention

A Jerusalem court has ordered police to release all eight suspects detained over the violent settler riots in the West Bank town of Huwara earlier this week, but the defense ministry signs off on an administrative detention order for two of them.

According to the Honenu legal aid organization representing the suspects detained in recent days, the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court ordered police to free all eight suspects due to lack of evidence of their involvement in the rioting.

Shortly after the court ordered their release, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signed administrative detention orders against two of the suspects following recommendations by the Shin Bet security agency.

Administrative detention is a controversial practice whereby individuals can be held without charge practically indefinitely, and are not granted access to the evidence against them.

While it is rarely used against Jewish suspects, just under 1,000 Palestinians are currently held in custody under the practice.

The order against the pair, one of whom is a minor, is currently valid for four months.