The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) reported that four Palestinian detainees in Israeli desert  jail of Naqab are on an open-ended hunger strike in protest of their administrative detention, without charge or trial.

PPS said that detainee Mohamoud  al-Fasfous, has been on a hunger strike since February 20th, whereas 'Ala’a Rayyan, and Karam Amro, both from Hebron’s town of Dura, and Sami al-Janazreh, from  Hebron’s al-Fawwar Refugee Camp, have also joined  the hunger strike to protest their detention without charge or trial.

The last mentioned three  have previously spent actual prison sentences, ranging between 4 to 9 years, in Israeli jails.

To be noted, Israeli military renewed the administrative detention of al-Fasfous, despite an Israeli Supreme Court’s order to end it.

Head of PPS, Amjad al-Najjar, said members of Fateh faction, PPS and the Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs’ Commission, have set up a permanent sit-in tent in front of Dura municipality in solidarity with hunger striking detainees.

Palestinians often  resort to hunger strike to protest their detention without charge or 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.

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.

Source: WAFA