Israel issued 729 administrative detention orders since start of 2016

Israel has issued and renewed 729 administrative detention orders since the start of 2016, the Palestine Prisoners’ Centre for Studies (PPCS) announced yesterday.

PPCS spokesman Riyad Al-Ashqar said administrative detention orders increased by 35 per cent compared to the same period last year, when Israel issued 493 orders.

He noted that of the 729, 433 were renewed administrative detention orders, some renewed for the eighth time including the case Mohamed Abu-Fannounah, 50, from Hebron. He has been under renewable administrative detention since 7 July 2013.

Al-Ashqar said that the reason for the increasing number of administrative detainees is the Israeli attempt to quash the current Intifada, which started in October.

He called on international organisations to work to put an end to the illegal practice of administrative detention and on the Palestinian Authority to go to the international courts to seek an end to the process.