Israel issued 128 administrative detention orders in 2018

Israel has increased its use of administrative detention orders this year, issuing 128  so far, the head of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club in Hebron said.

Occupation forces are using the policy, Amjad Al-Najjar said, to supress Palestinian protests and those who call for them, claiming they are inciting against Israel.

Seventeen administrative detention orders were issued in January, including nine which saw prisoners have their imprisonment prolonged. In February, 34 orders were issued, including five extensions, Al-Najjar said.

In March, 15 prisoners were transferred to administrative detention and 11 new extension orders were issued.

In April, Israeli occupation authorities increased 27 administrative detention orders, including 16 extensions.

Al-Najjar explained that most of the administrative detainees are former prisoners who have been held in Israeli prisons several times before and who, occupation intelligence officers claim pose a  threat to the security of Israel.

Read: Israel issued 50,000 administrative detention orders against Palestinians since 1967

About 6,500 prisoners currently being held in Israeli jails, including 450 administrative detainees who are imprisoned without charge or trial.

Scores of those held under administrative detention have been incarcerated for over ten years under the policy.

Since 1967, occupation authorities have issued more than 52,000 administrative detention orders, including 1,119 in 2017.