Description

by William Temple - 1 of International Middle East Media Center Editorial Group

Reuters reported on Monday afternoon that Israel's Supreme Court turned down an appeal to free two Palestinians from administrative detention without trial who have been on hunger strike for nearly 70 days. But in its decision, released by the Justice Ministry, the court said security authorities should consider freeing them for medical reasons.

Administrative detainees Bilal Diab, 27, from Jenin, and Thaer Halahla, 33, from Hebron are in a dangerous condition after refusing food since Feb. 29, a doctor from Physicians for Human Rights-Israel said this week.

Both are in administrative detention and have not been charged.

On April 17, Palestinian prisoners day, over 1,000 prisoners joined a group of hunger-strikers protesting against administrative detention without charge. Prisoners rights groups estimate that around 2,000 prisoners are now taking part in the strike. They
are also protesting restrictive visiting rights and limited access to medical care and educational materials.

Human Rights Watch on Wednesday called on Israel to "immediately charge or release people jailed without charge or trial under so-called administrative detention."