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Illustrative scene. File. Published by Maan News
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BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- In the week of March 13 to 21, Israeli authorities issued 30 administrative detention orders -- Israel’s controversial policy of internment without charge or trial -- against Palestinian prisoners, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS).

According to PPS, Israeli authorities issued 35 administrative detention orders against Palestinians from March 1-13, bringing the total number of administrative detention orders issued against Palestinians in the first three weeks of March to 65.

While Israeli authorities claim the withholding of evidence during administrative detention, which allows imprisonment for three- to six-month renewable intervals, is essential for state security concerns, rights groups have instead claimed that the policy allows Israeli authorities to hold Palestinians for an indefinite period of time without showing any evidence that could justify their detentions.

Rights groups say that Israel's administrative detention policy has also been used as an attempt to disrupt Palestinian political and social processes, notably targeting Palestinian politicians, activists, and journalists.

According to prisoners’ rights group Addameer, 6,500 Palestinians were detained by Israel as of January, 536 of whom were held in administrative detention.

PPS lawyer Mahmoud al-Halabi said in a statement on Tuesday that among the 30 Palestinians, 18 had their orders renewed after already have served months or years in administrative detention. The 18 were identified by PPS as:

- Muhammad Mahmoud Awwad, resident of the Hebron district, two-month extension
- Abd al-Fattah Kamal Ajrab, resident of the Ramallah district, three-month extension
- Iyad Omar Hamad, resident of the Nablus district, three-month extension
- Issa Talab al-Sanadiya, resident of the Hebron district, four-month extension
- Abd al-Rahman Hussein Qaswasmeh, resident of the Hebron district, four-month extension
- Nadir Abd al-Halim al-Natsha, resident of the Hebron district, four-month extension
- Muhammad Akram Taqatqa, resident of the Bethlehem district, four-month extension
- Abd al-Rahim Bassam Hamad, resident of the Ramallah district, four-month extension
- Saif Mustafa Nasser, resident of the Ramallah district, four month-extension
- Ali Abd al-Rahman Jaradat, resident of the Ramallah district, four-month extension
- Hussein Muhammad Mardawi, resident of the Nablus district, four-month extension
- Salah al-Din Ayman Dweikat, resident of the Nablus district, four-month extension
- Shadi Muhammad Shuli, resident of the Nablus district, four-month extension
- Sami Muhammad Birawi, resident of the Nablus district, four-month extension
- Fouad Muhammad al-Qab, resident of the Tulkarem district, four-month extension
- Luay Sati Ashqar, resident of the Tulkarem district, four-month extension
- Shadi Muhammad Jarrar, resident of the Jenin district, four-month extension
- Muhammad Abdullah Harb, resident of the Jenin district, six-month extension

Among the 35 Palestinians, 12 were sentenced to administrative detention for the first time. The 12 were identified by PPS as:

- Zakariya Abd al-Hamid Uweidat, resident of the Hebron district, four months
- Anwar Muhammad Zein, resident of the Bethlehem district, four months
- Ghassan Issa Hirmas, resident of the Bethlehem district, four months
- Khalid Ibrahim Thweib, resident of the Bethlehem district, four months
- Hassan Muhammad Wreidan, resident of the Bethlehem district, four months
- Fadi Munthir Raddad, resident of the Tulkarem district, four months
- Muhammad Sami Ghneim, resident of the Jenin district, four months
- Fares Husni Shawahna, resident of the Jenin district, four months
- Mustafa Fahmi Ballut, resident of the Jenin district, four months
- Muhammad Hussein Shalash, resident of the Hebron district, six months
- Mahmoud Karim Ayyad, resident of the Bethlehem district, six months
- Amir Nizar Khawaja, resident of the Ramallah district, six months