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Illustrative scene. File. Published by Maan News
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BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- Israel recently issued 19 administrative detention orders -- Israel’s widely condemned policy of internment without charge or trial -- against Palestinians, according to official Palestinian Authority (Wafa) news agency.

Wafa reported on Tuesday that eight of the 19 orders were issued against Palestinian prisoners already serving time under administrative detention.

Israel uses administrative detention almost exclusively against Palestinians. The widely condemned Israeli policy allows for a detainee to be sentenced for up to six-month renewable intervals based on undisclosed evidence.

Although Israeli authorities claim the withholding of evidence during administrative detention is essential for state security concerns, rights groups have instead claimed 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 have claimed that Israel's administrative detention policy has 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, there were 6,171 Palestinians in Israeli prisons as of December, with 434 being held in administrative detention.