Palestinians held under the Israeli administrative detention policy are launching a hunger strike starting this Sunday. As per the Administrative Detainees Committee, the strike is an effort to protest the unjust policies that allow Israel to detain individuals without charge for extended periods of time. This form of detention takes place even when there is a lack of evidence against the individuals, causing immense distress to the detainees and their families in many cases.
Administrative detention is extensively used by Israel to detain Palestinians, which is widely condemned by human rights organizations. Many victims of administrative detention describe the system as inhumane and a violation of their fundamental rights, including due process. The hunger strike movement has gained momentum over the years in response to this issue, and many detainees have gone on hunger strikes to bring attention to the policy.
Detainees are usually held for six-month periods, which can be renewed indefinitely, without charge, trial, or access to legal counsel. Several international organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations, have urged Israel to end the practice of administrative detention and provide the detainees with a fair trial. At present, around 350 Palestinians are being held under administrative detention.
The Palestinian prisoners' rights committee emphasized that the hunger strike is being launched in the hope that Israel would put an end to its unjust practices. They stated that taking this step is the only available option to make their voices heard since the world has failed to take action against Israel's violations of Palestinian rights.
In conclusion, the impending hunger strike sends a strong message both to Israel and the international community highlighting the inhumane nature of the policy. It is high time that the Israelis address the issue and find an amicable solution to the problem.