Three Palestinian detainees on hunger strike against detention without charges or trial

Three Palestinian detainees remain on an open-ended hunger strike today in protest of their unfair administrative detention under Israel’s so-called administrative detention policy, said the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS).

Detainees Kayed al-Fasfous and Sultan Khlouf have been on hunger strike for 39 days, while detainee Maher al-Akhras has been on hunger strike for 19 days, all in protest of their detention without charges or trial.

The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) said although the health conditions of the three detainees are deteriorating as a result of their hunger strike, the Israel Prison Service has not heeded their demands.

One of the three hunger-striking detainees, Sultan Khlouf, is currently suffering from vomiting, blurred vision, severe headaches, dizziness, and difficulty standing, PPS added.

The occupying state of Israel is holding at least 1,201 Palestinians under administrative detention without charge or trial – the highest number since human rights groups began collecting monthly data in 2001, according to Israeli Prison Service data obtained by rights group HaMoked.

Israel is also facing a prison overcrowding crisis, with its current prison population of 16,279 being in excess of the standard of 14,500 set by the Knesset’s Interior Committee.

There are 5,100 Palestinians jailed by Israel, with 1,200 held in “administrative detention”, figures from prisoners’ rights group Addameer show.

Administrative detainees have neither been charged with a crime nor granted a trial, and they and their lawyers are prevented from seeing evidence against them.

The detention orders typically last between three to six months and can be renewed indefinitely.