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Israeli court violates ceasefire terms, extends Awawdeh and Al-Sa’adi administrative detention

Jerusalem24 – The Israeli Court last night rejected an appeal filed by Khalil Awawdeh’s lawyer that called for canceling his administrative detention, despite his dangerous health condition.

The release of both hunger-striking Awawdeh and Bassam Al-Sa’adi, a leader with the Palestinain Islamic Jihad, had been a condition for the ceasefire between the Islamic Jihad and Israel that was brokered by Egypt after Israel’s attack on Gaza last week.

Israeli Minister of Public Security Omer Bar-Lev denied last week that the release of the two men was part of the ceasefire agreement.

Awawdeh has been on a hunger strike protesting his being held without charge or trial for a total of 157 days. He interrupted his strike for less than three days in June when Israeli authorities reneged on a verbal agreement to release Awawdeh at the end of his current detention, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS).

Awawdeh has lost more than half of his original weight, and the PPS and Doctors Without Borders recently warned he is on the verge of brain death.

Awawdeh’s wife had earlier been able to visit him in the hospital, and the visit lasted only half an hour, she stressed that his situation is very serious and that he will not end his hunger strike unless a decision releasing him is granted.

The PPS said that the court’s ruling amounts to a decision to execute Awawdeh, and reflects the “absurdity” of Israeli court proceedings.

The PPS also called for political factions to take action and save Awawdeh, saying this decision not only affects Awawdeh but also impacts the use of hunger strikes as a tool to protest and defy Israeli administrative detention orders.

Administrative detainees are held without charge or trial on the basis of secret evidence neither they nor their lawyers are allowed to see, for periods of up to six months and indefinitely renewable. There are currently 670 Palestinian administrative detainees held by Israel.

Awawdeh has been in administrative detention since 27 December 2021. He is from the town of Idhna in the Hebron governorate, is married and a father of four children. He is a former prisoner who has spent years in Israeli prisons.

 

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