ADMINISTRATIVE DETAINEES REPORT OF HARSH CONDITIONS SINCE RELOCATION: HUNGER STRIKE CONSIDERED
June 19, 1997
On June 18, Palestinian administrative detainees held in Damoun prison in northern Israel reported to LAW’s attorney, Allegra Pacheco, that they are being held under harsh conditions. These detainees recently transferred from Megiddo military prison report that the harsh conditions have come in retribution for their boycotts and ongoing protests against their continuing detentions. Two weeks ago, approximately 130 of the 250 Palestinian administrative detainees were transferred out of Megiddo prison to Damoun and Tel Mond prisons. As a result, the detainees are now dispersed throughout the Israeli prison system in a continuing direct violation of international law prohibiting the transfer of detainees from the occupied territories into Israeli prisons.Since the signing of the Declaration of Principles in 1993, 800 Palestinian have been imprisoned without charges or trial under administrative detention orders. Today, 250 remain in administrative detention, most for over a year and some for two to five years. Since they are being held without charges or trial the detainees are not prisoners and must be treated as civilians with all attendant rights. However in order to pressure the detainees to stop their protests, the Israeli security services have worsened their prison conditions and are refusing to provide them even with the basic amenities that regular prisoners have.
In Damoun prison, the detainees reported that they are prohibited from going outdoors except for 1 1/2 hours a day (detainees should have the right to go outdoors to the prison courtyard at any time). Food is extremely limited and prison authorities have prevented the distribution of newspapers. In addition, the prison has refused to provide them with basic amenities such as toilet paper, cups, toothpaste, spoons and cleaning materials.
In addition to this, five detainees whose detention who should have been released this month had their detentions extended. One detainee, Mahmoud Al-Qilani from Jenin, who has been in administrative detention for nine months, received his ninth extension. The other detainees are Abdel Raouf Qma’il, from Qabatya, who received his second extension for four additional months; Mohammed Abdel Haj A-Sheikh from Beit Fajar, extended for 2 months; Mo’ez Taqatqa from Beit Fajar, 3 months; and Mahmoud A-Deiri from Beit Fajar, 2 months extension.
In protest to their difficult conditions, the detainees in Damoun have started a partial hunger strike, refusing two meals a day. They are considering an all out hunger strike if their conditions do not improve. The detainees have asked that fellow prisoners designate June 24 as solidarity day with the administrative detainees in Damoun.
LAW - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment is a non-governmental organization, dedicated to preserving human rights through legal advocacy. LAW is also an affiliate member of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights.