Author: Aisha Noor
January 23, 2025
HRRC condemns, in the strongest terms, deliberate arbitrary detention as a violation of human rights by Israel. These detentions do not require a person to be charged or ensure they receive a trial, denying Palestinians their right to a fair and just legal process.
On January 20, 2025, Israel released 90 Palestinians, including 69 women and 21 children, under the agreements made with Hamas. Those prisoners, most of whom were held without any charges, were received with celebrations in the West Bank. Among the released were Khalida Jarrar, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PPL) leader, and Rula Hassanein, a well-known journalist. Jarrar, imprisoned several times due to political activities, said she felt relief when reunited with her family.
Israel and Hamas have formed a sequence of "swap deals" in terms of prisoners, yet, despite the release of the 90 Palestinians, countless others still and will continue to suffer in inhumane conditions in their imprisonment by Israel. Human Rights Watch and other international organizations have long-accused Israel of using administrative detention, a system under which prisoners can be held without charges, and something that will likely happen once Hamas returns all its hostages to Israel.
Prior to the release, around 10,400 Palestinians had been held in Israeli jails where many of them have endured various types of torture, suffered malnutrition, and contracted diseases without access to appropriate treatment. Additionally, the release of these prisoners exposed numerous other human rights violations detainees experienced while in the custody of Israeli authorities, which must be investigated.
HRRC demands urgent changes to the prison system in Israel and calls for the international community to exert the necessary political pressure on Israeli leaders to uphold human rights for Palestinian prisoners and prisoners in general.
Glossary
Administrative Detention: A practice where individuals are held without charge or trial, often for extended periods, based on secret evidence.
Arbitrary Detention: The unlawful and unjustified arrest or imprisonment of individuals, without legal grounds or due process.
Detainees: Individuals who are held in custody or imprisoned, typically under investigation or awaiting trial.
Malnutrition: A condition caused by a lack of proper nutrition, often resulting from insufficient or unbalanced food intake, common among prisoners in harsh conditions.
Prisoners: Individuals who are incarcerated as a result of a conviction or detention, often in violation of legal rights or processes.
Trial: A formal legal process where evidence is presented to determine the guilt or innocence of a defendant.
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