Gazans rally to protest Israel’s controversial administrative detentions

By Nour Abu Eisha

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – Scores of Palestinians on Monday staged a rally in the Gaza Strip to protest against Israel’s policy of administrative detention of Palestinian detainees.

The rally, organized by Palestinian group Hamas, was held in front of the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC)'s office in Gaza City.

Demonstrators held banners demanding the release of Palestinian detainees held by Israel.

“The practice of administrative detention and abusing detainees is illegal,” Hamas spokesman Iyad Abu Fnun told the rally.

He called for putting pressure on Israel to set free Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

The policy of administrative detention allows Israeli authorities to extend the detention of a prisoner without charge or trial.

"Israel blatantly violates international law and human rights conventions by detaining Palestinian lawmakers and applying [the policy of] administrative detention,” Hamas member, Mohammad al-Ghoul, told participants.

There are around 5,300 Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, including 520 administrative detainees, according to institutions concerned with prisoners’ affairs.

Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara