Palestinian woman held in Israel starts hunger strike

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – A Palestinian woman detained in Israel has started a hunger strike to protest her detention without trial, according to an NGO on Monday.

Fida Damas, 25, from the West Bank city of Hebron [Al-Khalil], was held in May 2018 on charges of incitement against Israel.

"After serving her sentence, an administrative detention order was issued against her," the Palestinian Prisoner Society said in a statement.

The NGO said another six detainees were already on hunger strike in prison to protest their administrative detention without trial.

Under Israel's "administrative detention" policy, prisoners can be held for renewable six-month periods without charge or trial.

The policy of administrative detention was first established by British colonialist forces during the British Mandate period (1923-1948) in Palestine.

According to Palestinian figures, roughly 5,700 Palestinians -- including numerous women and children -- are currently languishing in Israeli detention facilities.