Palestinians rally in support of detainees in Israeli jails

By Nour Abu Eisha

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – Dozens of Palestinians staged rallies in Gaza City on Wednesday to show support for detainees held by Israel.

Participants in the two rallies demanded the release of Khader Adnan, who has been on a hunger strike to protest his detention without trial or charge, and Walid Daqqa, who is diagnosed with spinal cord cancer.

“We will remain loyal to our captives” reads a banner waved by Palestinians during the rallies.

The policy of administrative detention allows Israeli authorities to detain anyone for six months without charge or trial, which can be extended indefinitely.

Daqqa, 60, has been held in Israeli jails for 38 years and is currently hospitalized under heavy security measures.

During the rallies, Nashat al-Wahidi, a spokesman for the Commission of Martyrs and Prisoners, accused Israel of seeking to “liquidate prisoners via deliberate medical negligence and violations as administrative detention and solitary confinement.”

According to Palestinian figures, there are currently around 4,800 Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails, including at least 700 detainees who have health problems.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar