Israeli court freezes detention of two hunger strikers

By Anees Bargouthi

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - The Israeli Supreme court on Wednesday temporarily suspended administrative detention of two Palestinian brothers, who have been on hunger strike for more than two months in Israeli jails, a Palestinian official said.

"The court decision allows the Israeli authorities to re-new the administrative detention for Mohammed Balboul, 25, and Mahmoud Balboul, 22, at any time," Issa Qaraqe, head of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)'s committee on detainees, told Anadolu Agency.

He said the two brothers, who have been held without charge, have rejected the court decision despite the deterioration of their health condition.

"They will continue their open-ended hunger strike until their administrative detention is permanently canceled," he said.

Under Israel's "administrative detention" policy, prisoners can be held for up to one year without charge or trial.

According to official Palestinian figures, over 7,000 Palestinians are currently languishing in Israeli prisons, roughly 700 of whom are being held in administrative detention.