The Ahrar Center for Detainees Studies and Human Rights has reported that Israel is currently holding captive eleven democratically elected Palestinian legislators and one minister.In a press release, head of the Ahrar Center, former political prisoner, Fuad al-Khuffash, stated that most of the imprisoned officials are held under arbitrary Administrative Detention orders, without charges.
“In many cases, renewed detention orders were issued against them just a day or a few days before their release date”, al-Khuffash said. “All of the detained legislators are former political prisoners who spent years in Israel prisons.
The detained legislators are Mahmoud Abu Teir, Yasser Mansour, Mahmoud Ramahy, Nizar Ramadan, Mohammad Bader, Ahbdul-Jaber Foqaha, Ahmad Attoun, Mohammad Natsha, Marwan Barghouthi, and Ahmad Sa’adat.
The detained minister is Issa Ja’bary, who was recently rearrested and imprisoned by Israel without charges.
“They are rarely allowed family visits, and are facing very harsh living conditions”, al-Khuffash said. “Some of them have chronic diseases; they need professional and adequate medical attention, but are denied this right”.
