Israeli authorities have kidnapped 88 Palestinian citizens since the beginning of October, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club. Additionally, the administrative detention orders of six Palestinian MPs have been renewed.According to the Palestinian News Network, Prisoners Club officials announced Thursday that Israeli authorities have taken 88 Palestinian citizens into custody since the beginning of this month, with reference to legal records held by the club.
The highest percentage of imprisonment was accounted for in Hebron (25 prisoners), followed by Jerusalem (20 prisoners).
In Bethlehem the number reportedly reached 11, in Salfit 10, while the remaining prisoners were from the Nablus, Ramallah, Al Bireh, Tubas, Qalqilya and Tulkarm districts.
Also on Thursday, Israeli authorities renewed the administrative detention of six Palestinian Members of Parliament affiliated with the Hamas political movement, sources in the party told Ma’an News Agency.
The decision to keep the six lawmakers in detention without trial or charges reportedly comes after they already completed between three and six months each under similar conditions.
The MPs being held captive by Israel were identified as: Basim Zaarir, who will be held for six more months, Omar Abd al-Raziq, 3 more months, Azzam Salhab, 4 more months, Ibrahim Abu Salim, 4 more months, Fadil Hamdan, 3 more months, and former minister Issa Jaabari, 3 more months.
As of mid-September, 33 Palestinian MPs and two ministers were being held in detention by Israel.
Ma’an further reports that over 7,000 Palestinians are currently being held by Israel, including around 500 under the policy of administrative detention, in which prisoners are detained without charge or trial — a colonial practice which dates back to the time of British Mandate borders.
See IMEMC Special Report: 04/16/14 “800,000 Palestinians Imprisoned By Israel Since 1967” for further info.
