On the occasion of Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, marked annually on April 17, Attorney Omar Khamaisi, Director of the Organization for Human Rights Meezaan in Nazareth, warned of the escalating campaign of administrative detentions targeting leaders, activists, and youth from the Arab community inside Israel. He noted that this campaign has been expanding, with the most recent case being the issuance of an administrative detention order against Raja Eghbariah, a 73-year-old leader of the “Abnaa al-Balad” movement.
Khamaisi explained that this policy has witnessed a significant escalation, particularly following the events of October 7, 2023, which saw a dramatic shift in the Israeli General Security Service (Shin Bet)’s approach to detainees and security-related cases. He pointed out that the suspicions leading to administrative detention do not necessarily require the commission of any act, but may sometimes stem from virtual interactions or engagement with websites or social media groups, which the Israeli authorities classify as “terrorist entities” or “prohibited organizations.”
He added that the typical course of action often begins with short-term arrests based on specific suspicions. If the authorities fail to gather sufficient evidence to file an indictment, they resort to administrative detention, which is issued by the Minister of Defense and almost invariably approved later by the court.
Khamaisi highlighted that these orders are regularly renewed every six months, describing it as a policy of “open-ended administrative detention.” He regarded this practice as a blatant violation of the principles of justice, reflecting an arbitrary approach that lacks the minimum standards of transparency and legal fairness.
He called on the Arab community’s youth to maintain a high level of legal awareness and vigilance when navigating online spaces, stressing that the security services now regard virtual activity and smartphone content as primary sources for intelligence gathering, which may later form the basis for suspicions leading to arrest.
Khamaisi also warned of the risks associated with contacting individuals or entities abroad without verifying their backgrounds, noting that under Israeli law, such communications fall under the charge of “contact with a foreign agent,” especially if the person resides outside the country’s borders.
In conclusion, Attorney Omar Khamaisi emphasized the importance of legal and cultural awareness, clarifying that the authorities might even rely on the mere expression of ideas during interrogation as a pretext for issuing administrative detention orders, even in the absence of any actual action.
