Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant issued an administrative detention order for six months against a young man from the Southern Triangle area. The decision mandates that the young man remain in administrative detention from August 28, 2024, to February 28, 2025.
The administrative detention order, signed by the Israeli Security Minister on August 28, 2024, states that he is exercising his authority under Article 2 of the Emergency Powers (Detention) Law, 1979, based on a reasonable belief that there is sufficient ground related to national security/public safety, justifying the imposition of administrative detention on the young man.
The young man was arrested on August 26, 2024, on criminal and security-related suspicions, including possession of a weapon with the intent to carry out terrorist acts, as well as posting content on social media that supports and encourages terrorism.
Attorney Omar Khameisi, director of the “Mezan” Human Rights Foundation (Nazareth), who is representing the detainee, confirms that many administrative detention cases begin with ordinary arrests on security suspicions. However, when it comes time to release the detainee, and due to insufficient evidence for criminal prosecution, the easier route is chosen to continue the detention—administrative detention, which is primarily based on classified materials.
For his part, the administrative detainee denied all the allegations against him during the investigation. In this context, Khameisi points out, “Since this case lacks criminal evidence, the intelligence services have resorted to the administrative route, which does not require the disclosure or presentation of evidence.”
He adds that the period we are living in since October 7, 2023, is very different from before, as the process of carrying out administrative detentions by security agencies (intelligence) for a large number of young men and imprisoning them for long periods has become extremely easy. This is happening amid unprecedented alignment from Israeli judges, who now approve long administrative detentions on the grounds that the current circumstances do not permit challenging the decisions of the Security Minister.
Attorney Khameisi explains that the judges’ approach in Israeli courts, which is closely aligned with intelligence services, is highly concerning and has negative consequences for our Palestinian community inside Israel. It has become very easy to target young men and imprison them for long periods, with such actions receiving political, judicial, and legal support. Unfortunately, there is no real oversight by judges regarding administrative detention files concerning Arab youth.
Mezan Human Rights Foundation – Nazareth
Thursday, September 12, 2024
