Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is the military correspondent for The Times of Israel.
An Israeli army court on Friday temporarily suspended the detention of a Palestinian prisoner on hunger strike to allow him to get medical attention as his physical condition deteriorates after nearly six months without eating.
However, Khalil Awawdeh’s lawyers said he would continue his 168-day fast until he was fully released.
Israel claims that Awawdeh, 40, is a member of a terrorist organization, an allegation he denied through his lawyer, and no formal fees have been charged. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror organization demanded his release as part of a ceasefire brokered by Egypt. 3 days of intense fighting in the Gaza Strip earlier this month, but he was identified as a member.
Ahlam Haddad, Awawdeh’s lawyer, said his client’s physical condition had deteriorated and called for his release.
Earlier this week, an Israeli army court rejected an appeal to free Awawdeh. Awawdeh appealed to Israel’s court, which is expected to consider the matter on Sunday.
But on Friday, an army court said Awadeh’s detention would be frozen as he is receiving treatment at Shamir Medical Center in central Israel, bringing up his delicate health.
The court said his detention would resume once his condition improved and he could return to prison.
— حسن اصليح | Hassan (@hassaneslayeh) August 19, 2022
Awawdeh, a father of four, is one of many Palestinian prisoners who have moved out of starvation for years to protest so-called administrative detention, which allows Israel to detain prisoners without a fee virtually indefinitely.
Israel says the policy is helping to keep harmful terrorists off the streets and allows the government to detain suspects without revealing sensitive information. Critics say the policy denies due process to criminals. Detentions must be renewed through a military court every six months, and criminals can remain in prison for years under this mechanism.
Freezing his detention well means that he is no longer held in the hospital by Israeli criminal guards, and his circle of relatives will stop at him more freely.
Haddad said his consumer hadn’t eaten since March 4, unless for a 10-day period he received vitamin injections. The Shin Bet security service did not comment on his case.
Islamic Jihad also demanded the release of a momentary prisoner, Bassem Saadi, whose detention was extended on Tuesday. The arrest earlier this month of Saadi, the leader of Islamic Jihad in the West Bank, sparked an intense series of fighting in Gaza.
Israel has recently held some 4,400 Palestinian prisoners, in addition to terrorists who have carried out deadly attacks, as well as those arrested in demonstrations or for throwing stones.
Around 670 Palestinians are being held in administrative detention lately, a number that increased in March when Israel began near-night arrest raids in the West Bank following a series of fatal terror attacks against Israelis.
Israel says it guarantees due process and largely imprisons those who threaten its safety, a small number are detained for petty crimes.
Palestinians and human rights teams claim the formula is designed to overwhelm the opposition and keep millions of Palestinians permanent while denying them their fundamental rights.
The agencies and The Times of Israel contributed to this report.
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