Haifa district court approved yesterday a request by Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman to extend the administrative detention of two Palestinian citizens by three months, reported Arab48.
Mu’atasem Mahamid, from Mu’awiya village, and Ahmad Mar’i from Ara-Ar’ara, were arrested by Israeli authorities on 23 July 2017, along with a third youth, Adham D’eif (also from Ara-Ar’ara).
A few days later, they were placed under administrative detention, detention without trial or charge.
While D’eif was released after the end of the six-month order, Lieberman requested an additional three months of administrative detention for Mahamid and Mar’i, which was approved by the court in February. The court has now approved a new order for a further three months.
READ: Israel extends detention without trial of two young Palestinian citizens
The detention is based on “classified materials”, and the youths’ lawyer, Nazareth-based attorney Omar Khamisi, has been unable to view any of the alleged evidence.
Hundreds of Palestinians from the occupied Palestinian territory are held by Israeli authorities without charge or trial, in orders signed by the Israeli military hierarchy.
However, it is more unusual for Palestinians with Israeli citizenship to be subjected to administrative detention, a measure which requires the direct authorisation of the defence minister.
