The Haifa District Court has reduced the administrative detention of Basil Dahesh Akri, a Palestinian activist from Arrabat Al-Battouf in the Galilee region, following an order from Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
Initially set at five months, Akri’s detention was shortened to three and a half months, pushing his release to late December 2024 rather than February 2025.
Lawyer Khaled Muhajna said: “The court’s decision to reduce the detention period of Bassel, who is currently detained in Megiddo Prison, is very important, as we did not expect such a decision, specifically in this difficult phase that the country is going through and the Israeli judiciary is affected by it.”
While welcoming the reduction, Mahajna insisted that Akri should be released immediately, as no evidence has been presented to justify his detention.
He added: “We view this decision as a precedent, and it is considered one of the best decisions given the surrounding circumstances, but of course we are completely convinced that Basil must be released immediately, especially since there is no evidence against him contrary to the suspicions raised by the police at the beginning of the arrest.”
The court has scheduled a further session on 20 November to reassess the detention or potentially extend it, depending on developments in the case. Akri was arrested on 12 August, during a raid by Israeli Special Forces and the Shin Bet, alongside another activist, Basil Abahra.
Since 7 October, Addameer documented a dramatic increase in the number of arbitrary arrests and detentions, the use and intensity of violence, and the gravity of the crimes committed against Palestinian detainees.
In almost a year, over 10,000 Palestinians have been arrested, and the number detained by the Israeli occupation grew from over 5,000 to 9,900. Some 3,332 detainees are held under administrative detention; without charge or trial.
The administrative detention order, signed by Gallant on 28 August, states that according to Section 2 of the Emergency Powers (Detention) Law of 1979, the minister has “reasonable cause” to believe there are “reasons of state security or public security” in Israel that require imposing the administrative detention on the man.
Director of the Nazareth based Mizan Foundation for Human Rights and defence lawyer, Omar Khamaisi, said: “Many administrative detention files begin with regular detentions on security suspicions, but when the detainee is released due to lack of sufficient evidence, the easiest way to keep him in detention is through administrative detention which is primarily based on secret material.”
He added that Israel has increased the use of administrative detention orders since 7 October last year; holding Arab detainees in prison for long periods.
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