ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES／PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY：
PALESTINIAN JOURNALIST TO BE RELEASED IN APRIL

Palestinian Muhammed al-Qiq has been on hunger strike since 6 February in protest against his administrative detention. The Israeli authorities have yet to respond to his lawyer's request for him to be transferred to a hospital to receive medical treatment. He is being held in solitary confinement and is increasingly weak.

Muhammed al-Qiq, a Palestinian journalist from Dura, Hebron, was arrested by Israeli security forces on 15 January at Beit El checkpoint near Ramallah while on his way home. He was returning from a demonstration in Bethlehem against Israel’s policy of refusing to return to their families the bodies of Palestinians they accuse of attacks. Following his arrest, he underwent around 22 days of interrogations over allegations of incitement. On 6 February, he was issued a six month administrative detention order by a military judge. He responded by announcing in court that he will go on hunger strike in protest at the Israeli authorities’ decision to detain him again without charge or trial. The next day, the military judge reduced the administrative order to three months. He remains held in Kishon prison, in northern Israel.

Muhammed al-Qiq’s lawyer was scheduled to meet with him on 15 February, but officers from the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) informed him that his client was unable to see him as he could not walk or get out of bed. Following an appeal to Israel’s high court, the IPS allowed Muhammed al-Qiq to meet his lawyer for the first time in 10 days, on 19 February. The lawyer told Amnesty International that Muhammed al-Qiq seemed frail and was feeling very tired, making it difficult for him to speak. His weight loss was already apparent. He said that he was being held in solitary confinement, in a two metre square room with a low ceiling, and that it felt like a ‘freezing cold tomb’. He also complained of back pain and an inability to tolerate the cold, especially since he only had one thin blanket. His lawyer expressed concern about Muhammed al-Qiq’s health to the IPS and demanded that he be transferred to hospital to receive medical attention. The IPS refused the request.

Administrative detention orders allow for detention without charge or trial for periods up to six months. They are used by the Israeli military predominantly against Palestinians and can be renewed indefinitely. Muhammed al-Qiq was previously held under an administrative order in November 2015 for seven months, 94 days of which he spent on hunger strike in protest against his detention.

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Palestinian journalist Muhammed al-Qiq suspended his hunger strike on 10 March 2017 after he learned that the Israeli authorities were not renewing his administrative detention order. He is expected to be released on 10 April.

On 10 March, Muhammed al-Qiq, a Palestinian journalist from Dura, Hebron, suspended his hunger strike after learning of the Israeli authorities’ decision not to renew his administrative detention order. His lawyer submitted an appeal on 7 February challenging the court’s decision earlier in the day to issue Muhammed al-Qiq a three month administrative order.  In a closed hearing held on 9 March, the judge asked the military prosecution to provide the court with more information on the basis for the detention and provide the court a decision as to whether they would seek a renewal of the detention order once it expired in April. On 10 March, the prosecution informed the judge that they will not seek renewal.

Muhammed al-Qiq was arrested by Israeli security forces on 15 January at Beit El checkpoint near Ramallah while on his way home. He was returning from a demonstration in Bethlehem against Israel’s policy of refusing to return to their families the bodies of Palestinians they accuse of attacks. On 6 February, he was issued a six month administrative detention order by a military judge. He responded by announcing in court that he will go on hunger strike in protest at the Israeli authorities’ decision to detain him again without charge or trial. The next day, the military judge reduced the detention order to three months.

Administrative detention orders allow for detention without charge or trial for periods up to six months. They are used by the Israeli military predominantly against Palestinians and can be renewed indefinitely.

Muhammed al-Qiq’s lawyer told Amnesty International, “We see this as a victory for Muhammed. The Israeli military will not extend his detention. This decision exonerates Muhammed and proves his innocence; it demonstrates that there is nothing against al-Qiq and that he was being held arbitrarily”. The lawyer also highlighted Amnesty International’s campaigning efforts and the impact it had on the development of the case. He says, “We thank you for your efforts we feel that your statements and letters did help in bringing victory for al-Qiq”.

No further action is requested from the UA network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.

This is the first update of UA 48/17. Further information: www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde15/5745/2017/en/

Further information on UA: 48/17 Index: MDE 15/5878/2017 Issue Date: 17 March 2017