Israel expands use of notorious administrative detention to suppress Palestinian citizens

Nazareth (Quds News Network) – In the midst of the ongoing Israeli aerial and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip and the ensuing tragic human toll, with at least 23,000 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, confirmed killed to date, Palestinian citizens of Israel are facing increased persecution.

Reports reveal that hundreds have been arrested or interrogated, mainly based on social media activity, with dozens facing suspension or dismissal from Israeli academic institutions. Moreover, a recent amendment to Israel’s Counterterrorism Law has ushered in unprecedented levels of surveillance.

Amid these challenges, a less conspicuous yet equally concerning development has emerged – since October 7, Israel has placed seven Palestinian citizens in administrative detention, a tool typically used against Palestinians in the occupied territories. This practice allows for arbitrary incarceration without standard legal proceedings based on classified evidence.

While administrative detention has been commonly used in the occupied territories, its application against Palestinians with Israeli citizenship has been rare since the lifting of military rule within the state in 1966. However, recent events indicate a departure from this historical trend, with seven cases reported since October 7.

Earlier this year, hard-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir proposed expanding the use of administrative detention against Palestinian citizens allegedly to address the issue of the organized crime and gun violence within Arab communities in Israel.

This suggestion faced strong opposition from human rights organizations and civil society groups who feared broader misuse beyond the fight against crime, especially amid reports that the Israeli police and security forces were facilitating the infestation of this phenomenon within the Arab community.

Although the initial proposal did not materialize, the recent surge in administrative detentions against Palestinian citizens suggests a shift, with the ongoing war on Gaza serving as justification.

The number of cases has risen from three detainees about a month and a half ago to seven, according to human rights attorney Sawsan Zaher, representing detainees from Arraba and Sakhnin.

Human rights advocates argue that these detentions constitute a worrying escalation and a new wave of repression against Arab society. Critics highlight concerns that standard arrests have decreased, making administrative detention an attractive tool for security forces as it does not require the presentation of evidence.

In one case, Jaber Mahajneh from Umm al-Fahem was arrested by the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency. Despite having no apparent serious evidence against him, Mahajneh received an administrative detention order signed by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, allowing his incarceration for three months.

The detainees from various cities were targeted based on grounds related to their religious piety or alleged connections to groups deemed as security threats.

Critics argue that the use of administrative detention as a preventive measure violates citizens’ rights and enables Israeli authorities to infringe upon their liberties without concrete evidence.