Israel announces that West Bank settlers no longer face detention without trial
Israel’s new defense minister has said security forces would no longer apply administrative detention orders to Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, and thus only Palestinian suspects can be held indefinitely without trial.
Israel’s new defense minister has said security forces would no longer apply administrative detention orders to Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, and thus only Palestinian suspects can be held indefinitely without trial.
The changes in the controversial policy are the latest example of an emboldened Israeli far-right, and come in the shadow of the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, and the election of President-elect Donald Trump.
Israel Katz, a long-time ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was appointed defense minister earlier in November and announced the decision on Friday.
Israel KatzBebeto Matthews / AP file In June, the number of Palestinians held in administrative detention was 3,340, more than double the number held before the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7 2023, according to Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem. The Palestinian Prisoner Society said Saturday that over 11,800 Palestinians had been arrested since the current conflict began.
B’Tselem said 37 Israeli citizens and foreign nationals were also being held. It is unclear whether any Israelis have been released as a result of the policy change.
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