Ms Federica Mogherini
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Dear High Representative / Vice-President Mogherini,
We, the undersigned human rights organizations, write to you respectfully seeking your urgent intervention for the release of three Palestinian hunger strikers that are held in administrative detention by the State of Israel, with their life in imminent danger:
Malik al Qaadi, the 19 year-old who is being held in administrative detention since May 2016, and who has completed 67 days of hunger strike. According to doctors at Wolfson hospital, he might have only a few days to live.
Mohammad and Mahmoud Balboul are brothers who have been arrested in June 2016 and held under administrative detention since then. Mohammad is 25 years old, and was completing his Masters’ in Psychology. He is now on his 77th day and has lost over 30 kilos. Mahmoud is a 23-year old dentist who is now on his 89th of hunger strike. He is currently at risk of multiple organ failure.
The three, like other administrative detainees, have been held without charge or trial, under secret evidence and in response have launched their hunger strike. Hunger striking is a non-violent form of protest and often the only recourse for Palestinian prisoners to draw attention to Israel’s arbitrary and abusive detention policies. The responsibility for al Qaadi’s and the Balbouls’ critical conditions therefore lies with the Israeli authorities and the practice of administrative detention.
Until recently, Israel has waited until the very last moment to reach a deal with hunger strikers to release them from administrative detention, including Bilal Kayed, Khader Adnan, Mohamad al Qeeq and Mohammad Alan. This pattern has taken place despite repeated claims by Israeli authorities that the detainees are ‘too dangerous’ to release, and it is bound at some point to result in loss of life. This looks to now be the case, as all three are at a very critical stage and at risk of sudden death.
While administrative detention is legal under the Fourth Geneva Convention, it must be used on a case by case basis without discrimination of any kind. However, Israel has used administrative detention on a systematic basis against tens of thousands of Palestinians, with currently around 700 administrative detainees in Israeli jails. Administrative detention is used by Israel as a form of collective punishment and – through targeting Palestinian Legislative Council members – a means of suppressing internal Palestinian political processes. As in a local EU statement, issued on the 27th of January “Detainees have the right to be informed about the charges underlying any detention, must be granted access to legal assistance, and be subject to a fair trial.” Al Qaadi’s deterioration comes on the steps of the landmark High Court of Justice decision which rendered Israel’s Force-Feeding law legal. Such a decision highlights how Israel’s political considerations are trumping humanitarian and medical needs.
We, the undersigned, respectfully call on you, as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to provide the necessary leadership and:
● Publically voice concern for the hunger strikers and inform the Israeli authorities that hunger strikes are a legitimate form of protest which should not be met with punitive measures.
● Publically voice concern over Israel’s continued systematic use of administrative detention. Demand that Israel release the hunger strikers.
Signing organizations:
Al Haq, Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Amnesty International Israel, Platforme Palestine, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHRI), Coalition of Women for Peace
