- Report, August 2009 Defense for Children International.
- Photo: Palestinian child in the Gaza Strip.
On 14 August 2009, Hamdi al-Ta’mari (UA 1/09) was issued with his fourth administrative detention order by the Israeli military commander in the West Bank. This latest order was issued for a duration of four months. The order was reviewed by an Israeli military court on 20 August 2009, which confirmed the order.
On the same day, Hamdi turned 17.
Hamdi’s latest administrative detention order is now set to expire on 14 December 2009.
He has been held without charge or trial since 18 December 2008.
Administrative detention
Administrative detention is detention without charge or trial and is often based on ‘secret evidence’. Israeli Military Order 1591 empowers military commanders to detain Palestinians, including children as young as 12, for up to six months if they have ‘reasonable grounds to presume that the security of the area or public security require the detention’. The initial six month period can be extended by additional six-month periods indefinitely. This procedure denies the detainee the right to a fair trial and the ability to adequately challenge the basis of his or her detention.
There are currently at least 387 Palestinian men, women and children in administrative detention. For more information visit the DCI-Palestine website at Freedom Now.
To take action, please follow this link and write to your elected representatives and/or the Israeli authorities demanding an end to the practice of detaining children without charge or trial in administrative detention.
