Israel’s inhumane treatment of Palestinian prisoners brought to light by Khader Adnan’s death

Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan’s recent death in Israel’s Ramle prison has put the spotlight once again on Israel‘s treatment of Palestinian prisoners. Adnan had spent 87 days on a hunger strike in protest against Israel‘s policy of arbitrary detention that involved cruel and inhumane treatment of prisoners. Despite being a baker by profession, he had been arrested thirteen times by Israeli authorities since 2004 due to his affiliation with the political wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement. However, he had never been charged with any involvement in acts of violence.

## Apartheid System and Human Rights Violations

Adnan’s death highlights the deadly cost Palestinians pay for defying Israel‘s apartheid and unfair military justice system. Palestinian detainees frequently use hunger strikes to challenge Israel‘s discriminatory policies, risking their health and lives to demand the rights that Israel denies them. Amnesty International, along with other human rights organizations, has criticized the Israeli authorities’ systematic use of administrative detention orders. Khader Adnan had spent a total of six years in administrative detention without charge or trial, while administrative detention orders, based on secret evidence, are almost automatically approved by the military courts that operate in the occupied West Bank.

## Violation of Basic Human Rights

The denial of proper medical treatment to Khader Adnan violated his right to health and constituted inhumane and degrading treatment. Israeli authorities claimed that Khader Adnan refused to undergo medical treatment. However, he had requested to be kept under medical supervision in a civilian hospital. While Israeli-Palestinian relations continue to be tense, the unfair treatment of Palestinian prisoners and administrative detention has become a major point of contention.

## A Call for Demanding Fair Trials

The basic tenets of justice are automatically treating Palestinians as suspects solely because of their race, and the practice of administrative detention helps maintain Israel‘s cruel apartheid system. The international community should take a clear stance on this issue. In this case, Amnesty International, together with other human rights organizations, has called on Israel‘s authorities to expedite the release of Khader Adnan’s body to his family for a dignified burial as required under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Accordingly, ensuring human rights for Palestinian prisoners, fair trials, and treating them humanely should be Israel‘s priorities and an end to the use of administrative detention.

Prisoner’s rights.-humanrights,Israel,Palestine,KhaderAdnan,prisoners,inhumanetreatment