At least 330 Palestinians have been detained since the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began on June 6, according to a statement released Saturday by the Palestinian Prisoners’ Center for Studies (PPCS). The Center stated that the detentions reflected Israel’s disregard for the sanctity of this holy period.
PPCS spokesperson, Riyad al-Ashqar, said that Israeli forces detained hundreds since Ramadan began, including women, children, elderly, people suffering from various illnesses, formerly released prisoners, and fishermen in the Gaza Strip.
More than 60 children have been detained since the beginning of Ramadan. More than 21 women and girls were detained according to the center, including three mothers of prisoners.
330 Palestinians jailed by Israel this June. 414 children are now behind bars—youngest is 10 #IsraelCrimes #BDS https://t.co/4XYx4CmQCj
— Sarah Wilkinson (@swilkinsonbc) June 27, 2016
The statement highlighted the detentions of Palestinian journalist, Adib Barakat al-Atrash, and academic, Dr. Adnan Abu Tabbaneh. Israeli forces also raided the house of Palestinian Legislative Council member, Samir al-Qadi, summoning him to meet with the Israeli intelligence for interrogation.
IDF soldiers further detained 13 Palestinian fishermen from the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, the head of the Gaza office for the humanitarian organization World Vision International, Muhammad al-Halabi, was detained at the Erez crossing on Wednesday.
Israeli military courts also issued life sentences to six Palestinian prisoners over the course of the month.
Since the start of Ramadan, at least 330 Palestinians have been detained, over 21 women, more than 60 children, the ill and the elderly! #UN
— Homem-mato (@Homemmato01) June 26, 2016
Israeli authorities moved dozens of prisoners affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) from the Megiddo prison as punishment for supporting prisoner Bilal Kayid. Kayyid began a hunger strike earlier this month for being issued an administrative detention order after finishing a 14.5-year prison sentence.
This year’s month of Ramadan has been marked by widespread detention campaigns, housing demolitions, a crackdown on the right to movement, and increasing restrictions in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, where Palestinians were also the target of racist verbal abuse from thousands of Israeli extremists on the eve of Ramadan.
(MA’AN, PC)
