Gaza: The Palestinian Prisoner's Society (PPS) reported that Israeli intelligence placed Muhammad Ahmad Abdul Wahab al-Madani, a 32-year-old prisoner from Askar refugee camp in Nablus, under six months of administrative detention on the very day he was scheduled to be released after serving a prison sentence of 12 years and two months.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, al-Madani was originally set to complete his sentence on May 30, 2026, following a ruling issued years ago. However, his family was taken aback when Israeli authorities filed an additional case against him during his incarceration, extending his sentence by two months and imposing a fine. His release was rescheduled for Wednesday, but as his family awaited him at the checkpoint, they received an unexpected call from his lawyer informing them of the new six-month administrative detention order from Israeli intelligence, effectively preventing his release.
The PPS highlighted that al-Madani's situation is not unique, but rather part of a broader policy of increasing administrative detention of Palestinian prisoners and former detainees. This policy has reached unprecedented levels, with estimates suggesting more than 20,000 administrative detention orders, both new and renewed, have been issued since the beginning of the conflict.
The PPS also pointed out the widespread impact of the occupation on Palestinian society, noting that children, women, the elderly, patients, and the wounded have all been affected. As of the end of last year, 180 children were reportedly held under administrative detention, with numerous women subjected to the same treatment since the conflict began.
By July, the number of administrative detainees had risen to 3,244, all facing a range of violations, including torture, starvation, and humiliation. The PPS further revealed that several administrative detainees have died in Israeli custody due to systematic torture and neglect.
The organization emphasized the detrimental impact of administrative detention, particularly in the West Bank, on Palestinian society. It noted the targeting of thousands of activists in various sectors as part of an effort to undermine their societal roles and enforce control through the colonial settlement project.
The PPS called for international intervention, urging the global community, including the United Nations and relevant bodies, to fulfill their legal and moral obligations by taking immediate steps to end administrative detention. They urged pressure on Israeli authorities to release detainees and cease using this policy as a punitive measure outside any fair judicial process.
Furthermore, the organization appealed to international human rights groups to intensify their documentation efforts and hold those responsible for these detention practices accountable.