Hana was issued a 6-month administrative detention order on 23 February. After being postponed from an original date of 27 February, today’s review hearing regarding the confirmation of her order resulted in the Israeli military judge postponing the decision yet again. Instead of issuing a decision, the judge stated he would be meeting with an Israeli intelligence officer on 4 March. In the meeting, neither Hana nor her lawyers will be permitted to be present. The military judge will make his decision regarding the confirmation of her order following the meeting.

Hana was arrested on 16 February, less than four months after being released from over two years in administrative detention on 18 October 2011 as part of the prisoner exchange deal concluded by the Israeli government and Hamas, whereby 1,027 Palestinian political prisoners were released in exchange for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. During her arrest, Hana and her family were beaten and harassed by Israeli Occupying Forces. After being taken to Salem Detention Center, Hana was subjected to additional beatings, humiliation, and other stark violations. She immediately began an open hunger strike and was subsequently placed in solitary confinement as punishment.

 

After visiting with her on 27 February 2012, Addameer lawyer Samer Sam’an noted that she had been moved back into a room with other Palestinian female prisoners. She is not ingesting any kind of food or minerals, and is only drinking water. After an initial medical examination, she is now refusing further exams. Addameer lawyer Mahmoud Hassan reported after seeing her in today’s hearing that she seems fatigued but is mentally sharp.

 

On 23 February, Hana’s mother, 65, and father, 67, also began an open-ended hunger strike in solidarity with their daughter. Hana’s hunger strike began during the 66-day hunger strike of Palestinian administrative detainee Khader Adnan, whose case has helped to raise awareness about Israel’s use of arbitrary detention and its violations of international humanitarian law, which permits limited use of administrative detention only in emergency situations, but does not allow for its use as punishment when there is not sufficient evidence for criminal procedures.

 

Addameer urges the international community to continue pressuring Israel to end its practice of administrative detention and immediately release Hana Shalabi prior to confirming her administrative detention order. Hana has stated that she will continue her hunger strike if she remains in administrative detention; to ensure her release, local and international coalitions must work rapidly to build a movement in her support.

 

For more information about Hana’s case, read her profile here.