Ramallah, July 31 (RHC)-- Twenty Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have started a hunger strike, joining nine others who have been refusing food for a month in protest against Israel’s administrative detention.

Administrative detention is an illegal Israeli policy under which Tel Aviv keeps Palestinian prisoners behind bars without charge or trial.  The detention orders can be renewed indefinitely and the detainees could even stay in prison for up to 10 years.

Human rights groups say Israel should either prosecute Palestinian prisoners or release them. But Tel Aviv insists that they were arrested on secret reports that are inaccessible to prisoners and their lawyers. Today, over 450 Palestinians are held under this form of imprisonment.

In addition to the hunger strike, the Palestinian prisoners are also boycotting Israel’s military courts.  They point out that Israel uses administrative detention against people of all ages and walks of life.

Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are languishing in Israeli jails without charge or trial under the illegal so-called administrative detention.  The inmates say their hunger strike is a bid to have their voice heard and to force the Israeli regime to end this illegal policy.