31
other citizens reported that they were prevented from communicating with the
outside world and at least (5) of them reported that the security services prevented
them from contacting a lawyer.
Administrative detention21
The number of allegations of administrative detention reached (59) out of the
total allegations of arbitrary arrest and illegal detention, and the overwhelming
majority are in the West Bank (56), and only three allegations are in the Gaza Strip.
In 2019, these allegations reached (64), including three allegations of children
under the age of 18 who were detained by the governor for exercising their right
to freedom of opinion and expression, all of which were in the West Bank.
The detention of detainees continues despite a judicial decision to
release them
(47) Citizens in the West Bank reported that the security services kept them
detained despite a judicial decision to release them, while two other citizens of the
Gaza Strip reported that the security services refrained from implementing judicial
decisions issued for their release, and kept them in detention. Such allegations
amounted to only (5) allegations in 2019, all in the West Bank, and (54) allegations
in 2018, including 2 allegations in the Gaza Strip, and (81) allegations in 2017,
including (16) allegations in the Gaza Strip.
Entities responsible for arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention
ICHR found, through the complaints it received, that most citizens filed complaints
about being subjected to arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention against the
Internal Security Agency in the Gaza Strip, as such allegations amounted to
(136), while the allegations against the Preventive Security Service in the West
Bank amounted to (98) allegation. As for the allegations made against the police
apparatus in the West Bank, they amounted to (84) allegations, and the allegations
made against the police apparatus in the Gaza Strip amounted to (49). Additionally,
52 allegations were made against the General Intelligence Service in the West
Bank. ICHR also recorded (23) allegations of arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention
against members of the Higher Coordinating Security Committee (formerly the
Joint Security Committee in the city of Jericho) in the West Bank, as well as (74)
allegations against the governorates, most of which were for administrative
detention. In addition, there were (13) allegations against the Public Prosecution,
the Military Public Prosecution and the Military Intelligence Service in the West
21 Administrative detention is defined as the deprivation of a person’s personal freedom by detaining him
by order of the administrative authorities - not the judiciary - even if there are later ways to challenge
the legality of such detention before the courts.
Executive Summary 2020