Ibrahim Hamed isolated for two years in Israeli detention

Tuesday July 24, 2007 13:21 by Ali Samoudi - International Middle East Media Center

Ibrahim Hamed, from the town of Selwad near Ramallah, has been imprisoned for a second consecutive year of isolated administrative detention by Israel.

Israeli detention centre

Hamed was abducted as an alleged senior leader of Ez Eddin Al Qassam. The Israeli army has held him in harsh conditions in Al Ramallah detention center, depriving him of his basic rights.

In 2003, the Israeli army deported Hamed's wife to Jordan, stating that she didn't have a necessary identity card. They later deported his sons to continue their policy of pressure and punishment on him.

A lawyer with the Palestinian Prisoner Society who was allowed to visit him reported that Hamed has been exposed to cruel treatment by Israeli intelligence since his abduction in May 2006.

Hamed reported that he was kidnapped from his home after Israeli troops surrounded and invaded the home. Hamed was transferred to the Maskobia detention center for five months of difficult interrogation, after which he was transferred to detention in isolation. His lawyer was informed that his confinement in isolation had been recommended by Israeli intelligence officials.

The decision to extend administrative detention is renewed every six months and the decision to hold him in isolation was made by the Ber Sheva military court, although he has never been charged with any crime. Hamad's detention has been extended several times by the Ofer military court. During the most recent session in May of this year, he was sentenced to serve 36 life terms.

He is not allowed visitors in administrative detention, so he has not seen his family since his abduction. Israeli authorities have also refused to provide medical treatment for the neck pain from which he suffers.

Translated by Nisreen Qumsieh

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