Israeli Court Extends Detention of Palestinian Woman amid Pandemic
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Israeli court extended the detention of a female Palestinian activist amid international calls on the regime to ensure Palestinian inmates’ health amid the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus.
The court in Haifa city on Sunday rejected a request to place Palestinian prisoner Aya al-Khatib under house arrest and decided to extend her detention and postpone her trial until May 13, Palestinian Information Center reported.
The court has extended the detention of the Palestinian woman several times since she was kidnaped from her home on February 17.
Israel's so-called Security Agency, better known as the Shin Bet, claimed that the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas recruited the young woman to carry out espionage activities and raise funds.
Separately on Saturday, Israel decided to delay the release of the Palestinian detainee Qassam al-Khatib, 30, despite the end of his 14-month prison term.
Qassam al-Khatib, a resident of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, has been arrested off and on. The last time was over a year ago at an Israeli checkpoint near Ramallah.
His trial was delayed several times before an Israeli court sentenced him to 14 months in jail last year.
On April 18, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the protection of Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails and detention facilities amid the pandemic.
The UN chief also asked his Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nikolay Mladenov, to remain in contact with Israeli officials to ensure that due attention is paid.