Israel extends administrative detention of Palestinian minor with rare health condition

A rights group that advocates for Palestinian children has urged for the release of a chronically ill teenager whose administrative detention has been extended by Israel.

Defense for Children International – Palestine, reported on Thursday that an Israeli military court extended the administrative detention against 17-year-old Amal Nakhleh on May 20.

Nakhleh suffers from myasthenia gravis, a rare chronic autoimmune, neuromuscular illness that causes muscle weakness. The muscles Nakhleh uses for breathing and swallowing are also affected by the disease.

His treatment requires ongoing medical intervention and it is vital that he receives regular and uninterrupted doses of medication.

"Israeli authorities must either file charges against Palestinian children or release them," Ayed Abu Eqtaish, accountability program director at Defense for Children International – Palestine, said in a statement.

"Administrative detention must never be used to justify the detention of children and amounts to a clear violation of fundamental due process rights. Israeli authorities must immediately end the arbitrary detention of Palestinian children."

Israeli military court renews administrative detention of Palestinian 17-year-old Amal Nakhleh #WithoutCharge for 4 more months despite his rare autoimmune disorder. Israeli authorities must end the arbitrary detention of Palestinian children like Amal. https://t.co/JmkRtmZ7rh pic.twitter.com/081nZZWnPc

— Mirna Miranda (@MirandaMirna) June 4, 2021

Nakhleh was initially arrested on November 2, 2020, and charged with throwing stones, but was released 22 days later.

He was re-arrested by Israeli forces from his home, during a night raid at 3:30am on January 12, and has been in administrative detention since then.

Around 350 Palestinian prisoners are currently held in Israeli administrative detention without charge or trial, according to reports.

Under the administrative detention order, Israel imprisons Palestinians for six months at a time, which can be extended indefinitely.

Israel says the procedure allows authorities to hold alleged suspects in a measure to "prevent attacks" while continuing to gather evidence.

Rights groups say such system is abusive to Palestinian children, who are mostly arrested for throwing stones.