Israel re-arrests former hunger striker: Palestinians

The Israeli Army rearrested a Palestinian former prison hunger striker in the West Bank on Wednesday, nearly a year after his release, a Palestinian official said.

Ramallah: The Israeli Army rearrested a Palestinian former prison hunger striker in the West Bank on Wednesday, nearly a year after his release, a Palestinian official said.

Thaer Halahla, 35, who was held without charge by Israel for almost two years until June 2012, was rearrested in Ramallah, an official in the Palestinian Authority`s ministry for prisoners` affairs told AFP.

Since his re-arrest, Halahla has been beaten by soldiers, "suffering injuries to his face and feet," a prisoners` rights group quoted his lawyer as saying.

An Israeli military court remanded him in custody for 12 days, the Prisoners Club said in a statement.

Halahla`s lawyer said he would appeal the court`s decision.

The Israeli Army confirmed Halahla`s arrest, but gave no further details.

Halahla was released on June 5 last year after a 76-day hunger strike in protest at Israeli prison conditions.

He was one of more than 1,500 prisoners who fasted for varying periods until May 14, 2012, when a deal with Israeli authorities for better conditions was struck.

Under what Israel calls "administrative detention," suspects can be imprisoned without trial by order of a military court. Such orders can be renewed indefinitely for up to six months at a time.

AFP

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