Today, Israeli court postpones Hana Shalabi's hearing for the second time

Wednesday, 29 February 2012 PNN

Twenty Nine year old Hana Shalabi, a prisoner who was placed into administrative detention and has now entered her 14th day of hunger strike, had a hearing today at the Israeli court. According to Addameer Prisoner Association, today's review hearing, which was in regards to the confirmation of her order, resulted in the Israeli military judge postponing the decision for the second time. The Judge stated that he would be meeting with an Israeli intelligence officer, a meeting in which neither Hana nor her lawyer can be present. The judge will base his decision upon the meeting.

Hana was arrested on 16th February, just four months following her release from prison on the prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and the Israeli government. It was reported that during her arrest, Hana was subject to violations such as being beaten, verbally abused and harassed by the Israeli Occupying Forces. Hana immediately started her hunger strike upon being detained and was placed into solitary confinement as punishment.

Following her arrest, there have been numerous protests in solidarity with Hana, including a gathering of people in Al-Minara on Monday and a protest outside Ofer prison today. Additionally UK based Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA) group has launched a "Free Hana" campaign, urging the British government to take actions against the illegal administrative detention of Hana by Israel. FOA has called on the concerned British nationals to write to the Foreign Secretary and urged him to formally condemn the administrative detention and call for the immediate end of its use by Israel.

Following today's hearing, Addameer lawyer Mahmoud Hassan reported that she seems fatigued but is mentally sharp. She has been moved to a room with other female prisoners and is currently refusing any food or minerals and following an examination she is refusing any further medical treatment.