ITA / FRA

Amal Nakhleh is a Palestinian teenager with a serious illness who has been held in what Israel calls “administrative detention” -- at age 17, he has already passed a year of his life behind bars without charge or trial. 

Because of his illness and treatment, Amal cannot be vaccinated for COVID-19, and he just contracted COVID-19 while in detention. The Israeli military reportedly transferred him for treatment -- but his family was not informed of these developments. In fact, his father learned about his worsening condition from the media. 

Amal has a rare neuromuscular disorder called myasthenia gravis which causes severe muscle fatigue and had a lung tumor removed in 2020. Amal’s father says this medical condition necessitates regular hospital visits and a calm environment. After a prison visit, his father said, “He couldn’t move his lips, he couldn’t move his eyes, he couldn’t smile. These are symptoms of the disease… We are very worried about his health situation.” He also pointed out, “There’s no legal justification to hold him, there’s been no charge.”

Israeli authorities say he is accused of throwing stones at soldiers, but no one has seen the evidence against him. United Nations representatives wrote to the Israeli government on Amal’s behalf but were not given information about the reasons for his arrest. 

The United Nations agency focused on Palestinians, UNRWA, has called for his “immediate release from administrative detention for two reasons: his medical condition, which is incredibly serious…and he is a minor.”

His parents are afraid that Amal will die in detention. More than 500 Palestinian adults and 6 minors are reportedly being held in administrative detention; some adults were finally released only after months-long hunger strikes that permanently affected their health.  

At age 17, Amal is the youngest Palestinian in administrative detention. The military tribunal decided to renew his detention for the fifth time -- even though there are still no charges against Amal. 

Amal's life is at serious risk, and every day he passes in detention could prove fatal. 

Amal’s only hope is that enough public and international pressure builds around his case to prompt the Israeli government to release him. For this reason, we ask you to sign this petition for Amal’s immediate and unconditional release and share it widely with your friends and contacts -- this is Amal’s only hope for life and freedom. 

Sources: France24.com, European Parliament briefing on administrative detention in Israel