Mr. Khader was arrested on March the 17^th when approximately 50 soldiers barged into his house located in Balata refugee camp in Nablus during the late hours of the night. The soldiers vandalized the entrance to his house and smashed the door. They also fired several shots inside the house in order to terrorize its inhabitants.

The soldiers confiscated his personal property including his computer, mobile phone and his papers, which included documents related to his parliamentary work. 

Mr. Khader was taken in his sleepwear from his house in the West Bank to Petah Tikva investigations headquarter in Israel.    

Mr. Khader was held in incommunicado detention for several days, he was not allowed to contact his family and they did not know his whereabouts. One of his lawyers, Ra’ed Mahameed, was allowed to see him only on march the 24^th. In this meeting Khader informed his lawyer that he is being under investigation for more than 20 hours a day, he also informed his lawyer that he was deprived of sleep and was given only 3 hours to rest and eat. 

Khader was brought in front of a military judge on March the 26^th and the hearing was held in Petah Tekva headquarter. The defense attorney Riad Anes was not allowed to see any material gathered against Khader during the investigation since it was classified as secret evidence by the security forces. The security forces asked for the renewal of his arrest for purposes of investigation. They claimed that he was suspect of committing two crimes:

I. Jeopardizing the region’s safety.

II. Engaging in militant activities against Israeli targets in the West Back.

During the cross-examination, the defense attorney Riad Anes, asked the investigators for further elaboration on the alleged commission of such acts by Khader, the investigators refused to answer. For example, when Anes asked them how did Khader jeopardize the region’s safety, for instance did he incite people on radio or TV, did he publish articles in order to incite people, did he get money from foreign sources that was later used to sponsor militant activities; the investigators refused to answer the question. When Anes asked them in which attacks against Israeli targets Khader was involved, or whether anyone was injured as a result of these alleged attacks, the investigators also refused to answer these questions. 

At the end of the hearing the judge agreed to renew Khader’s arrest for additional 15 days. 

After the hearing, Khader’s family and his lawyers did not know his whereabouts. They contacted the authorities for several days trying to find out in which detention facility he was held. On April the 4^th, the authorities informed them that Khader was transferred to Acre, only after defense attorney Riad Anes threatened the security services with filing a motion to the court.

 Advocate Riad Anes was able to see Khader at the same day in Acre. According to Anes, Khader seemed very tired and he could not tell when exactly he was transferred to Acre. Khader informed his attorney that he was undergoing an intensive investigation by many officers that try to pressure him constantly; he also informed his lawyer that he was deprived of sleep. According to Khader, he also was held in isolation and officers made him sit on a chair during investigation while his hands tied behind his back and his ankles tied. Although Khader was suffering from severe spinal pain, the prison authority refused to provide him with medical care.

 On April the 8^th, a second hearing was held in Jalameh prison near the northern city of Haifa. The Judge agreed to renew Khader’s arrest for 17 days. In the hearing, the defense attorney asked the judge to allow medical examination of Khader, whose health was deteriorating due to severe methods of investigation used against him. In addition, the General Security Services issued an order prohibiting the defense attorney, Riad Anes, form meeting Khader for 5 days starting from April the 8^th.

 According to Anes, the prohibition on visiting Khader was used to pressure Khader and intimidate him during the investigation. During the hearing, Khader informed his lawyer that he was still suffering from deprivation of sleep and extremely long hours of investigation. Anes also added that Khader is being transferred from one detention facility to another and as a result Khader looked very exhausted during the hearing.

 On April the 14^th, the ban on visiting Khader was extended to April the 18^th without any explanation. 

 On April 21^st, Khader’s arrest was extended for the 3^rd time by a military court at Jalameh prison, despite the deterioration of his health. His lawyer demanded his quick and immediate release arguing that allegations raised against Mr. Khader were groundless.  

 Khader was still being subjected to emotional and psychological pressure that includes solitary confinement, exposure to extremely loud noises, and lengthy interrogations. In addition, the Israeli authorities have denied him access to basic medical care, despite the fact he complained about several health problems.     

 Only on April the 25^th the ban on visiting Khader was terminated and Khader was able to meet with his lawyer, Advocate Riad Anes, face-to-face. In this rare opportunity, Khader informed his lawyer about the status of his health, the allegations still facing him and the miserable detention and imprisonment conditions that all Palestinian prisoners are subjected to in Israeli prisons. Khader was still being subjected to daily interrogations and continued pressures from prison authorities in order to extract a confession out of him. According to Anes, it was apparent that Khader was physically weak. It is important to emphasize that only Khader’s lawyer was allowed to meet with him; even his family members were not permitted to see him.

 On May the 5th, Khader’s detention was once again extended for the 4^th time since his arrest. Raising the same allegations against him, the military court at the Jalemeh prison decided to extend his arrest for additional 17 days.

 Despite pressures made by Khader’s lawyer, along with other efforts launched by other committees and groups defending prisoner’s legal rights, and regardless to the fact that Khader continued to suffer from serious medical problems, the Israeli authorities continued to prevent the International Red Cross members from visiting or assisting Khader with any medical help.

 On May the 13^th, Advocate Riad Anes was able to visit Khader. According to Anes, Khader told him that he was being subjected to harsh treatment and ongoing investigations. Khader also told his lawyer that he did not receive any medical treatment despite the fact that his health was deteriorating.

 On May the 21^st, Khader’s arrest was extended for the 5^th time since his arrest. It was now extended for additional 15 days. Khader was transferred back from Acre to the Petah Tikva prison. During the hearing, Khader’s lawyer, Riad Anes, demanded that Khader either be released or charged, but the court refused his request.

 Before being transferred back to Petah Tikva, Khader was held for a week in absolute isolation in his cell. He was not allowed to see anyone, not even the wardens. After a week of absolute isolation, he was questioned for 60 hours (2 ½ days) without a break. During the investigation, he was not allowed to sleep or eat.

 On June the 4th, Khader’s arrest was extended for the 6^th time. This time it was extended for 14 additional days.

 Despite failures to connect Khader to any militant activities and/or unlawful finances allegedly associated with the Al-Aqsa Martyr Brigades, and regardless to disagreements often found among the various intelligence and military agencies in Israel over his continued detention, the Israeli authorities remain opposed to releasing Khader from prison.

 Given the potential changes in the current political situation in the territories along with the apparent dangerous deterioration of Khader’s health, objections to his detention are indeed on the rise. It is hoped that such continued efforts will eventually lead to securing Khader’s release, along with other Palestinian political prisoners, from the harsh and inhumane conditions of Israeli prisons.

 Since his arrest, almost three months ago, Khader has maintained a firm and unequivocal denial to all allegations made against him. 

 Khader’s family members, who are still being prohibited from seeing him since the day of his arrest, fear that the harsh investigation methods, if continued, will eventually break him. They are also extremely worried about his health, especially because he suffers from a heart condition and has not been able to take his medicine since he was arrested.

Home [sign the petition] [summary of events] [Biography] [Statements] [Documents] [Recent Developments] [Press Release] [Related Articles]  [Guestbook] [Photos] [Links] [other Languages]  Arabic

Contact Us info@hussamkhader.com

webmaster@hussamkhader.com