2 Huwara riots suspects arrested, denied food

Two Jewish residents of the Samaria community of Givat Ronen were arrested this morning (Monday) by the Shin Bet and police on suspicion of involvement in the violent riots in Huwara which followed the murder of Hallel and Yagel Yaniv.

In the afternoon, the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court extended the suspects' detention for three days.

At the hearing, it was revealed that the police and Shin Bet had denied the suspects food since their arrest in the early morning until the time of the hearing. In light of this, Judge Amir Shaked ordered that the detainees be provided with food.

The Shin Bet and prosecution requested that the suspects' detention be extended by 10 days, but the court only ordered them to be held for three days.

Attorney Daniel Shimshilashvil, who represents the detainees on behalf of the Honenu organization, criticized the denial of food to the detainees, and said: "We believe that there is no reason to extend the detention at all and certainly not to prevent them from meeting with a lawyer as if there were 'ticking bombs.' At the end of the day, nothing will come from this."

"In today's hearing, it became clear to us that our clients have not received food since their arrest, which is a basic elementary right of suspects and detainees. I implore the Shin Bet and police to protect the rights of my clients. We will appeal to the district court against the scandalous and draconian ban on meeting with attorneys," he added.

Two other suspects in the Huwara riots remain in custody in administrative detention after Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered them to be held for four months minutes after the Jerusalem District Court ordered them and six other suspects released due to lack of evidence.

Last week, Lod District Court Judge Ruth Lorach ordered the detention of the minor suspect, who is 17-years-old, shortened from four months to under two months. The detention of the other suspect was also shortened to about three months.