Palestinian jailed by PA for 'planning attacks' against Israel
July 28, 2015 5:24 P.M. (Updated: July 28, 2015 5:26 P.M.)
http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=766697

QALQILIYA (Ma'an) -- A Palestinian man from the town of Qalqiliya in the
occupied West Bank has reportedly been held by Palestinian intelligence
services for seven months for "security purposes," his family said Tuesday.

Qassam Hajj Hamad, 33, was detained by Palestinian intelligence authorities
on suspicion of planning attacks against Israel, Qassam's brother Muhammad
told Ma'an.

PA authorities continue to hold Qassam in a Jericho jail despite being
issued a bail of 500 Jordanian Dinars ($700) by the Palestinian High Court
of Justice.

Qassam reportedly began a hunger strike seven days ago in protest of his
continued detention.

Earlier this month the PA released Islam Hamed, 30, who was held for two
years past his three-year prison term and had gone on an open-ended hunger
strike in April.

Palestinian security services initially refused to release Hamed at the end
of his term on the grounds that that keeping him inside the prison was the
only way to protect him from Israeli security forces.

According to Adnan Dmeiri, a spokesperson for the Palestinian security
forces, Hamed's situation was "dangerous" and his "life was at stake."

Dmeiri added: "We know that keeping Hamed held by the security services went
against the Palestinian High Court of Justice's ruling, but the aim is to
protect him."

"We can only protect him inside, and we would not be able to while he is
outside our jail because there is no full Palestinian independence and
control."

The PA claimed that it only agreed to release Hamed after his family assured
the security forces that they were not responsible for Hamed outside of
prison.