Palestinian Christian Released After 32 Months of Administrative Detention

Rami Fadayel, a Palestinian Christian from the Ramallah area, was released from Israeli custody on August 20, 2026, following 32 months of administrative detention without charge or trial. Upon his release, Fadayel described harsh prison conditions, alleging that he faced daily beatings and food rationing during his incarceration.

Throughout his detention, Fadayel and his legal representatives from the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC) sought access to a Bible and a priest. Although an Israeli judge ruled earlier this year that Fadayel should be permitted to possess a Bible, he reported that he was initially provided only with a Hebrew-language text, which he could not read proficiently. This copy was later confiscated during a prison transfer. Fadayel finally received an Arabic-language Bible on August 19, one day before his release.

Legal counsel Rami Saleh noted that requests for a priest to administer sacraments and hear confession were also part of their advocacy. Bishop William Shomali of the Jerusalem Latin Patriarchate emphasized that providing pastoral care and visiting prisoners are fundamental aspects of Christian practice, citing the biblical mandate in Matthew 25.