The first hearing for Palestinian Legislative Council member Khalida Jarrar and Khitam Saafin, president of the Union of Palestinian Women's Committees, was held today, 5 July 2017, at Ofer Military Court in Ramallah. During the hearing, the judge decided to extend the detention period of Jarrar to six additional days and Saafin's to an additional 72 hour.

According to Addameer's attorney Muna Naddaf, who visited Jarrar and Saafin yesterday, a large number of Israeli occupation forces surrounded their homes in Ramallah at approximately 4:00 am. Later, they were both taken to Ofer military court for interrogation, which lasted for almost 30 minutes, and after that, they were placed in a very small prison cell that had no windows and no toilet for more than four hours, and they were not offered food over the whole period. At approximately 4:00 pm, Jarrar and Saafin were transferred to Hasharon prison. 

Khalida Jarrar, a civil society leader, has been a Palestinian Legislative Council Member since 2006, is head of the Prisoners' Commission in the Palestinian Legislative Council, and a member of the Board of Directors of Addameer Prisoner Support.

Khalida Jarrar has been targeted by Israeli forces in recent years. She was released from prison in June 2016 after serving over a year in prison, including one-month under administrative detention.   

Khitam Saafi, prisdent of the Union of Palestinian Women's Committee has spoken internationally and participated in many worldwide events, including the World Social Forum, linking women’s struggles internationally with the struggle of Palestinian women for national and social liberation. 

The arrest of Khalida Jarrar and Khitam Saafin constitute an attack against Palestinian political leaders and Palestinian civil society as a whole. It also constitutes one arrest in the context of continuous arrest campaigns against Palestinians.

Addameer calls for the immediate release of Palestinian civil society leaders Khalida Jarrar and Khitam Saafin.