Partner recognized as a Prisoner of Conscience

Ayman Ghrayeb – founder of our partner organization Ikhilia in the occupied West Bank – has been classified as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. We welcome this decision and hope it will be helpful to exert pressure for his immediate release. Ayman is an example of the 3,474 Palestinians held under administrative detention.

His situation and arrest
Ayman is a Palestinian human rights defender and founding member of our partner organisation Ikhilia, working with agricultural communities in the Jordan Valley, especially in the Tubas area, documenting human rights abuses by settlers and the Israeli army. He was arbitrarily detained by Israeli forces on 17 November 2025. During his arrest, agents of Israels internal secret service told him they had “had enough” of his activism. His whereabouts remained unknown for two days before it was confirmed he was held at a military base, where he was reportedly physically assaulted. On 14 December 2025, a six-month administrative detention order was issued against him without presenting evidence to him or his lawyer.

Administrative detention
Administrative detention is a practice widely criticized by international human rights bodies. It allows for imprisonment without charge or trial, based on secret evidence that is not disclosed to the detainee or their lawyer. These detention orders are issued for up to six months at a time and can be renewed indefinitely. In practice, administrative detention is a political tool used by Israeli authorities to silence activists. According to the Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem, as of September 2025, 3,474 Palestinians are under administrative detention in Israeli jails.

Impact on communities
Many of the communities that Ayman used to visit and protect by his documentation are now suffering enormous pressure from almost daily attacks perpetrated by Israeli settlers. The situation in the West Bank is extremely concerning, and the violence against Palestinian communities has escalated significantly – especially after the start of the current war with Iran. Families in the region are facing repeated attacks, threats, and loss of access to their land and livelihoods. Ayman’s detention further weakens the support available to these communities and affects the resilience of families already under severe pressure.

New Wall and developments in the Tubas area
Besides settler violence, there is another development impacting communities in the Northern Jordan Valley: the Israeli army has started the construction of a military barrier and road that will seize agricultural fields and impact nearly 65 km² in this first section only. Our partner organization Ikhilia has reported that dozens of farmers have lost access to water infrastructure and are not able to reach their fields due to road blocks. The construction of the barrier, together with the displacement of communities due to recurring settler attacks, suggests a coordinated effort to push families from their land and may facilitate future annexation of territory, which is prohibited under international law.

How we support

• We report on the situation and persecution of human rights defenders such as Ayman to rally international support for just treatment and release. 
• We coordinate nonviolent support and strategizing for communities and families under threat of expulsion, including his family.
• We support human rights defenders in Israel and Palestine in their physical security and mental well-being.
• We continue to support our partners despite the increasing challenges faced by Palestinian communities and human rights defenders in the region.
• Your voice and support are much needed.

What you can do

• Click the link to use Amnesty International’s letter template and send a letter to the Israeli commanders responsible for Ayman Ghrayeb’s administrative detention.
• You are also able to help release Ayman Ghrayeb by contacting your members of parliament, foreign ministry and or diplomatic representation in Israel and demand that they contact the military authorities overseeing administrative detention procedures in the West Bank.
• Diplomats should urge Israeli authorities to revoke Ayman Ghrayeb’s administrative detention. Ayman Ghrayeb is a nonviolent activist raising awareness on social media about the challenges faced by agricultural communities in the Jordan Valley, exercising his right to freedom of expression. 
• The arbitrary detention of human rights defenders without charge or evidence is a severe infringement on the rights to due process and liberty, and the EU-Israel Association Agreement contains human rights clauses that Israel must uphold.