Israeli Military Court Decides to Release Pregnant Palestinian in Her Ninth Month

A Palestinian authority reported on Thursday that an Israeli military court decided to release a Palestinian detainee who is nine months pregnant and has been held for about five months. The Authority for Prisoners and Released Prisoners stated that the Ofer military court decided to release Anhar Al-Dik on a financial bail of 40,000 shekels (approximately $12,488) while placing her under house arrest at her family home in the village of Kafr Ni'ma. The statement added, "The Ofer court held a session yesterday, Wednesday, to consider the request for the release submitted by the authority's lawyer." It continued, "The judge postponed the final decision to next Sunday; however, through legal efforts by the defense attorney, a decision for her release was achieved, and she will be released today, Thursday, from Damon prison." No comments have been issued by the Israeli authorities regarding the release decision for Anhar, who was arrested on charges of attempting to stab Israeli soldiers at a military checkpoint in the West Bank. The authority mentioned in its statement that "the detainee Anhar Al-Dik (26 years old) from the village of Kafr Ni'ma, west of Ramallah, was arrested on March 8 and was three months pregnant at the time, enduring harsh conditions without regard for her health status." The authority added that Anhar "will be the ninth case to give birth in the occupation’s prisons unless she is released quickly, as she could experience labor pains at any moment."