RAMALLAH, West Bank — The annual Palestinian Prisoners’ Day observed April 17 focused on a boycott of Israeli courts by Palestinians whose lives are on hold while they are jailed indefinitely under administrative detention orders.

The boycott began on Feb. 13 when 500 administrative detainees announced an indefinite boycott of the Israeli justice system, including the courts of first instance, the court of appeals and the Supreme Court. Administrative detainees are prisoners arrested and held without charge, based on confidential information that neither prisoners nor their lawyers have the right to examine. Often, the administrative detention order is renewed several times. The Israeli Prison Service has threatened to force the detainees to appear in court.

“We believe that the key to facing this unjust policy is boycotting the Israeli judicial body, which always tries to justify the ugly occupation. We will not let them promote their lies about their commitment to international law and about the presence of independent judicial supervision," the detainees said in a statement.

Qaddoura Fares, the chairman of the Palestinian Prisoners Club, told Al-Monitor the boycott is a stance rather than a step, and it shouldn't stop as long as even one prisoner remains under administrative detention.