The United States on Monday criticized Security Minister Israel Katz’s decision to halt the use of administrative detention—a practice that allows suspects to be held without formal charges—against settlers described as "extremist" in the occupied West Bank.

Washington stressed that the halted measure was one of the few tools available to the Israeli government to address settler violence.

During a press briefing, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed concern, stating the decision represents “a rollback of one of the limited mechanisms effectively utilized by Israel to curb illegal activities.”

Miller’s comments appeared to criticize the Israeli Police, which has made only a few arrests related to settler violence over the past year, despite frequent violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Administrative detention, typically carried out by the Shin Bet, requires the approval of the Security Minister to be implemented.

Miller emphasized that the Biden administration is “incredibly concerned” about the escalating violence by settlers in the West Bank, including attacks on Palestinian civilians, the forced displacement of Palestinian communities, and the deliberate destruction of homes and farmland.

“We have called on the government of Israel repeatedly to take further actions to deter extremist settler violence and to hold those engaging accountable,” Miller stated.

He also noted, “As you have seen with the actions that we have taken over the past year, we are also committed to continuing to take our own actions.”

This was a reference to the sanctions imposed by the US on approximately two dozen individuals and entities since the beginning of the year. Miller acknowledged, however, that these sanctions could potentially be overturned by a future administration.

On Friday, Katz announced the decision, sparking accusations of discrimination. Critics pointed out that the practice of detaining suspects without charge or trial would still apply to thousands of Palestinians. By the time of Katz’s announcement, only seven settlers had been subjected to administrative detention.

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Administrative detention permits individuals to be held without formal charges for up to six months at a time, with the option for indefinite renewals. This practice enables military prosecutors to withhold evidence from suspects while arguing that the individual poses a significant threat despite insufficient evidence for an indictment.

Channel 12 news reported on Friday that the Shin Bet has cautioned "Israel’s" political leadership that Katz’s decision could undermine efforts to address violent settler activity.

The network reported that Katz’s decision could complicate "Israel’s" efforts to dissuade European countries from cooperating with international tribunals, as it reinforces perceptions of unequal treatment between Jews and Arabs under Israeli rule in the West Bank.

According to a US official, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed the Biden administration’s concerns about the decision during a phone call with Katz on Saturday, as reported by Israeli media.

The US official expressed significant concerns about discrimination, noting that Katz’s decision to end detention without trial for settlers while continuing it for Palestinians raises serious issues.

Following the announcement, several attacks were reported involving settler extremists. On Saturday, dozens of settlers threw stones at Israeli troops and Border Police officers near the settlement of Itamar. 

It is worth noting the announcement comes as settler violence has surged since October 7, 2023. Israeli authorities have rarely made arrests in such incidents, with rights groups criticizing the low conviction rates and the frequent dismissal of charges.

Just last week, masked settlers set fire to several buildings and a car in the West Bank village of Beit Furik, near Nablus. No arrests have been announced.

According to residents, the settlers torched cars, destroyed agricultural structures, and vandalized personal belongings. CCTV footage obtained by Reuters from a local resident revealed masked men setting property ablaze and hurling rocks at a dog.

At the time, Palestinian presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh condemned the settlers' attack as an "escalation of colonist terrorism against the Palestinian people," which "requires an international stance to stop the aggression.”

Israeli authorities ramp up administrative detention of Palestinians

Israeli authorities have significantly escalated their use of administrative detention against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. This increase in arbitrary detentions, along with extended emergency measures that enable inhumane treatment of Palestinians, has been accompanied by a lack of investigation into incidents of torture and deaths in Israeli detention over the past year.

Released detainees, human rights lawyers, and video evidence have provided accounts of the severe torture and mistreatment prisoners have endured, including violent beatings, sexual abuse, forced humiliation, and cruel treatment such as being forced to kneel during inmate counts or sing Israeli songs.

Administrative detention is one of the key tools through which "Israel" has enforced its system of apartheid against Palestinians. Testimonies and video evidence also point to numerous incidents of torture and other ill-treatment by Israeli forces including severe beatings and deliberate humiliation of Palestinians who are detained in dire conditions.

According to the Palestinian Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs Commission and the Palestinian Prisoners Society, these detentions are part of a larger pattern of escalating aggressions since the onset of "Israel's" ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip, bringing the total number of detentions to over 11,700 Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, including al-Quds.

In addition, Israeli occupation forces continue to detain civilians from Gaza, particularly from the northern regions, where detainees are subjected to enforced disappearance. The authorities have refused to disclose their identities or the locations of their detention.

Human rights organizations report that while the exact number remains untracked, it is believed that thousands of Gaza residents have been detained since the war began.