Military Appeals Committee Rules Central Command Chief Cannot Order Tal Dradik to House Arrest at Mother-in-Law's Home

The Military Appeals Committee in the Judea and Samaria region accepted the appeal of administrative detainee Tal Yanun Dradik against a restrictive administrative order issued by Central Command Chief Major General Avi Blot. The committee ruled on Sunday that Blot does not have the authority to mandate Dradik to serve his administrative house arrest at his mother-in-law's residence. Judge Lt. Col. Tamar Bakia Edgach further instructed the IDF to find an alternative detention arrangement for Dradik, including considering renting an apartment at the state's expense to implement the order.

The judge also ordered the Israel Prison Service to continue monitoring Dradik's health condition, as he has been on a hunger strike since his detention about three weeks ago. The appeals committee imposed a gag order on the decision's details. Dradik's attorney, Moshe Polsky from the Honenu organization, welcomed the ruling, stating that the order was unfeasible from the start and that the Central Command chief cannot force Dradik to stay at his mother-in-law's home against her will.

Dradik, a resident of a West Bank outpost and father of four, was detained roughly three weeks ago for allegedly violating the administrative order. The order required him to remain under full house arrest at his mother-in-law's home, who is a widow with significant hearing impairment, without her consent. Dradik immediately protested the order's impracticality and was arrested days later. Since his detention, he has been on a hunger strike, now lasting 20 days, suffering repeated fainting spells and deteriorating health, with authorities reportedly ignoring his medical requests.

In response to his condition, Honenu requested urgent hospital treatment. Meanwhile, a coalition of Knesset members, ministers, and about 150 Likud branch heads and central committee members petitioned Defense Minister Israel Katz to end the use of administrative orders against settlers in Judea and Samaria and to secure Dradik's release. Signatories include Ministers Eli Cohen and Amichai Shikli, and MKs Amit Halevi, Avichai Boaron, Simcha Rothman, Tali Gottlieb, Ariel Kallner, Limor Son Har Melech, Hanoch Milwitsky, Michal Waldiger, Osher Shkalim, Nissim Vaturi, and Keti Shitrit.