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In this occasional feature, the National Post tells you everything you need to know about a complicated issue. Today, we examine the issue of 1,600 Palestinian prisoners on a hunger strike in Israel that has the potential to spark major unrest.

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Q: Why are they on a hunger strike?

A: The vast majority are protesting about the use of solitary confinement, visitation rights, education privileges and an end to the practice of administrative detention. It’s the last one that has caught the attention of the international community.

Q: What’s administrative detention?

A: It is used for suspected terrorists based on intelligence information, usually from an undercover informant. To protect the informant, Israel detains the suspects rather than go to trial. A detention order must be signed by the Minister of Defence and is for a maximum of six months, but can be renewed. The suspect must be brought before a judge within 48 hours to review the evidence. If the judge does not approve of the detention, then the suspect must be released immediately. There are about 300 administrative detainees in Israel.