AL QUDS, Feb 17: The Israeli army has started work to double the capacity of the Ketziot detention centre where it holds the bulk of Palestinians captured since the beginning of the intifada, Haaretz reported on Monday.

The 10-million-dollar extension due to be completed in April is expected to swell the camp’s capacity to 2,400 inmates, the daily said, adding that plans to erect permanent structures to replace the tent blocks had been scrapped.

An army spokesman contacted by AFP declined to comment.

Some 5,000 Palestinians arrested by Israeli troops since the beginning of the intifada in September 2000 are currently held in detention camps or prisons, according to military sources.

According to Israeli and Palestinian human rights organisations, 1,000 of them are held in administrative detention, without trial or charge.

Some of them have never even been questioned or told why they are being held.

Clashes have erupted sporadically over the past few months between prisoners protesting their detention conditions and their Israeli guards.—AFP