[JURIST] An Israeli military court has authorized the continued detention of Palestinian parliament speaker Aziz Dweik [official profile in Arabic; JMCC profile] until August 22. Dweik was arrested [JURIST report] at his home in Ramallah on August 5 for being a senior leader of Hamas [CFR backgrounder], which Israel contends is a terrorist organization. He was hospitalized [JURIST report] last week for chest pains and breathing problems, which he alleges were brought on by abuse at the hands of his Israeli captors, allegations echoed by two now-released Hamas officials [JURIST report] who previously complained of their own mistreatment. Israel has denied all allegations of abuse.

Israel seized seven Palestinian government ministers and some 20 legislators [JURIST report] on June 29 following the abduction of IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit [Wikipedia backgrounder]. Israeli officials said in June that the captured Palestinian lawmakers would be tried under standard criminal warrants [JURIST report] for membership in or leadership of a terrorist organization. Dweik and other Hamas leaders still detained have insisted the Israeli court has no jurisdiction over their cases. Aljazeera has more.