Israel: Palestinian hunger striker close to death

February 10, 2012
Issue 
Khader Adnan
Khader Adnan, held without chare by Israel, is near death on a hunger strike in protest at his treatment.

Palestine prisoner's rights group Addameer released the statement below on February 9 on the condition of Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan. At the time of the statement, Adnan was 54 days into a hunger strike and in a critical condition. Adnan is being held in “administrative detention” ― without charge or trial. The statement is abridged from Electronic Intifada.

Go here for action against Israel's actions, and to help try and save Adnan's live.

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Addameer reiterates its grave concern for the life of Khader Adnan, who received no decision today in the appeal against his administrative detention order.

On the 54th day of his hunger strike, Khader’s health has entered an alarmingly critical stage that will likely have irreversible consequences and could lead to his fatal collapse at any moment. He stated that he will remain steadfast in his hunger strike until he is released.

Khader’s appeal hearing took place today at Zif medical centre in Safad. His hands and feet were shackled while he was moved from his room in the hospital to a different room for the court hearing. During the hearing, the shackles were removed from his hands only.

Israeli military appeals judge Moshe Tirosh did not reach a decision on Khader’s appeal of his four-month administrative detention order and is expected to make a decision within the coming week, though any delay may prove fatal.

The legal discussions of the hearing are not public, as per the Israeli standards for administrative detention.

A doctor from Physicians for Human Rights-Israel was able to visit Khader yesterday. This examination was only Khader's second since he began his hunger strike.

Because Israeli Prison Service guards did not grant Khader and the doctor privacy during the examination, Khader did not feel free to discuss the full extent of his condition.

On February 7, Khader’s wife, Randa, and his two young daughters were permitted to see him for the first time since his arrest on December 17. His wife described his shocking appearance, noting his body had shrunken significantly and he had ulcers covering his face and tongue.

He told her that he had not been allowed to shower or change his clothes since his arrest. His four-year-old daughter repeatedly asked her mother: “Why is he tied to the bed? Why does he look like this? Why can’t he come home with us?”

During the visit, both his legs and his right hand were shackled to the bed and soldiers stayed in the room the entire time.

Nevertheless, Khader remained mentally aware and was able to fully express his love for his family. Khader’s unwavering hunger strike is in protest of the inhuman and degrading treatment he has been subjected to since his arrest and of Israel’s ongoing policy of detaining Palestinians without charge or trial.

Addameer holds the Israeli occupying forces accountable for Khader’s life-threatening condition and holds the international community responsible for not acting to save his life.

Addameer demands that the European Union, the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross intervene with Israel immediately before it is too late.

Video: Former Irish republican prisoner Tommy McKearney, who spent 53 days on hunger strike int he infamous British H-Blocks prison in 1980, makes a video appeal for the world to intervene to save the life of Khader Adnan. Gaza TV News.

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