Middle East Monitor / July 23, 2021
The number of Palestinian detainees on hunger strike in Israeli prisons rose to thirteen on Thursday, Anadolu has reported. The detainees are protesting at being held under administrative detention with neither charge nor trial.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, the latest hunger strikers are acting in solidarity with the eight who were already refusing food. Administrative detention orders can be renewed indefinitely.
The new hunger strikers were named as Alaa al-Din Khaled Ali from Ramallah and Ahmed Abdel-Rahman Abu Sale, Muhammad Khaled Abu Sale, Hussam Taysir Rabie and Fadi al-Amour, all from Al-Khalil/Hebron.
The PPC confirmed that three other prisoners have suspended their hunger strike following the authorities’ agreement that a limit be set on their detention and dates fixed for their release. A fourth detainee ended his hunger strike when his health deteriorated.
The Commission for Detainees’ and Ex-Detainees’ Affairs said that Muayyad al-Khatib, 21, from Bethlehem has “suffered a severe weight loss and stomach bleeding, and has started to vomit blood.” The organisation added that it holds the Israeli authorities fully responsible for his condition and life.
Israel holds around 4,850 Palestinian prisoners, including 41 women and 225 children. There are 540 administrative detainees in its prisons.
