Palestinian hunger striker ‘close to death’

The 34-year-old baker from Jenin is protesting against his detention at Ofer prison, stating “my pride comes before food.”

Israel operates a system of what it calls administrative detention, which means people can be held for up to six months without charge. Mr Adnan’s arrest in December was on suspicion of security offences, including being a senior member of Islamic Jihad. He has served as a spokesman for the organisation. The day after his arrest an administrative detention order was issued against him.

Executive Director of Israel’s Public Committee Against Torture, Dr Ishai Menuhin told Channel 4 News the system of administrative detention is “anti-human” and “undemocratic.”

“Administrative detention is something that we received from the British mandate. However, 60 years on we still have this old-fashioned system. If Israel has clues against him, they should put him on trial. Otherwise, technically he can be kept in prison until Doomesday”, he said.

Khader Adnan’s lawyers have submitted a petition for his release to Israel’s supreme court, but no date has been set for a hearing. Dr Ishai Menuhin told Channel 4 News his group is calling on lawyers and human rights representatives across the country to go to the court to support the petition.

However, “it has to happen soon because time is running out”, he said.

‘Danger of death’

B’Tselem, the Israeli Centre for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, says the number of Palestinians being held in administrative detention has been steadily rising over the last year.

Spokesperson for the centre, Sarit Michaeli told Channel 4 News in January last year, 219 people were being held in this way. Now, the figure stands at 309. Commentators widely believe this rise directly correlates with the decrease in security relations between Israel and Palestine in recent months.

Administrative detention is anti-human and undemocratic Dr Ishai Menuhin, Public Committee Against Torture

On Monday, an Israeli military court turned down an appeal by Mr Adnan against his detention and ruled he must serve his full sentence until May 8. However, he is already reported to be in “immediate danger of death”. Islamic Jihad has warned of “painful revenge” if he should die in prison or hospital.

A press release issued on Tuesday by the Israeli group Physicians for Human Rights described Mr Adnan’s condition in great detail. It includes a report by a doctor who gained access to the prisoner on the 52nd day of his hunger strike.

The physician, who was not named, said: “He has lost 30 kgs and weighs 60 kg. He suffers from stomach aches, vomiting, sometimes with blood, and headaches.

“His general condition is pale and very weak, his tongue is smooth, he has light bleeding from the gums, dry skin, loss of hair, and significant muscular atrophy. His pulse is weak, blood pressure 100/75. He is permanently connected to a heart monitor.”

The physician notes that a hunger strike over 70 days is not survivable.

He is permanently connected to a heart monitor Unnamed physician

On Thursday, Channel 4 News spoke to Anat Litvin, head of the detainees department at Phyisicians for Human Rights for the very latest on his condition.

“The doctor said although there’s been no visible change in the last couple of days, there is real danger that he could go at any time. Deterioration can happen very fast and a number of organs can start shutting down”, she said.

Strike in solidarity

In recent days, hundreds of Palestinians have reportedly joined Mr Adnan in his hunger strike, and many more people have taken to Twitter to get their voices heard.

Michael Treiger tweeted: “#KhaderAdnan is not one man, that’s just an illusion, he is hundreds of thousands!”

On Monday some 600 prisoners at Gilboa prison began a hunger strike in solidarity and on Wednesday there were clashes outside Ofer prison between demonstrators and members of the Israeli Defence Force.

A Facebook group has also been set up called ‘Free Khader Adnan’, which calls for him to be freed.

Support has also been voiced by Oliver Hughes, brother of IRA member Francis Hughes who died in 1981 after a 59 day hunger strike in Belfast’s Maze prison.