Facebook

Hunger Strikes Resumed and Lives Endangered, as Israel disregards its commitments in the Agreements with Palestinian Prisoners.

Imminent threat to the life of Akram Rikhawi’s (71 days on hunger strike) as his health continues to deteriorate.
Danger also to the life of Hassan Safadi's as he resumes his hunger stike following the renewal of administrative detention order today.
Samer Al-Barq, is on his 32nd day of resumed hunger strike in protest of the renewal of his administrative detention order.

Akram Rikhawi:Grave concern for Akram Rikhawi, who continues to face an imminent threat to his life on his 71st day of hunger strike. Addameer lawyer Mona Neddaf was able to visit him two days ago in Ramleh prison medical clinic, while independent doctors from PHR-Israel are still being denied regular access to him since last visiting on 6 June.
Ms. Neddaf noted following her visit that Akram is extremely tired and weak and now weighs only 49 kilos. Furthermore, since 16 June he is refusing any vitamins and fluids through an IV. Though he is sustaining himself on water alone, Ms. Neddaf was troubled to observe that even drinking water is now very difficult for him and he is only able to consume approximately one liter per day.
Akram has not received a visit from an independent doctor since 6 June, as Israeli authorities continually deny requests by PHR-Israel. Sixteen days have now passed since the PHR-Israel doctor determined that Akram is at immediate risk of death, due to the combination of his protracted hunger strike and his prior chronic conditions, including diabetes and asthma.
On 14 June, the Israeli District Court rejected an appeal filed by PHR-Israel to transfer Akram to a civilian hospital, based on a medical opinion of the IPS, that denies that his life is in danger. This opinion is in complete contradiction to the one of the independent doctor, and is not referring to any medical data on which it is based. It also does not relate to the opinion of the independent doctor and the risks it cites. Akram emphasized to Ms. Neddaf his wishes to be immediately transferred to a civilian hospital for proper care.
Background: Akram began his hunger strike on 12 April in protest against his request for early release not being granted despite his medical condition (he was sentenced to imprisonment). His appeal for an early release on medical grounds was rejected.

Hassan Safadi:Safadi's administrative detention order was renewed today for additional six months. In complete disregards to its commitment not to renew administrative detention orders unless under extremely exceptional circumstances, Israel continues its abuse of administrative detention. Al Safadi was on a hunger strike for 71 days, ending in on May 15th. He is detained since June 30th2011, under renewed administrative detention orders. Safadi was visited by PHR Israel's independent doctor. She reported serious health deterioration and extreme loss of weight that endangered his life.
PHR Israel learnt that Safadi's frustration at his renewed administrative detention order today led to his decision to renew his hunger strike. A renewed hunger strike, especially following such a long and devastating one, is an imminent danger to his life.

Samer Al-Barq: Al-Barqis on his 32nd day of renewed hunger strike in protest of his administrative detention. He was transferred by the Jordanian authorities, where he was also in administrative detention, to the Israeli Security Agnecy on 11.7.2012. He is held by Israel under administrative detention orders that were renewed several ties.
Samer joined the mass hunger strike on April 17th, a strike that lasted for 28 days. He renewed his strike in protest of the renewal of administrative detention order contrary to Israel's commitment not to renew administrative detention orders unless under extremely exceptional circumstances. He is now held in the IPS medical center, and according to his family is suffering complications in his kidney and high blood pressure. He also lost more than 20% of his weight.
On June 21stPHR Israel submitted a request to the IPS to allow its doctors to visit Al Barq. Past experience indicates that such a visit will be only possible following a legal procedure, and even then it will be postponed by the IPS intentional obstructing bureaucracy.

PHR Israel Calls on Israeli authorities to:
Respect its agreement with the Palestinian prisoners not to renew administrative detention orders unless under extremely exceptional circumstances. The recent renewals cast heavy doubts as to Israel's sincerity and may lead to more hunger strikes.

Allow family visits, as is agreed upon.

Allow independent doctors to visit hunger strikers frequently and without impediments.

Transfer Rikhawi to a public hospital. The IPS clinic is not an adequate medical facility to a hunger striker at such advanced stages, especially one who suffers prior difficult medical condition.

PHR Israel also calls on the ministry of health and the Israeli Medical Association tointervene immediately and effectively to end a situation where IPS doctors who are under dual loyalty – to their employers, the prison system who wishes to break the strike and the prisoners' struggle, and to their patients.