RAMALLAH, July 31, 2012 (WAFA) – Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations expressed concern for the lives of three Palestinian prisoners who are still on hunger strike in Israeli jails, according to a statement issued Monday.
Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Al-Haq and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR-IL) said they were “gravely concerned” for the life and health of the three remaining Palestinian hunger strikers held by Israel.
Administrative detainees Samer al-Barq has been on hunger strike for 70 days, Hassan Safadi, 40 days and Ayman Sharawna, 30 days.
According to the statement, Barq’s health continues to deteriorate rapidly and was only taking salts and vitamins as he was being held in isolation.
A fourth striker, Akram Rikhawi, ended his hunger strike on July 22 after 102 days of hunger strike upon reaching an agreement with the Israel Prisons Service (IPS) in which Rikhawi will be released on January 25 to his home in the Gaza Strip, which is six months prior to his original release date.
Safadi has previously gone on 71 days of hunger strike and ended it on May 14 when the prisoners reached an agreement with the IPS that ended their month-long strike.
His last administrative detention order was due to expire on June 29 and, according to the agreement ending the Palestinian prisoners’ mass hunger strike, he was supposed to be released on that date. However, his administrative detention order was renewed a week before it had expired for a further six months in obvious violation of the agreement.
Sharawna was released as part of the prisoner exchange deal in October, only to be re-arrested on January 31. No charges have been filed against him.
“In light of the further deterioration of the conditions of the remaining Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike, Addameer, Al-Haq and PHR-IL urge the international community to immediately intervene on their behalf,” said the statement.
They demanded that Israel must be forced to honor the May 14 agreement, including the release of administrative detainees who were promised release at the end of their current orders, renewal of family visits and lifting of the punitive measures used against Palestinians in Israeli custody.
They also called for unrestricted access for independent physicians to all hunger strikers as well as the immediate transfer of Rikhawi and Barq, as well as all other hunger strikers who have been striking to for more than 40 days, to public hospitals.
The statement stressed that Safadi, Barq and all other administrative detainees be immediately and unconditionally released.
M.S.
