Palestinian detainee, Adnan Khader, head of the Islamic Jihad Movement in the West Bank, declared he will be stepping-up his hunger strike that started 47 days ago, by refraining from drinking any sort of liquids.The Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) reported Tuesday that the Israeli Prison Administration (IPA) informed Khader’s lawyer that he had decided to stop drinking liquids after he was prevented from meeting her.
The lawyer stated that the situation of Khader is gradually and dangerously deteriorating, and that the IPA informed her that it will be obliged to administer liquids even if he refuses.
Prison Physicians stated that, should Khader refrain from drinking any liquids, his body will likely collapse within three days, therefore, they have decided to administer liquids.
Khader, from the northern West Bank city of Jenin, started his hunger strike on December 18, one day after he was kidnapped by the army; he never faced charges, and decided to strike to protest his illegal imprisonment. After 47 days of hunger striking, he has decided to escalate his strike and refrain from drinking any liquids.
He was sent to court on Monday, and the prosecution demanded that he remains imprisoned under administrative detention, without chargers; the court decided to delay its ruling in the case until Wednesday.
Israeli Ynet News reported that that IPA formed an external committee, looking into his case, that it had decided to give the detainee liquids, even if it has to administer them medically, and added that this measure is not considered a forcible break of his hunger strike, but to ensure he remains alive.
The committee said that its examination and tests conducted by an expert proved that the detainee “does not have a death wish.’
The Palestinian Prisoner Society stated that it is closely following the case of Khader, and voiced an appeal to all human rights groups, and related organizations and officials, to intervene, save his life and ensure his release.
Under the illegal administrative detention orders, Israel can keep a detainee behind bars indefinitely, as such orders can be renewed by a court order, usually for three or six months each time.
Detainees held under administrative detention do not face charges, and are held under the claim of a secret file against them, a file that neither the detainees, nor their lawyers, have access to.
