After a visit to hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners in an Israeli prison clinic, an official of the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees warns the deteriorating health conditions of the striking detainees might lead to “possible death”. The Ministry said that hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners are facing life-threatening conditions, some of which have been refusing to eat for more than three months.
Hanan al-Khatib, an official of the Ministry of Detainees, voiced serious concerns regarding the condition of detainee Abdullah Barghouti.
“Barghouti can’t feel his left hand and can’t stand up… he’s already lost 30 kg”, she said.
The hunger strike among Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons started in May and in June this year, as a protest against the inhumane treatment the inmates receive by the Israeli Prison Service.
Barghouti who is serving a lifetime sentence, started his hunger strike on the 2nd of May. He was recently transferred to Afula hospital were he is receiving treatment “chained to his bed by his legs and left hand.”
Palestinian Minister of Detainees, Issa Qaraqe, warns that deaths among the hunger strikers would have serious consequences on the ongoing negotiations between Palestinian and Israeli officials, the Maan News Agency has reported.
Israeli Justice Ministry is currently working on passing a bill that would allow force-feeding of the prisoners. Force-feeding is a procedure condemned by Amnesty and by Human Rights Watch.
