PCHR Holds Israeli Occupation Authorities Fully Responsible for the Lives of Administrative Detainees on Hunger-Strike

Ref: 128/2021

Date: 21 October 2021

Time: 12:00 GMT

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights expresses its grave concern for the lives of 6 Palestinians put under administrative detention in Israeli occupation’s prisons, who have gone on hunger strike for months in protest to their detention. PCHR holds Israeli authorities fully responsible for the lives of all prisoners, especially in the aftermath of the transfer of prisoner Meqdad Qawasmeh, who has been on hunger strike for 91 days, to Kaplan Hospital’s intensive care unit after his health drastically deteriorated. PCHR demands the international community pressure the Israeli occupation to immediately release the hunger-stricken prisoners, and all other administrative detainees.

• Kayed al-Fasfous (32) from Dura, Hebron, has been on hunger strike for 98 days, despite an Israeli court order to freeze his administrative detention on 14 October.
• Meqdad Qawasmeh (24) from Hebron, has been on administrative detention since January 2021. He has been on hunger strike for 91 days, despite a freeze order on 6 October. Qawasmeh’s health is in critical condition and has been transported to the ICU at Kaplan Hospital in Israel.
• Alaa al-Araj (34) from Tulkarm, has been on administrative detention since 30 June 2021. Al-Araj was put on administrative detention for 6 months and has been on hunger strike for 75 days. His health condition is critical, and the Israeli authorities refuse to freeze the detention decision. He was recently transferred to al-Ramla Clinic.
• Hesham Abu-Hawash (39) from Dura, Hebron, has been on hunger strike for 64 days. His administrative detention sentence expires this month, and he is in treatment at al-Ramla clinic.
• Shadi Abu-Aker (37) from Ayda refugee camp, Bethlehem, has been on hunger strike for 56 days. His administrative detention was renewed for another 6 months. He is in treatment at al-Ramla clinic.
• Ayyad al-Harimy (28), from Bethlehem, has been arrested since 6 April 2021. He has been on hunger strike for 27 days at Ofer prison.

It should be noted that the court decision to freeze the administrative detention sentence does not cancel it; it is a maneuver is a ploy that put the lives of detainees in the hands of the Israeli security forces, putting them under the supervision of hospital security instead of prison guards. Their families cannot transfer them anywhere but would be able to visit them like any other patient. PCHR lawyer, Mr. Mahmoud al-Madany managed to visit our client, Kayed al-Fasfous at Barzilai Medical Center, along with his mother, who stated that his health is critical and his life is jeopardized. His heart rate is law, he is immobile. She pleased with all relevant bodies to intervene to release al- Fasfous.

Human rights reports indicated that Meqdad Qawasmeh’s health has severely deteriorated, as Kaplan Hospital’s report confirm the prisoner is subject to sudden death, as his neurosystem exhibited deficiencies, which may cause permanent brain damage. All other prisoners suffer dangerous health conditions, including issues with their vision, general fatigue, and ailing health.

The Israeli occupation’s practices against the detainees on hunger-strike constitute a premeditated murder, and the occupation knows that the hunger-strikers have exhausted all legal means, and they have no choice left but to struggle with their body cells as a last weapon to express discontent with their unjustified detention. The strike is considered the uppermost and most ethical weapon, and at the same time it shows the occupation’s racism, inhumanity and disregard for human values and principles, which further proves the state of moral and human superiority of the hunger-strikers over their jailers.

The case of the 6 prisoners shed light on more than 500 Palestinians who are currently placed under administrative detention in Israeli prisons and detention facilities, without practicing their right to defend themselves or knowing the charges directed against them, and their right to defend themselves.  Administrative detention is an illegal measure that has been excessively and arbitrarily used against thousands of Palestinians.  In most cases, the administrative detention is extended to several years, and lawyers cannot take any legal proceeding due to the confidential information submitted by the Israeli Intelligence to the court that, as they lawyers are not allowed to review. 

PCHR expresses its grave concern over the detainees’ lives, Thus PCHR:

• Holds the Israeli authorities fully accountable for the detainees’ lives;
• Calls upon the international community to immediately intervene to put an end to the administrative detention policy and applying it arbitrarily and illegally against Palestinian prisoners; and
• Calls for conjugating local and international efforts to support the Palestinian prisoners and their demands to live freely and in dignity.