Ref: 63/2012

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) expresses extreme
concern over the fate of Mahmoud Kamel al-Sersek and Akram Abdullah al-Rakhawi,
who have been on hunger strike in Israeli jails for 88 days and 68 days,
respectively.  PCHR holds the Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) accountable for these lives, and calls upon the
international community to exert pressure on the IOF to immediately release
al-Sersek and al-Rakhawi.

Al-Sersek (28), from Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, has now been
on hunger strike for 88 days.  The IOF
arrested al-Sersek, a member of the Palestinian national football team, on 15
July 2009 after stopping him at the Beit Hanoon “Erez” crossing while
on his way to play football in the Balata Sports Club.  The IOF dealt with al-Sersek as an ‘unlawful combatant.’
 Al-Sersek refuses to end his hunger
strike, despite Israel’s oral promises to release him next July, and insists
that he needs a written pledge to release him in exchange for enduring this
hunger strike.

Al-Rakhawi (39), also from Rafah, has now been on hunger strike for
68 days.  He was arrested on 07 June 2004,
and sentenced to 9 years of imprisonment.  Since then, he has been admitted to the
hospital in al-Ramla prison, as he suffers from asthma, diabetes and other
diseases.  Al-Rakhawi started his hunger
strike in protest of his deteriorating conditions.  He asks the IOF to release him after completing
two-thirds of his imprisonment sentence.

According to various human rights sources, al-Sersek has already lost
around 30 kg.  A lawyer from Al Dameer Prisoner
Support and Human Rights Association has stated that al-Sersek’s health
conditions are serious, as he suffers from problems with his heart, bowels and
eyes, has troubles walking and is experiencing dizziness and fainting.  The Palestinian Prisoner Club reported that
al-Sersek was transferred to Asaf Harofeh Hospital, due to deterioration in his
health conditions.

The UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, Richard Falk, expressed
deep concern over the fate of Palestinian hunger strikers: “These individuals
are protesting against their detention without charge and are suffering
immensely for it.   There is no acceptable basis for continuing to
hold these persons, and Israel will be responsible if any permanent harm
results.”

PCHR has extreme concern over the fate of al-Sersek and al-Rakhawi,
who are on hunger strike in Israeli jails, and is seeking to save their lives:

1. Calls
upon the international community to exert pressure on the IOF to immediately
release them, in order to save their lives.

2. Calls
upon human rights organizations and international solidarity organizations to
put an end to the misuse of administrative arrests by the IOF, based on the term
of ‘unlawful combatant,’ in violation of the fundamental right to a fair trial.

3. Notes
with grave concern the deterioration of living conditions of more than 4,700
Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.