Ref: 63/2012
Date: 10 June 2012
Time: 12:00 GMT
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:
