Ref: 61/2021

Date: 30 December 2021

Due to the serious deterioration in the health condition of administrative detainee, Hisham Abu Hawash, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) sent an urgent letter to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) on 30 December 2021, calling for an immediate intervention and pressuring the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) to release Abu Hawash immediately and unconditionally.

PCHR indicated in the letter that Abu Hawash (39), from Dura city in Hebron, has been on hunger strike for 137 days in protest to his administrative detention. Abu-Hawash is fighting for his life despite the serious deterioration of his health. On 23 December 2021, the Israeli Prison Service ordered to transfer him to Assaf Harofeh Hospital in Tel Aviv, as he became immobile and unable to speak or hear, and he is in a semicoma. On 26 December 2021, due to the serious deterioration of Abu Haawash’s health condition, his administrative detention was frozen, and his family was allowed visitation, but under the surveillance of hospital guards.

Israeli occupation’s practices against Abu Hawash constitutes a clear violation of the international humanitarian and human rights laws, and a flagrant violation of his right to a fair trial, including his right to receive a proper defense and be informed of any charges against him, which is guaranteed in article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This also violates the 1984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

PCHR stresses that Israeli occupation’s practices against the detainees on hunger-strike reflect its racism and flagrant breaches of human principles and values, particularly as hunger strikes are considered the most difficult choice for prisoners to regain their basic human rights which are guaranteed in all international laws and standards.

PCHR points out that more than 500 Palestinians are currently placed under the illegal administrative detention, which falls under political detention.