Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association issued the following statement on January 15, highlighting the urgent situations of Palestinian hunger strikers:
Ramallah, 15 January 2012 – Addameer is deeply concerned for the lives of four Palestinian hunger strikers as their health continues to deteriorate.
Addameer lawyer Fares Ziad recently visited three hunger strikers Jafar Azzidine, Yousef Yassin and Tarek Qa’adan, who are all on their 49th day of hunger strike. All three were arrested on 22 November 2012 and were placed in administrative detention, which is a procedure that allows the Israeli military to hold detainees indefinitely on ‘secret information’ without charging them or allowing them to stand trial. All three began their hunger strike on 28 November 2012 and are only drinking water.
Fares reported that Yousef Yassin is are being held in isolation in a cell at Ramleh prison clinic, with a guard placed outside their door 24 hours a day, and is subject to daily inspections. All three are also being denied family visits. They have also had most of the belongings, such as clothes, cigarettes and electronics confiscated. As a result of their continued detention and treatment by the IPS all three have refused any medical treatment or tests since 21 December 2012.
As they are only drinking water their health has deteriorated rapidly. Jafar, Yousef and Tarek all have difficulty seeing well, are dizzy and constantly have headaches. They also have pain in their joints and are suffering from general fatigue.
Samer al-Issawi has been on partial hunger strike for 167 days.
Ayman Sharawna suspended his hunger strike on 3 January 2013 after 180 days.
Addameer calls on the international community to pressure the Israeli Prison Service for the immediate release of the hunger striking prisoners and ensure that Israel upholds international human rights and humanitarian law.
ACT NOW!
*Write to the Israeli government, military and legal authorities and demand the release of the prisoners on hunger strike.
- Brigadier General Danny Efroni
Military Judge Advocate General
6 David Elazar Street
Harkiya, Tel Aviv
Israel
Fax: +972 3 608 0366; +972 3 569 4526
Email: [email protected]; [email protected] - Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon
OC Central Command Nehemia Base, Central Command
Neveh Yaacov, Jerusalam
Fax: +972 2 530 5741 - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ehud Barak
Ministry of Defense
37 Kaplan Street, Hakirya
Tel Aviv 61909, Israel
Fax: +972 3 691 6940 / 696 2757 - Col. Eli Bar On
Legal Advisor of Judea and Samaria PO Box 5
Beth El 90631
Fax: +972 2 9977326
