Khader Adnan's father, his wife, and daughter pictured today
A few short hours ago, Khader Adnan started his 64th day on Hunger Strike.
Sahar Francis, a Lawyer for Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Ad-Dameer, visited Khader on Friday. During the meeting, Khader told Francis that he is determined to continue his hunger strike, despite his gradually deteriorating health condition, Francis added that:
“his battle is not personal, but a Palestinian struggle against the illegal Administrative Detention, that confines hundreds of detainees behind bars without charges, in direct violation of International Law and the Fourth Geneva Conventions”.
Francis said that the Israeli Prison Administration agreed, only two days ago, to allow Adnan to bathe, cut his hairs and nails, for the first time since he was kidnapped and taken prisoner in December 2011.
She added that Adnan still enjoys high confidence and solid determination, despite his bad health condition, and is determined to continue his strike.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, issued a statement on Saturday, saying:
“The EU is concerned over reports of the deteriorating health condition of Khader Adnan,”
Ashton went on to say that
“the EU is concerned about the extensive use by Israel of administrate detention without formal charge.”
Today, Khader’s wife Randa said that he was not ending his Hunger Strike, and is determined to carry on.
In his hometown, family and friends handed out bags of bread from his bakery.
On Wednesday, Randa visited him in hospital, and she described his condition in the following statement:
”His health has drastically deteriorated from the last time I saw him. . . .I expect the worst,”
“The world should pressure the Israeli government to release him before it’s too late.”
““Israel denied Khader fairness & decency, maybe the rest of humanity will show more mercy.”
A Doctor who examined Khader 4 days, described his condition as been “In immediate danger of death”, and his Lawyers have filed an urgent appeal. The appeal was approved by a High Court Justice, and will be heard at the earliest opportunity.
Richard Falk, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, described the situation as urgent, and said the international community should intervene on Mr. Adnan’s behalf.
“In view of the emergency of his situation, the Government of Israel must take immediate and effective action to safeguard Mr. Adnan’s life, while upholding his rights,” said Mr. Falk in a statement.
Richard Falk went even further today in an Op Ed piece in the following Al Jazeera article:
Saving Khader Adnan’s life is saving our own soul Richard Falk
The Jimmy Carter Center in Atlanta issued the following statement on Thursday:
“The Carter Center calls on the Israeli government to immediately charge or release Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan, who was arrested on Dec. 17, 2011, based on “secret evidence” and has been held in administrative detention without charge. Mr. Adnan has undertaken a hunger strike since his arrest 62 days ago and his life is in imminent danger. His grave medical condition has been verified by Physicians for Human Rights-Israel.”
Due to the urgency of Khader’s condition, the Palestinian Council of Human Rights Organizations (PCHRO) urges the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union to take immediate action and intervene with Israel in the strongest manner possible to save Khader’s life.
The PCHRO demands that the international community put pressure on Israel to end his arbitrary detention before it is too late.
In Gaza and the West Bank, thousands of people came out to show their support for Khader.
Speaking to a mass rally in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh had this to say about Khader:
“We stand by the heroic symbol of prisoners, brother Khader Adnan, in his unlimited hunger strike,”
Across the world, vigils are been held for Khader, and at the Ofer prison facility, daily demonstrations are been held. The protesters have come under sustained attacks from the Israeli military, and many people have been injured after been shot with rubber bullets, and effects of tear gas inhalation.
Support for Khader Adnan has also come in from Oliver Hughes, whose brother Francis , 25, died in the H Blocks after 59 days. His cousin, Thomas McElwee, 33, also died on Hunger Strike after 62 days. In total, 10 Irish men died during this Hunger Strike in 1981 which included Bobby Sands.
OnTuesday, as Khader Adnan entered his 60th day on Hunger Strike, Oliver, sends a message of support and solidarity to Khader.
Click on the link below to hear Oliver’s message.
Khader Adnan receives message of support from Oliver Hughes. Feb 14th, 2012
Tommy McKearney, an Irish man who went 53 days on Hunger Strike also sent a message to Khader as he entered his 54th day last week
Khader Adnan receives message of support from former Hunger Striker Tommy McKearney
A web site has been set up where messages of support from across the world have been flowing in. To leave a message, click on the following link:
http://khaderadnan.posterous.com/
Khader was arrested on 17 December 2011 and has since been refusing food and medical treatment until he is granted release. On 8 January 2012, Israeli authorities issued a four-month administrative detention order, which was confirmed on 7 February 2012 by an Israeli military judge despite his worsening health condition.
The appeal against his administrative detention order was rejected by an Israeli military judge on 13 February.
