Two Hunger Strikers In Ramle Hospital In Serious Condition

Two Hunger Strikers In Ramle Hospital In Serious Condition

09/05/2012

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Lawyer of Addameer association for prisoners and human rights Mahmoud Hassan, who on Monday visited the hospital of Ramle prison, said he found hunger strikers Jafar Izzeddin and Mahmoud Sarsak in very bad shape.

Lawyer Hassan stated that prisoner Sarsak has been on hunger strike for 47 days and now he is unable to move, suffers from eyesight problems and has been throwing up for five days, adding that he also underwent pancreas tests in Asaf Harofe hospital a few days ago.

Sarsak, 25, from the Rafah refugee camp in Gaza, is one of the national Palestinian soccer players and was kidnapped on July 22, 2009 at Erez checkpoint as he was on his way to Nablus to join Balata Youth club.

Soon after his kidnapping, Sarsak was taken to Ashkelon jail and exposed to 30 days of intensive interrogation. Despite the failure of leveling charges and providing evidence against him, the Israeli prosecutor decided to classify him as an unlawful combatant and keep him in administrative detention for an unlimited period.

Sarsak has been on hunger strike since March 19, 2012 in protest at his detention without any guilt. On the eighth of April, he was transferred from Negev jail to an isolation cell in Eichel jail in Beersheba and later on 16 of the same month he was taken to the hospital of Ramle prison after his health worsened.

As for the other prisoner Jafar Izzeddin, on hunger strike for 48 days, lawyer Hassan said his health status is not reassuring especially since he feels constant pain in his head, heart, thigh muscles, and kidneys and is always dizzy which caused him once to collapse and hit his head hard on the floor.

The lawyer noted that the two detainees are determined to continue their hunger strike until they restore their freedom and all the demands of the captive movement are met.

In a related context, director of Addameer association Sahar Francis condemned the Israeli higher court for rejecting the petition filed on behalf of detainees Bilal Diyab and Tha'er Halala against their administrative detention.

ENDS

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