Palestinian Hunger Striker in ’Israeli’ Jails: Freedom or Martyrdom
Local Editor
Hunger-striking Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qiq rejected an "Israeli" offer for his conditional release.
"Qiq's position is clear, and he will reject any offer that does not immediately end his administrative detention. He is also determined to receive medical attention in Palestinian hospitals," an official with the Palestinian Authority Committee of Prisoners' Affairs told the Ma'an news agency on Sunday.
According to the commission, Qiq was offered to be released on May 1 in return for suspending his hunger strike after doctors stated that he may expire at any moment.
An "Israeli" doctor stressed that his condition is rapidly deteriorating and that "each minute marks serious threat to his life."
Qiq, who has lost the ability to speak after over 70 days without food, writes that he will continue his strike until "martyrdom or freedom."
On Thursday, the Zionist entity offered to suspend his detention without trial on the condition that he does not leave the hospital without permission.
Qiq has been refusing food since November 25, 2015, to protest his detention without trial or charge. He was arrested last November at his home in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Mahmoud Ulayyan, a member of Gaza's journalism union, said that Qiq was evidently being held due to his work as a journalist, and that Palestinian journalists urgently needed protection from the "continuous "Israeli" violations" launched against them.
The Committee of Prisoners' Affairs said the Palestinian Authority has been continuously pressuring Tel Aviv to meet Qiq's demands and save his life, adding that it held "Israel" fully responsible for the Palestinian journalist's fate.
Based on figures provided by rights group Palestinian Prisoners' Society, over 7,000 Palestinian prisoners are currently held in some 17 "Israeli" jails, dozens of whom are serving multiple life sentences.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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