Palestinian Hunger-strikers’ Health Deteriorating
Local Editor
Six Palestinian detainees entered dangerous stages of a hunger strike in protest at their indefinite detention without charge by "Israel", a report said.
The most high-profile of them, Bilal Kayed, has been on hunger strike for 66 days. His health has sharply deteriorated, with lawyers reporting that the 33-year-old is now unable to move or speak on his own.
Among the six hunger strikers are also Mahmoud and Mohammed Balboul, two brothers who are being held for no apparent reason, the Middle East Eye [MEE] news portal reported on Saturday.
Mahmoud has been on hunger strike for 48 days, while Mohammed has been on strike for 45 days.
Bilal's mother, Raheeba Kayed, has been barred from visiting her son in the hospital. Lawyers have told her that "Israeli" occupation regime refuses to allow her son to be un-handcuffed from his hospital bed.
In addition to the Balboul brothers and Bilal Kayed, Palestinian detainees Malek al-Qadi and Ayyad al-Hremi have been on hunger strike for 35 days, while well-known Palestinian journalist Omar Nazzal has been refusing food for more than two weeks.
In this regard, UK-based rights group Amnesty International defended hunger strike as a "legitimate form of protest" that is Palestinian detainees' "only means of demanding their rights under international law."
The group has also blasted Tel Aviv's claims of having "secret evidence" against the detainees, saying the method "denies detainees the ability to effectively challenge their detention in court and the right to a fair hearing."
The situation of the six hunger striking detainees has triggered a series of protests, sit-ins, night vigils and "days of rage" throughout the occupied West Bank and East al-Quds.
More than 7,000 Palestinian detainees, including 350 children, are currently being held in some 17 Zionist detention camps.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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