Palestinian administrative detainee Khader Adnan’s health deteriorated significantly Friday, June 26, as he reached the 50th day of his current hunger strike. According to Attorney Jawad Bulus, who is the only person aside from members of the Israel Prison Service (IPS) to have access to Adnan’s hospital room, the political prisoner’s health is deteriorating from day to day. Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) stated that “in addition to his abstention from food and additives, Adnan refuses to undergo medical examination or receive any treatment. Adnan’s condition deteriorated significantly during a visit Tuesday by PHR Attorney Samer Saman. Physicians for Human Rights is concerned that any additional deterioration could lead to his death.”
Palestinian worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem protest, calling for the release of prisoners during the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, Friday, June 19, 2015; among the prisoners whose release is demanded, Khader Adnan pictured in the foreground poster. (Photo: Activestills)
Since the beginning of Adnan’s current hunger strike, which he launched on May 6 to protest the extension of his administrative detention, Adnan has lost 70 pounds, his eyes have yellowed – a sign of liver failure – and his urine has turned a murky brown, which is often a sign of kidney problems. He has purple marks around his body, and on Tuesday night he began to bleed and vomit uncontrollably.
This is the second time Adnan has gone on a hunger strike to protest his administrative detention, a process in which prisoners remain in detention without having been formally accused of anything, let along tried or officially sentenced. Adnan’s first hunger strike was in 2012, when he demanded that he either be released from indefinite detention or sentenced. Adnan went on hunger strike for 66 days, which came to and end after Israel agreed to release him.
Adnan was detained once again in 2014 while passing through a checkpoint near Nablus, and was placed in administrative detention. On May 6, 2015, a short while after his detention was extended for the third straight time Adnan announced that he would go on another hunger strike. According to the Israeli army, intelligence gathered on the detainee shows he has direct ties to the Islamic Jihad movement. The intelligence, however, has not led to an official indictment.
Beyond Adnan’s external symptoms, it is impossible to know the full extent of the damage caused by his hunger strike, since he refuses to be examined by doctors in the internal medicine department at Assaf HaRofeh Hospital while in handcuffs. The guards will not uncuff him, even at the expense of his health. Only upon the arrival of Dr. Leonid Edelman, who heads the Israel Medical Association, did the guards – two of whom are keeping watch over Adnan – agree to uncuff him for the duration of the meeting.
On Monday, Hadash MK Dov Khenin (Joint List) sent an urgent letter to the prime minister, the defense minister, and minister of public security, demanding Adnan be released immediately, and asked the IPS for permission to visit him. The Joint List took part in a protest outside the hospital, while MKs from other parties have decided to ignore the issue altogether.
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